Kentucky PVA Exam 2026 Practice Test: 200
Questions & Correct Answers | Property
Valuation Administrator Exam with correct
answers and rationale
Section 1: Kentucky Property Tax Law & Administration (Questions 1–40)
1. Under Kentucky law, property is assessed based on which standard?
A) Purchase price
B) Insurance value
C) Fair cash value
D) Replacement cost
Answer: C
Rationale: Kentucky law requires property to be assessed at fair cash value, the core standard under
KRS 132.220 and the Kentucky Constitution. The PVA must assess property at what it would bring at
a fair voluntary sale-6.
2. Fair cash value is best defined as:
A) Taxable value after exemptions
B) Price in a forced sale
C) Amount a willing buyer pays a willing seller
D) Original purchase price
Answer: C
Rationale: Fair cash value reflects open-market conditions between a willing buyer and willing seller,
neither under compulsion to buy or sell. This is the standard definition used in Kentucky property
valuation-6-19.
3. Which chapter of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) governs property valuation and
assessment?
A) KRS 61
B) KRS 132
C) KRS 134
D) KRS 160
Answer: B
Rationale: KRS Chapter 132 contains the primary statutes governing property valuation, assessment,
and taxation in Kentucky. This chapter establishes the legal framework for PVA duties-6.
4. What is the assessment date for property in Kentucky?
A) January 1
B) April 15
C) July 1
D) December 31
,Answer: A
Rationale: Property is assessed as of January 1 each year. All real and personal property are valued
based on their condition and ownership as of this date-6.
5. Under Kentucky law, the primary duty of the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) is to:
A) Collect property taxes from taxpayers
B) Assess all real and tangible personal property for ad valorem tax purposes within the county
C) Set tax rates for all taxing jurisdictions
D) Issue property tax bills to taxpayers
Answer: B
Rationale: The PVA's core responsibility is to discover, list, and value all taxable real and tangible
personal property in the county. Collection and billing are handled by county clerks or treasurers,
while tax rates are set by local taxing authorities-6-17.
6. The PVA is elected for a term of:
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 6 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Kentucky PVAs serve four-year terms. PVA elections are conducted in the same year
county elections are held, with terms beginning on the first Monday in December after the election-
2-6.
7. Which property must be assessed annually in Kentucky?
A) Real property only
B) Personal property only
C) Both real and personal property
D) Motor vehicles only
Answer: C
Rationale: Both real and tangible personal property are assessed annually in Kentucky. The PVA
must value all taxable real and tangible personal property as of January 1 each year-6.
8. When must the PVA physically inspect real property parcels?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) At least once every 4 years
Answer: D
Rationale: All real property parcels must be physically inspected by the PVA office at least once
every four years. This ensures accurate property records and valuation-6.
9. Which of the following is NOT a typical PVA responsibility?
A) Tracking ownership changes
B) Maintaining parcel maps
C) Administering property tax exemptions
D) Collecting property tax payments
,Answer: D
Rationale: The PVA assesses property and maintains records but does not collect tax payments.
Collection is handled by the county sheriff or treasurer-6-17.
10. Which of the following properties is exempt from taxation in Kentucky?
A) Residential rental property
B) Charitable organization property
C) Commercial retail property
D) Industrial warehouse
Answer: B
Rationale: Charitable, religious, and governmental properties are generally exempt from property
taxes in Kentucky-7.
11. The assessed value of property is multiplied by what to determine the property tax due?
A) Replacement cost
B) Tax rate
C) Depreciation
D) Capitalization rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Property tax = Assessed Value × Tax Rate. Other factors affect assessment, not the
calculation of tax due-7.
12. A taxpayer may appeal their property assessment first to the:
A) Kentucky Supreme Court
B) County Board of Assessment Appeals
C) Kentucky Court of Appeals
D) County Fiscal Court
Answer: B
Rationale: The first formal step in the appeals process is the County Board of Assessment Appeals.
Taxpayers typically request an informal review with the PVA first, but the Board is the first formal
appellate body-7-10.
13. Under KRS 132.210, who is responsible for listing property for taxation?
A) The property owner
B) The PVA
C) The county attorney
D) The Department of Revenue
Answer: A
Rationale: KRS 132.210 requires property owners to list their property for taxation, making it the
owner's responsibility to ensure accurate reporting-15.
14. What is the assessment year in Kentucky?
A) January 1 to December 31
B) July 1 to June 30
C) October 1 to September 30
D) April 1 to March 31
, Answer: A
Rationale: The assessment year in Kentucky runs from January 1 to December 31, with the valuation
date being January 1 of each year-15.
15. To be eligible to run for PVA, a candidate must be at least:
A) 18 years of age
B) 21 years of age
C) 24 years of age
D) 30 years of age
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 100 of the Kentucky Constitution requires that a PVA candidate be at least 24
years of age-2-5.
16. A PVA candidate must have resided in the county of candidacy for at least:
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Five years
Answer: B
Rationale: The candidate must have resided in the county at least one year preceding the election-2-
3.
17. How long does a "Certificate of Eligibility" remain valid after passing the PVA exam?
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Four years
Answer: B
Rationale: Each certificate expires one year from the date of issuance-2-16.
18. The minimum passing score for the Kentucky PVA qualifying examination is:
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Rationale: Qualified examinees with a score of 70% or better will be eligible to run for PVA-2-16.
19. Which of the following is NOT assessed by the PVA?
A) Real property
B) Tangible personal property
C) Intangible personal property
D) Motor vehicles
Answer: C
Rationale: Intangible personal property (such as stocks and bonds) is generally not assessed by the
PVA. The PVA assesses real and tangible personal property-7-17.
