Credentials for Managers

Credentials for ManagersAdapted from CAI's website: www.caionline.org

More than 90 percent of community association board

members would prefer to hire a community manager who has the required education and experience to earn professional credentials. Here’s what some of them said when surveyed:

“Credentialed managers steer us in the right direction, help with decision making and guide us in difficult situations.”

“Novices miss things. There is no other way, without training and continuing education, that anyone—no matter how many years of experience—can keep up with a trained professional.”

“The education and training provide the manager with the tools . . . to answer questions—and keep us out of trouble.”

“The knowledge (our manager) possesses from experience and credentials is extensive and extremely helpful.”

“The association benefits greatly from a manager who demonstrates a basic knowledge of community management by obtaining credentials and certifications.”

“Credentialed managers help us remain completely within the law… Having worked once with a management company that provided us with a person who did not know the law—or even how to write minutes—verged on disastrous. Save us from these novices, please.”

“Credentials separate the professional from someone who talks a good game but won’t invest the time and/or money to … give more value to communities.”

“I have seen a clear difference between those who are credentialed and those who are not.”

CMCA THE ESSENTIAL CREDENTIAL

The Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) is the only international certification program designed exclusively for managers of homeowner and condominium associations and cooperatives. The CMCA recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the fundamental knowledge required to manage community associations.

Association homeowners and board members as well as management companies seek qualified professionals to manage their communities. Obtaining the CMCA certification will give both you and your employer confidence that you have the specialized skills they need. For a small investment in time and money, you can earn this certification and be recognized as a committed professional:

• The CMCA can be obtained with a minimal investment in time.

• With just a few days in the required prerequisite course, one day for the exam, and time in between to study, you can be on your way to receiving your certification.

• The CMCA can be obtained at a relatively low cost, yet it's a great investment in your future.

Earning the CMCA is the first step toward building your professional image and expertise. After earning the CMCA, you will be on your way to earning additional community management credentials, such as CAI's Association Management Specialist® (AMS®) and Professional Community Association Manager®

(PCAM®) designations. CAI's Community Association Manager Compensation and Salary Survey shows that managers who obtained CMCA certification earn, on average, 20% more than non-credentialed community association managers.

Community managers interested in obtaining the CMCA certification can do so by following these three steps.

Step One:

Option 1: EducationComplete and pass one prerequisite course on community association management.

Option 2: ExperienceIf you have at least five years experience as a community association manager, you may receive a one-time waiver of the prerequisite course. The experience must be as a community association manager—not as an assistant manager. If you do not successfully pass the examination the first time, you will be required to take the prerequisite course prior to retaking the examination.

Option 3: License or CredentialHold an active Arizona CAAM, California CCAM, Florida CAM or Nevada CAM

Step Two:

Complete and submit the online application for the CMCA examination.

Step Three:

Successfully pass the CMCA examination. Prepare yourself for the professional challenges you face every day and boost your career.

The CMCA certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCCA accredits professional certification programs across the country that comply with its strict standards. The mission of NCCA is to help ensure the health, welfare and safety of the public through the accreditation of certification programs and organizations that assess professional competence. The purpose of NCCA accreditation is to provide the means to identify certification programs that serve the public's and other stakeholders' competency assurance needs. NCCA accreditation establishes the CMCA program as a strong professional credentialing program.

ADVANCED CREDENTIALS

The following CAI credentials require community management work experience in addition to education. You will know that your work experience qualifies if it complies with this definition of a community manager:

A community association manager will have the knowledge, ethics, professionalism and skills with verifiable experience in financial, administrative, and facilities management in at least one community association, either commercial or residential. The community association manager must be compensated for providing professional guidance and assistance to the board of directors of any association(s) managed by that community association manager, whether the individual is acting as a full time independent contractor, or as an employee of a management firm, or as a general manager or executive director of a common interest development. Management of property other than community associations will not meet the qualifications for community association manager.

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (AMS)

The AMS designation demonstrates a higher level of commitment to your career and the community association industry. An AMS designation is recommended for managers who want to enhance their career opportunities by increasing their knowledge and expertise.

