(a) Each appointed and sole elected assessor must comply with the applicable continuing education requirement set forth herein. All other elected assessors may voluntarily participate in the continuing education program and are subject to the same requirements for continuing education credit and reimbursement as provided in this Subpart.

1. (1) Within one year of attaining certification as a State certified assessor each appointed or sole elected assessor must successfully complete the introduction to mass appraisal component if the introduction to mass appraisal component was not elected for certification.

2. (2) Effective October 1, 2011, each appointed or sole elected assessor must successfully complete an average of 12 continuing education credits every year. A continuing education year is defined as beginning on October 1st and ending on September 30th of the following year. Continuing education credit means the number of contact hours awarded for attendance at approved courses, conferences, and seminars. Continuing education credits are awarded on an hour for hour basis in full hour amounts only.

   1. (i) If an assessor successfully completes more than 12 continuing education credits in one continuing education year, as many as 12 of the excess credits may be applied toward the requirement for only the next continuing education year. Continuing education credit requirements already satisfied for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 continuing education years will remain satisfied.
   2. (ii) If an assessor has not satisfied the required number of continuing education credits for the prior year, continuing education credits successfully completed in the current year will first be applied retroactively to satisfy the prior continuing education year requirement. In no case shall credit be awarded retroactively to satisfy more than one continuing education year.

3. (3) The continuing education requirement commences upon the following date:

   1. (i) For a certified assessor or certified acting assessor, the requirement commences upon the October 1st next succeeding the date such certification was issued.
   2. (ii) For a certified assessor who is subsequently appointed, the requirement commences upon the October 1st next succeeding the date of such appointment.
   3. (iii) For an assessor certified as a candidate for assessor prior to his or her appointment pursuant to Subpart 8188-3 of this Part and appointed prior to the expiration of his or her certificate, the requirement commences upon the October 1st next succeeding the date of appointment.

(b) Continuing education credit shall be awarded for courses, conferences and seminars which are primarily devoted to assessment administration or real property valuation. Credits shall be awarded only if approval of the course, conference or seminar is secured from ORPTS. All courses, conferences and seminars require such approval. Approval may be obtained by submitting an application to ORPTS containing:

1. (1) a detailed syllabus, including whether there will be an examination at the conclusion of the course, conference or seminar provided, however, that a syllabus is not required for a course which has been previously approved for continuing education credit and the content of the course remains unchanged;
2. (2) the scheduled duration of the course, conference or seminar including the classroom contact days and hours;
3. (3) a description of the occupational experience or educational background of the scheduled instructor; and
4. (4) the name of the organization sponsoring or offering the course, conference or seminar.