To become a licensed Community Association Manager (CAM) in Florida, you must enroll in a course and pass an exam. Every two years, you must also complete 15 hours of continuing education. To complete these hours, you need to attend CAM License Courses in Florida.
These classes were usually in a classroom format; nowadays, you can easily participate in them virtually.
This article will go through everything you need to know about online CAM License Courses in Florida. You will also learn where you can find these classes and sign up for them for free.
Table of Contents
What are CAM License Courses?
The role of a CAM (Community Association Manager) is different from the role of a PM (Property Manager). Still, both of them help manage Community Associations, such as Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and Condo Associations (Condos).
Individuals who are interested in becoming Community Association Managers must enroll in a pre-license CAM Course and then pass the state exam.
1. Pre-license CAM Courses
CAM candidates must complete 16 hours of classroom or online instruction. These classes will help them get ready for passing the Florida CAM State Exam. Upon completion of the course, the candidates must submit their Certificate of Completion before they can take the evaluation. The exam is a multiple-choice format with 100 questions. You need a score of 75 to pass it.
2. License Renewal Courses (CE classes)
After passing the exam, you will receive your CAM License. However, to keep your license active, you must complete at least 15 hours of continuing education every two years.
The deadline for completion is usually on September 30 of every even-numbered year. These courses must be state-approved, so keep an eye out for that when you sign up for them.
The requirements for these 15 hours are, in general, split between 5 different topics of 3 hours each. All of these topics are related to community association management.
- Legal update (LU) – 3 hours
- Insurance and financial management (IFM) – 3 hours
- Physical property (OPP) – 3 hours
- Human resources (HR) – 3 hours
- Elective in any area mentioned above (ELE) – 3 hours
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the differences between in-person and online CAM License Courses in Florida?
In terms of content, there isn’t any difference between in-person and online classes. You will get the same knowledge from any of these two formats. Both in-person and online allow you to engage during the class and ask questions.
The only difference depends on your preference. If you enjoy being in a classroom setting with proximity to the instructor and other classmates, then in-person might be better. It is also the best option if you want to network.
On the other hand, if you are busy and always on the go, attending an online class from anywhere might suit you better. It gives you more flexibility, and you can still ask questions and network. You can also learn from specialist professionals who don’t live near you.
Are online CAM license courses in Florida free?
Several companies and CE classes instructors host online free courses periodically. You may not find these classes easily if you look for them on search engines (ex: Google). The best way to know about these classes is to sign up for industry newsletters such as FCAP or CAI. These newsletters often include information about CE Classes.
However, some schools offer paid packages that facilitate the whole process. In general, they include a platform where you can watch the 15 hours of classes at your convenience. They also submit your completed hours (credits).
How is attendance checked during online CAM License Courses in Florida?
In general, you have to sign up on a registration form when you want to participate in a CE class. The form will normally ask you questions such as:
– Name and last name
– Phone number
– Email address
– CAM license number
Most online meeting platforms, such as Zoom, register the time that participants enter and leave the meeting platform. Some platforms can even register how focused a participant is during the event. They capture whether the participant is replying to questions and participating in polls. Some even track if you click on another tab.
The entry and exit times are the key factors that instructors use to confirm attendance. If the time registered is not enough, they won’t be able to submit the credits to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
How are my credits submitted when I attend an online CAM License Course in Florida?
The instructor and their team will be responsible for submitting your credits to the DBPR. Once the class is over, they will be able to download an attendee report from the platform. This report will have all the information they need to apply your credits. In general, this report includes all the information participants filled in the registration form, as well as how long they have watched the class.
Can I attend an online CAM License Course even though I’m not licensed?
Normally, anyone can attend free online CE classes. But you need a CAM license number to get credits. However, you can ask for a certificate of attendance.
Often, HOA board members decide to participate in these free classes to learn about specific topics in community association management. This is usually the case for board members in self-managed communities. Participating in these classes helps them gain new skills to manage their associations more efficiently and compliantly.
Are online CAM License Courses recorded so that participants can re-watch them?
Sometimes they are. This depends on the speaker’s willingness to share the recording. Some are willing to share them only with attendees, while others don’t mind uploading them to YouTube so that everyone can watch and learn from them.
Some instructors don’t like to share the recordings, but they do share the presentation slides. They may also share some educational materials that can help you when you have questions about a specific topic.
However, it is important to note that watching a CE class recording usually doesn’t earn you credits for your CAM license renewal. These recordings are used to help community association managers and board members in case of any doubts on the topic being presented.
Free Online CAM License Courses
The best way to find out about upcoming CE classes is by signing up for newsletters from companies or organizations. Below, we list two companies that regularly host free online CE classes, plus a bonus tip.
1. Vinteum
Vinteum hosts one to two CE classes per month, along with other sponsors. The topics are very diverse, but the classes are often about legal updates, physical property, and financial management. A great thing about these classes is that many companies in the industry also attend. This makes it a good networking opportunity with other CAMs and vendors, and to learn from them.
It is very easy to sign up and log in to the classes, and we also send several reminders to help you stay on top of your schedule! Click below to sign up and receive information about upcoming online free CE classes.
2. Campbell Property Management
Campbell Property Management is an association management services company. They host online CEU classes as well on a variety of topics. By signing up for their newsletter, you will receive news about their company and services. Most importantly, you will receive information about the CEU classes they host, so you can easily sign up for them.
3. Bonus: FCAP Newsletter
FCAP (Florida Community Association Professionals) sends a newsletter on the second Friday of every month. This newsletter is full of great articles and materials about hot topics in the industry. They also often send information about upcoming CE classes and other interesting webinars.