How do you earn the AMS designation?

• Two (2) years verified experience in financial, administrative, and facilities management of at least one association.

• Successfully complete at least two M-200 level courses (M-201 - M-206).

• Successfully passed the CMCA exam administered by CAMICB.

• Complete the application.

• Pay the application fee.

• Member: $150 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $385

How do you maintain the AMS designation?

• Pay annual maintenance fees (due August 1st of each year).

• Member: $85 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $310

• Re-designate every three years on August 1st and meet continuing education requirements.

• Comply with the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics.

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGER (PCAM)

The pinnacle of community association management. The PCAM designation is the highest professional recognition available nationwide to managers who specialize in community association management. Earn your PCAM and join the elite—the select—the best.

Recommended for experienced managers who want to demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge and who wish to be recognized as one of the best and most experienced managers in the nation.

No other designation in the community association management business symbolizes professionalism like the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). Denoting the height of knowledge and expertise for community managers worldwide, the designation signifies the highest level of individual accomplishment in the community association management profession.

Employing a manager who has earned a PCAM means you have a professional who knows how to preserve the character of the community, protect property values, meet your expectations and build a true sense of community.

What are the prerequisites for the PCAM designation?

• Five years of direct community association management experience.

• Successful completion of all six M-200 level courses (with the last PMDP course completed within the past five years).

• Successfully passed the CMCA examination administered by CAMICB.

How do you pursue the PCAM designation?

• Complete the prerequisites.

• Earn a minimum total of 125 points on the PCAM application, including:

• A minimum of 55 points in Section II.

• A maximum of 20 points is allowed for Professional Designations or Licenses.

• A maximum of 30 points is allowed for Formal Education.

• Complete the PCAM application. Obtain a copy of the PCAM application online at caionline.org/Learning Center/Credentials/PCAM.

• Submit the nonrefundable application fee with the PCAM application.

• Member: $195 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $430All applicants have one year from the date of application approval to complete the Case Study.

How do you maintain the PCAM designation?

• Pay annual maintenance fees (due August 1st of each year).

• Member: $160 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $385

• Re-designate every three years in August and meet continuing education requirements.

• Comply with the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics.

LARGE-SCALE MANAGER (LSM)

This specialist designation is designed to allow PCAM designees to specialize within their profession. CAI acknowledges the unique aspects of being a large-scale community manager and is providing an opportunity for recognition and continuing education for you to expand your career opportunities.

How do you earn the LSM specialist designation?

• This specialist designation is available only to experienced large-scale managers who hold an active PCAM designation.

• A LSM candidate must have a minimum ten years of community association management experience or five years of community association management experience and five years of municipal management or a comparable position of responsibility at the executive level, or hold a Master’s degree in Public/Business/Parks & Recreation Administration.

• A LSM candidate must currently be a professional large-scale manager, for at least five years, responsible for the day-to-day operation of a large-scale community association. For the purpose of this program, the definition of a large-scale

community is listed below, all elements of which must be met:

• A single, contiguous community association with an on-site, full time manager

• A minimum of 1,000 units or a minimum of 1,000 acres

• Provides municipaltype services

• A minimum annual operating budget of 2 million dollars

• A LSM candidate must have attended one CAI Large- Scale Managers Workshop or completed the CAI's M-340 course within the past five years.

• A LSM candidate must have earned a total of 135 points, and the minimum points stipulated per section, prior to submitting the application. Please see the application for a detailed listing of the points available and the section requirements.

• Submit the nonrefundable application fee with the LSM application.

• Member: $95 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $320

How do you maintain the LSM specialist designation?

• Pay annual maintenance fees (due August 1st of each year).

• Member: $55 (Individual Manager Membership)

• Nonmember: $280

• Attain of 75 points every three (3) years which must include the required activities listed on the second page of the re-designation form. Please see the re-designation form at www.caionline.org for the full details on how points are earned for various continuing education and service activities.

• Comply with the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics.