Exam Bulletin - Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator, OREA

Department of Consumer Affairs

Exam Code: EX-2116

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS): $7,241.00 - $9,062.00 per Month *1
*1: The salary stated in this bulletin may not reflect all pay raises or any additional bonuses.

View the SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 10/15/2024
  • 1/15/2025
  • 4/15/2025
  • 7/15/2025
  • 10/15/2025

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Postmark dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing. Applications received via email or fax will not be accepted.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2116

For SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02116

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Department of Consumer Afffairs
    Examination Services Unit, Attn: T. Patel
    1625 North Market Blvd., Ste. N-321
    Sacramento, CA 95834

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • Department of Consumer Afffairs
    Examination Services Unit, Attn: T. Patel
    1625 North Market Blvd., Ste. N-321
    Sacramento, CA 95834
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Drop off location may be non-operational on weekends and holidays.

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

  • Other - Examination documents. See "Taking the Examination" section for details.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00105458 - SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS)

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this examination bulletin to be accepted into the examination. Parttime or full-time jobs, regardless of whether paid or volunteer positions, and inside or outside California state service will count toward experience.

Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined, on a proportional basis, with experience applicable to another pattern to meet the total experience requirement.

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in California state service performing property appraisal duties of a class equivalent to a Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers). (Applicants who are within six months of meeting this requirement will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily meet the requirement before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience preparing formal real estate appraisals, including technical appraisal reviews. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with an emphasis in real estate, finance, business administration, or economics. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.) [Experience in California state service applied toward Pattern II must include two years performing duties in a class with a level of responsibility not less than that of a Property Appraiser/ Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers).]

License: Must hold in good standing a full license, residential certification or general certification, issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (previously named Office of Real Estate Appraisers). (Applicants who do not hold such a certification but meet the education and experience criteria for general certification will be admitted to the examination and may be appointed, but must satisfactorily meet the requirement within six months. Failure to do so may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress and cause for rejection during the probationary period.)



Willingness to travel and work odd hours away from the office; integrity and objectivity to conduct all work ethically and with independent judgment; and satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen.

Position Description

00105458 - SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS)

Property Appraisers/Investigators perform a variety of independent complex property appraisal, appraisal review, and investigative functions related to the licensing and certification of real estate appraisers, the accreditation of real estate appraisal education courses, and the investigation of complaints of unethical or illegal activity against real estate appraisers who are licensed or certified by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.

Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to travel and work odd hours away from the office; integrity and objectivity to conduct all work ethically and with independent judgment; and satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

Training & Experience (Supplemental Report) Examination – Weighted 100%: This examination consists of a Training & Experience examination and is the sole component of the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of: General appraisal methods, procedures, and terminology; provisions of the Government Code, Business and Professions Code, California Code of Regulations, and other codes applicable to real estate appraiser licensing and certification; Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) of 1989; the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Standards and their application; the guidelines of the Federal Appraisal Subcommittee and their applications; administrative and criminal procedures; investigative techniques and methods used in securing and preserving evidence and Bureau of Real Estate appraiser licensing/certification and compliance policy and procedures.

Ability to: Apply the required knowledge; conduct appraisals, appraisal reviews, or other market analyses and research of real property; develop techniques, methods, and skills required to conduct administrative and criminal investigations and draw sound conclusions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare clear, complete, and concise reports; communicate effectively.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR PROPERTY APPRAISER/INVESTIGATOR (OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS) Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Consumer Affairs

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies in

    Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

    You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

    • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
    • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

    Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

    Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

    Taking the Examination

    The Training and Experience Examination (T&E) will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and training. This T&E is the examination and will account for 100% of your score.

    Access the T&E Examination here

    How to Submit: Your electronic examination application, the completed T&E and any other required documents can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. Sign into your profile and apply for the Senior Property Appraiser/ Investigator examination for the Department of Consumer Affairs. Add the documents listed below as attachments to your Examination/Employment Application (STD. 678).

    What to Include: In order to apply for and participate in this examination, you must submit a complete examination package. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application. The following documents must be submitted along with your Examination/Employment Application (STD. 678):

    • T&E Examination including the Affirmation Statement, and Conditions of Employment form

    Testing Departments

    • Department of Consumer Affairs

    Contact Information

    Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

    Department of Consumer Affairs
    Examination Services Unit, Attn: T. Patel
    1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-321
    Sacramento, CA 95834
    Phone: (916) 574-8300
    Twinkle.Patel@dca.ca.gov

    California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

    Equal Opportunity Employer

    The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

    Drug Free Statement

    It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

    General Information

    Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

    If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

    Department of Consumer Affairs reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

    General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

    Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

    High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

    Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

    Application Methods:
    Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
    By Mail
    In Person (see bulletin for details)
    Alternate Application Process

    While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

    Exam Application Package Checklist

    Blank Application Form (STD678)

    Accommodation Request (STD679)