To register for a course – Students may register in one of three ways: (1) Go to IPAIONLINE.COM and complete the on-line registration form, (2) Complete the registration form in the back of this catalog and fax it to the IPAI office or (3) Complete the registration form in the back of this catalog and mail it to the IPAI office. No registrations are accepted over the phone. Registration forms are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a confirmation letter which outlines the details of your course and provides you with overnight accommodation information. All registration forms must be received no later than 7 days prior to the beginning of the conference or class.

Determining if you will get credit for a course - If you are enrolling in a course for continuing education credit, it is your responsibility to determine if you are eligible to receive credit. IPAI does not confirm your eligibility for Department of Revenue or Office of Banks & Real Estate credit. Assessment officials seeking continuing education maintenance hours for the annual Illinois Department of Revenue stipend or to become eligible for election should review their official Illinois Department of Revenue transcript and the course descriptions to determine their eligibility. Since course titles have changed over the years, it is important for students to review course numbers, not course titles. The course numbers never change. Students who are enrolling in a course for Illinois Office of Banks & Real Estate, should make sure that they have not previously taken the course.

Course schedule - All courses begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Lunch break is typically 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Registration at classes – Registration at all conference locations will be on Monday morning from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and Wednesday morning from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. There is a special Sunday registration at the Spring Conference. Registration for satellite locations will be in the classroom from 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

What to bring to class – Certain classes require materials that must be brought to class. Students should check their confirmation letter for details on specific course requirements. Each student should bring a calculator and writing utensil. Temperatures may vary in classrooms, so a light jacket or sweater is recommended.If you have any questions concerning specific course requirements, please call the IPAI office.

Course manuals – Course manuals will be available at registration. IPAI does not mail course materials prior to class. (Note: Students with learning and/or physical disabilities should contact the IPAI Executive Director to discuss potential alternatives.)

Cancellation penalty - Students who cancel from an IPAI course:

-More than 14 days from the starting date of the course will receive a full refund less cancellation fee.

-More than 7 days from the starting date of the course will receive a full refund less $50.00 and cancellation fee.

-Less than 7 days from the starting date of the course will receive a 50% refund less cancellation fee.

No shows forfeit all fees.

Students who cancel will be assessed a $25.00 cancellation fee n addition to the corresponding cancellation penalty. No credit balances will be kept.

Cancellation/Transfer Policy – Students transferring from one class to another or canceling may do so by completing a Cancellation/Transfer Form. Students will be assessed a $25.00 cancellation/transfer fee.

Cancellation of a course – All classes have minimum enrollments. If a course does not have enough students, or needs to be cancelled for any other reason, each student will be individually contacted as soon as a decision to cancel the course has been made. Payments will be transferred to another course or refunded.

Paying for a course – Payment for IPAI courses is expected 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the course. Students that fail to pay for a course will not be allowed to register for additional courses. In addition, grades from unpaid courses will not be reported to the Department of Revenue until payment is received. Students that register less than two weeks prior to the beginning of the course may pay for the course at the class site during registration. IPAI accepts only cash or checks.

Receiving your grade - IPAI will make every effort to grade exams as quickly as possible. As a general rule, exams will be graded within three days of receiving the exams from the instructor. The grades will be recorded in your permanent record and certificates will be mailed to you. IPAI does not give exam scores over the phone. For courses taken at the Spring Conference, please allow four weeks to receive your results.

Reporting results to state agencies – Successful completion of a class will automatically be reported to the Illinois Department of Revenue if payment has been received. Students that wish to have successful completion reported to the Illinois Office of Banks & Real Estate must provide their state license number on the sign-in sheet during class. IPAI will file the necessary paperwork upon completion of the course. IPAI will not report successful completion to any other state unless a written request is submitted.

Overnight accommodations – It is the responsibility of the student to make their own overnight accommodations. At most locations, IPAI will reserve a group block and negotiate a special rate. IPAI cannot guarantee that students will receive the special rate.

Re-taking an examination - If you fail to receive a minimum score on an exam, you will be notified by the IPAI. If you wish, you may attempt to pass the exam a second time. Students must wait at least 7 days from the original test date and no longer than the end of the calendar year. The fee for re-taking the exam is $50.00. Students will be required to take the exam at one of the designated testing locations. Call the IPAI office to sign up for a testing time.

Stipend information - If you have any questions concerning the requirements or administration of the stipend, please call the Department of Revenue at (217) 785-7311.

Pre-election qualifications -Pre-election requirements for assessing officials vary depending on the particular position and the equalized assessed value of the jurisdiction. Individuals who have questions concerning the requirements in their jurisdiction should contact the Department of Revenue for clarification.

Seminar credit vs. exam credit - Several courses are presented as examination courses, as well as, seminar courses. For example, course #821, “The Income Approach: Assessing Real Property Investments” is an examination course. The course has also been approved as a seminar course and is course #829. The course is identical except for the examination. Students that have received credit for a course in the exam format will not be eligible to receive credit for the seminar format and vise versa. It is extremely important to read the course descriptions and your official Illinois Department of Revenue transcript to ensure that you will receive credit.

Introductory Computer Course Restriction – Students may only receive credit for one “introductory” computer course during their career. Introductory courses are labeled as such in the course descriptions.

Parking - Certain conference locations may not have free parking; be prepared to pay to park.

Lunch - Lunch is not provided at IPAI courses so money for lunch is necessary.

Students with Disabilities – All facilities used by IPAI for classes are accessible for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should contact the IPAI Executive Director to make the necessary arrangements.

Inclement Weather – IPAI classes will be cancelled only in the event of very extreme conditions. If very extreme conditions exist, you may call the IPAI office to determine if your course has been cancelled. If you are calling after normal business hours, the recording will state if any class has been cancelled.