CE Requirements

The IPAI requires all active CIAO's to complete 60 hours of continuing education (CE) over a four-year cycle. All CIAOs are on the same CE cycle as detailed below. If you fail to complete CE hours, your designation will become inactive and will be reported as such to the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Continuing Education Cycle Schedule:

Cycle 1: January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2014

Cycle 2: January 1, 2015 – December 15, 2018

Cycle 3: January 1, 2019 – December 15, 2022 – Current Continuing Education Cycle

Do I need continuing education?

Yes, depending on when you received your CIAO designation!

• Before January 1, 2019 – You need 60 hours of CE as outlined above.
• After January 1, 2019 – You do not need to begin CE until January 1, 2023.
• I am working toward my CIAO – You do not need CE until after you have your designation.

For a complete list of IPAI courses, visit the course schedule of our website. CIAOs may also take courses through the Illinois Department of Revenue and International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). If you take a course from a provider other than the IPAI or IDOR, you are responsible for reporting that course by sending a copy of your completion certificate to the IPAI office. See the Reporting CE Hours page for more details.

Can I repeat courses?

You may only take the same course once every four years to earn CE hours toward your CIAO. Courses repeated within the four year CE cycle will not count toward CE credit.

The Illinois Department of Revenue has different requirements that only allow you to take the same course once every ten years. Contact IDOR for more information on these requirements.

Note: Beginning January 1, 2016, the Illinois Department of Revenue no longer requires assessors to meet level and category requirements.