Larry Clark, CAE, CDEI Director of Strategic Initiatives (816)701-8130 clark@iaao.org

Body of Knowledge

Courses Support Designations CAE A primary mission of IAAO is to provide education on mass appraisal methods and procedures. That is accomplished through the development and presentation of over fifty individual course, workshop and one-day forum offerings, all of which must be maintained and occasionally updated to stay current. This ties in with another mission of the organization, which is to recognize the achievements of our members through the awarding of professional designations. Course offerings were historically developed based on a perceived need and, at some point, inserted into the candidacy process as another way of proving the candidate’s fitness for designation. This approach has served the organization well over the years because those responsible for the education mission were either closely aligned with or were the same people as those involved in designing and maintaining the designation process.

Do They Match Recently, however, those members working on education deviated slightly from past practice and designed new curricula for mass appraisal that took a different approach. Instead of three courses, they outlined five, each building on the previous knowledge. Because of that, they were given new names and identifying numbers. The designation program then asked “how will the new courses match with those previously offered and currently required to satisfy part of the education requirements for our designations”. Or, asked another way, which of the new courses will replace which of the old. This led several of us to question the entire basis for our designation program. Historically we had relied on our education courses to define the skills needed for our designations when what we needed was an independent source. That was when we discovered this concept of a “body of knowledge”, a source for all the “concepts, terms and activities that make up a professional domain” (Wikipedia) or “the core teachings, skills and research in a field or industry. The body of knowledge often forms the foundation for the curriculum of most professional programs or designations”. (Investopedia)

Designation Education Body of Knowledge Designation Education A body of knowledge is therefore everything that defines a profession. It defines the specific skills needed to be a recognized member of the profession and therefore forms the basis for all education and designation programs. Rather than designations demanding certain education programs or education programs defining designations, both will flow as products from the body of knowledge.

Education Designation Who Will Use It Education Designation The most immediate user of the document will be members of the education and designations subcommittees. They will use it to structure their programs to match the needs of the profession, including filling gaps identified during this process. The body of knowledge will dictate the topics to be covered and the extent of coverage required. Designations will be revised to emphasize mastery of given segments of that body of knowledge. Members may also use the body of knowledge to help establish qualifications for positions within their offices and to form the basis for promotions. One of the desires for the body of knowledge is that it indicates the skills to be mastered by level of experience and position within the typical assessment office. For example, every appraiser should know something about depreciation, but the depth of knowledge required for a senior appraiser should be greater than someone in their first year.

Implementation will likely reveal weaknesses and possibly even gaps in the body of knowledge. It is anticipated the professional development committee will assume responsibility for accumulating this information and incorporating needed changes into the document, since that committee will be the primary user of the document. The body of knowledge will then be a living document, subject to ongoing revision The professional development committee is charged with the responsibility “to support the mission and commitments of IAAO by addressing the educational and professional designation needs of Association members and instructors . . . .” (IAAO Procedural Rules) Therefore, this committee seems a logical place to house the maintenance of the body of knowledge. It is anticipated that the first steps taken will address gaps in resources identified during the initial writing of the document followed by a periodic review to ensure its contents remain current.

Working with the Legal Framework This Knowledge Area includes skills related to the legal basis for assessment and valuation, reassessment and reappraisal cycles, property tax base, exemptions, and taxation.

Working with the Legal Framework Aspects of the Legal Framework Assisting in the Planning/Development of Tax Policy Deploying/Implementing the Legal Framework

Collecting and Maintaining Property Data This Knowledge Area includes skills related to managing information necessary to the valuation of property including, ownership, transfers, identification, description, and related data management.

Collecting and Maintaining Property Data Plan and Develop a Data Collection Strategy Deploy and Implement the Data Collection Strategy Maintain the Data Collection Strategy Optimize the Data Collection Strategy

Developing and Managing Cadastral Data This Knowledge Area identifies the skills required to effectively develop, manage, implement and administer a robust Cadastral System, both digital and printed versions.

Developing and Managing Cadastral Data Plan and Develop a Mapping Program Deploy and Implement the Mapping Program Maintain the Mapping Program Optimize the Mapping Program

Appraising Property This area includes skills related to discovering property, developing and reporting property value, mass appraisal and single property appraisal, using the three approaches to value, land valuation, and value reconciliation, while considering specific property types.

Leading and Managing the Assessment Office This Knowledge Area is concerned with assessment administration and includes skills related to leadership and management such as planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.

Managing Complaints and Appeals This Knowledge Area is concerned with inquiries, complaints, and valuation/assessment appeals.

Managing Public Relations and Communications This Knowledge Area focuses on communicating with the public, government stakeholders, and the media.

Oversight and Compliance Review This Knowledge Area deals with the skills necessary for audit, oversight, and compliance reviews at a macro level (i.e., State/Province/National).

Products Appraising Property Working with the Legal Framework Collecting and Maintaining Property Data Developing and Managing Cadastral Data Appraising Property Leading and Managing the Assessment Office Managing Complaints and Appeals Managing Public Relations and Communications Oversight and Compliance Review One of the first products contemplated for the body of knowledge is a library comprised of the descriptions of each knowledge area.

Leading and Managing the Assessment Office Collecting and Maintaining Property Data Managing Complaints and Appeals Working with the Legal Framework Developing and Managing Cadastral Data Managing Public Relations and Communications Appraising Property Oversight and Compliance Review The body of knowledge will contribute to future education programs by area and/or as a group. Education Programs

Leading and Managing the Assessment Office Collecting and Maintaining Property Data Managing Complaints and Appeals Developing and Managing Cadastral Data Managing Public Relations and Communications Working with the Legal Framework Appraising Property Oversight and Compliance Review Each segment of the body of knowledge will contribute to support of the professional designation program.

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