Questions & Correct Answers | Property
Valuation Administrator Exam with correct
answers and rationale
Section 1: Kentucky Property Tax Law & Administration (Questions 1–40)
1. Under Kentucky law, property is assessed based on which standard?
A) Purchase price
B) Insurance value
C) Fair cash value
D) Replacement cost
Answer: C
Rationale: Kentucky law requires property to be assessed at fair cash value, the core standard under
KRS 132.220 and the Kentucky Constitution. The PVA must assess property at what it would bring at
a fair voluntary sale-6.
2. Fair cash value is best defined as:
A) Taxable value after exemptions
B) Price in a forced sale
C) Amount a willing buyer pays a willing seller
D) Original purchase price
Answer: C
Rationale: Fair cash value reflects open-market conditions between a willing buyer and willing seller,
neither under compulsion to buy or sell. This is the standard definition used in Kentucky property
valuation-6-19.
3. Which chapter of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) governs property valuation and
assessment?
A) KRS 61
B) KRS 132
C) KRS 134
D) KRS 160
Answer: B
Rationale: KRS Chapter 132 contains the primary statutes governing property valuation, assessment,
and taxation in Kentucky. This chapter establishes the legal framework for PVA duties-6.
4. What is the assessment date for property in Kentucky?
A) January 1
B) April 15
C) July 1
D) December 31
,Answer: A
Rationale: Property is assessed as of January 1 each year. All real and personal property are valued
based on their condition and ownership as of this date-6.
5. Under Kentucky law, the primary duty of the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) is to:
A) Collect property taxes from taxpayers
B) Assess all real and tangible personal property for ad valorem tax purposes within the county
C) Set tax rates for all taxing jurisdictions
D) Issue property tax bills to taxpayers
Answer: B
Rationale: The PVA's core responsibility is to discover, list, and value all taxable real and tangible
personal property in the county. Collection and billing are handled by county clerks or treasurers,
while tax rates are set by local taxing authorities-6-17.
6. The PVA is elected for a term of:
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 6 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Kentucky PVAs serve four-year terms. PVA elections are conducted in the same year
county elections are held, with terms beginning on the first Monday in December after the election-
2-6.
7. Which property must be assessed annually in Kentucky?
A) Real property only
B) Personal property only
C) Both real and personal property
D) Motor vehicles only
Answer: C
Rationale: Both real and tangible personal property are assessed annually in Kentucky. The PVA
must value all taxable real and tangible personal property as of January 1 each year-6.
8. When must the PVA physically inspect real property parcels?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) At least once every 4 years
Answer: D
Rationale: All real property parcels must be physically inspected by the PVA office at least once
every four years. This ensures accurate property records and valuation-6.
9. Which of the following is NOT a typical PVA responsibility?
A) Tracking ownership changes
B) Maintaining parcel maps
C) Administering property tax exemptions
D) Collecting property tax payments
,Answer: D
Rationale: The PVA assesses property and maintains records but does not collect tax payments.
Collection is handled by the county sheriff or treasurer-6-17.
10. Which of the following properties is exempt from taxation in Kentucky?
A) Residential rental property
B) Charitable organization property
C) Commercial retail property
D) Industrial warehouse
Answer: B
Rationale: Charitable, religious, and governmental properties are generally exempt from property
taxes in Kentucky-7.
11. The assessed value of property is multiplied by what to determine the property tax due?
A) Replacement cost
B) Tax rate
C) Depreciation
D) Capitalization rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Property tax = Assessed Value × Tax Rate. Other factors affect assessment, not the
calculation of tax due-7.
12. A taxpayer may appeal their property assessment first to the:
A) Kentucky Supreme Court
B) County Board of Assessment Appeals
C) Kentucky Court of Appeals
D) County Fiscal Court
Answer: B
Rationale: The first formal step in the appeals process is the County Board of Assessment Appeals.
Taxpayers typically request an informal review with the PVA first, but the Board is the first formal
appellate body-7-10.
13. Under KRS 132.210, who is responsible for listing property for taxation?
A) The property owner
B) The PVA
C) The county attorney
D) The Department of Revenue
Answer: A
Rationale: KRS 132.210 requires property owners to list their property for taxation, making it the
owner's responsibility to ensure accurate reporting-15.
14. What is the assessment year in Kentucky?
A) January 1 to December 31
B) July 1 to June 30
C) October 1 to September 30
D) April 1 to March 31
, Answer: A
Rationale: The assessment year in Kentucky runs from January 1 to December 31, with the valuation
date being January 1 of each year-15.
15. To be eligible to run for PVA, a candidate must be at least:
A) 18 years of age
B) 21 years of age
C) 24 years of age
D) 30 years of age
Answer: C
Rationale: Section 100 of the Kentucky Constitution requires that a PVA candidate be at least 24
years of age-2-5.
16. A PVA candidate must have resided in the county of candidacy for at least:
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Five years
Answer: B
Rationale: The candidate must have resided in the county at least one year preceding the election-2-
3.
17. How long does a "Certificate of Eligibility" remain valid after passing the PVA exam?
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Four years
Answer: B
Rationale: Each certificate expires one year from the date of issuance-2-16.
18. The minimum passing score for the Kentucky PVA qualifying examination is:
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Rationale: Qualified examinees with a score of 70% or better will be eligible to run for PVA-2-16.
19. Which of the following is NOT assessed by the PVA?
A) Real property
B) Tangible personal property
C) Intangible personal property
D) Motor vehicles
Answer: C
Rationale: Intangible personal property (such as stocks and bonds) is generally not assessed by the
PVA. The PVA assesses real and tangible personal property-7-17.
