BC Assessment
BC Assessment
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Career Opportunities at BC Assessment

Be part of our appraisal team

Following are frequently asked questions and answers about being an appraiser at BC Assessment. If you have a question, that’s not answered below, please contact us.

Where do I find out about career opportunities?

Information on the positions currently available is on-line and updated regularly as positions are posted. We also regularly attend career fairs and have staff available to speak to classrooms or large gatherings about the career opportunities available at BC Assessment.

How do I apply for an appraiser position?

To apply for Appraiser II (or lesser) positions (includes Appraiser I and Appraiser II), please complete an Appraiser Questionnaire in PDF or Word format and submit to careers@bcassessment.ca.

What can I expect after I apply?

Upon receipt of an application, your information is screened against the criteria in the posting. If you meet the qualification criteria, you will be contacted to write a pre-screening written exercise. All eligible applicants will be contacted either by email or phone regarding next steps in the competitive process.

Do I have to apply for each position?

Yes, you will need to submit an application for each position for which you feel qualified or interested.

Can I make a general application?

We accept general applications for temporary work. However, if you are interested in a permanent position, you will need to apply for specific positions.

What do you mean when you say Appraiser II or lesser?

An Appraiser II position is considered the ‘full working level’ for the appraiser series. Often, due to the unique combination of education and experience required at the Appraiser II level, we are not always able to recruit at the full working level for a vacancy. Instead, we will hire new employees at the Appraiser I level and this enables us to hire promising, but not fully qualified, candidates and develop them to reach the full working level.

What are the education and experience requirements for a working level appraiser (Appraiser I and Appraiser II)?

Education and experience requirements increase with each appraiser level.  Appointments are made on the basis of a candidate’s education and experience. Preference is given to candidates with:

  • An undergraduate degree from an accredited Canadian university (extra credit may be given for directly related degrees, for example: Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business in Real Estate, Bachelor of Business Administration),
  • An RIBC or AACI accreditation, and/or
  • Related appraisal experience.

Appraisers are required to hold or be able to obtain a valid driver’s license for the Province of B.C and may be required to use their own vehicle on expenses for business travel purposes.

Will you accept an undergraduate degree from another country?

If you hold an undergraduate degree from another country, we recommend that you contact a credential evaluation service to request a review of your foreign education before or at the time you apply for the appraiser competitions. We consider a candidate’s education and experience both at the initial screening stages and as part of salary placement. Therefore, should you be a successful candidate, we suggest you obtain this credential review as quickly as possible. One credential evaluation service is International Credential Service at www.bcit.ca/ices.  BC Assessment does not reimburse fees for this service.

How often do appraiser positions come available?

Working level and senior appraiser positions are posted in rounds several times a year. We recommend watching our web site for postings.

What is the salary range?

Salary ranges for positions at BC Assessment are posted in our collective agreement (link to Schedule A). In addition to a bi-weekly salary, permanent employees receive medical, extended health and dental benefits; life and disability insurance, and pension plan payments.

What is the selection process for working level appraisers (Appraiser Trainee, Appraiser I, Appraiser II)?

We use a two-step selection process:

  • All qualified candidates write a pre-screen test to evaluate their analytical thinking and judgement skills, written communication skills and computer skills specifically on MS excel. This test is blind scored in that all applicants’ names are removed prior to it being scored. This test can be conducted at various locations throughout the province or by special arrangements outside of BC.
  • Those who pass the pre-screen test by 60% or more, and achieve a pass on each question or competency, are invited to participate in a behavioural interview where the remaining competencies such as team skills and personal and professional effectiveness are assessed.
  • Those eligible for further review will have their references checked (past work performance review).

Information on preparing for a behavioural interview is available on this site.

What does an appraiser do?

Appraisers work in the office and field to value properties such as single and multi-family dwellings, conversions, duplexes, apartments, mobile homes, farm buildings, utilities, commercial, office and light industrial buildings as well as accessory buildings and vacant and improved land.

In determining property values, appraisers collect relevant information such as costs, income, sales and related data, and then analyze and interpret this information to arrive at equitable values for the property.

The level of involvement and responsibility varies with the appraiser position level (Appraiser Trainee, I, II or senior) and in some instances the geographic location. Appraisers also have considerable contact with property owners and tenants.

What are the duties of a working level appraiser?

As an appraiser, typically you will:

  • Inspect, measure and determine the values of new and old buildings, and vacant and improved land using replacement costs, depreciation, income and comparative market data,
  • Check alterations, renovations and other construction,
  • Use state of the art technology, including satellite imaging and digital mapping software,
  • Maintain records, drawings and data used for assessment purposes,
  • Deal with public enquiries over the counter, on the phone and in the field, and
  • Prepare reports for property assessment appeals, give evidence in a hearing and defend values as required.

What are the benefits?

BC Assessment offers a comprehensive benefit package plus vacation leave (15 – 35 days based on years of service), flexible work schedules, special leave, sick leave and more. We also reimburse formal job-related education, and provide health and wellness benefits, insurance, retirement plans, and awards and recognition.