How to become an assessor, business valuator or appraiser
Official title: Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
Also called: Business valuator, Property assessor, Property valuator, Building appraiser, Business appraiser, Municipal assessor, Property appraiser, Valuator-appraiser, Assistant appraiser, Chartered appraiser, Furniture appraiser, Insurance appraiser
Assessors and appraisers determine the value of land, businesses, estates and other real property, for purposes of sale, purchase, taxation or disposal of assets. Appraisers also determine the value of personal and household items. Business valuators quantify the value of a business, its securities or its intangible assets. Assessors, business valuators and appraisers are employed by government agencies, real estate firms and other private companies, or they may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Assessors
- Assess value of land, building, structures, machinery, equipment and property improvements for purposes of taxation, grants and regional planning and prior to sale or purchase
- Review and analyze data such as past sales, title searches, engineering and alignment maps, soil maps, subdivision plans, water and sewer plans, leasing cost data and easements
- Explain assessment process to ratepayers
- May specialize in advising and consulting in a specific field of assessment such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or farm lands
- Business valuators
- Collect and analyze financial records of a business, such as financial statements, budgets, projections and sales data, to assess its competitiveness or to estimate its market value
- Prepare reports for estate planning, matrimonial litigation, insurance and business losses
How to become one
Assessors require a college diploma in municipal assessment and accreditation with the municipal assessment association of the province. Business valuators usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in accounting, business or commerce and accreditation with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators based on successful completion of its business and security valuation program. Appraisers require a college diploma or vocational training in the field of appraisal or several years of experience in a position related to the field of appraisal. In Quebec, membership with l'Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec (OEAQ) is required to use the title chartered appraiser. Real estate appraisers usually require several years of experience as a real estate agent, right-of-way agent or property administrator and may require Canadian residential appraiser certification. Appraisers of residential, commercial or industrial property require accreditation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
Ways in
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 31% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Real estate; Business administration, management and operations; Business/commerce, general.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $68,250 a year The middle half earn $56,258 to $84,377.
- About 17,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 18,700 are projected by 2033. (+8.7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
- Insurance underwriters
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an assessor, business valuator or appraiser?
Assessors require a college diploma in municipal assessment and accreditation with the municipal assessment association of the province. Business valuators usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in accounting, business or commerce and accreditation with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators based on successful completion of its business and security valuation program. Appraisers require a college diploma or vocational training in the field of appraisal or several years of experience in a position related to the field of appraisal. In Quebec, membership with l'Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec (OEAQ) is required to use the title chartered appraiser. Real estate appraisers usually require several years of experience as a real estate agent, right-of-way agent or property administrator and may require Canadian residential appraiser certification. Appraisers of residential, commercial or industrial property require accreditation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
How much does an assessor, business valuator or appraiser earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $68,250 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $56,258 to $84,377.
Is an assessor, business valuator or appraiser a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2033, from about 17,200 to about 18,700 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an assessor, business valuator or appraiser?
Not always. 47% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03