When you have a community association manager license, you need to renew it every two years.
To do so, you need to complete a required minimum number of hours of continuing education.
This article will go through everything you need to know about renewing your CAM license in Florida. It will cover in-person and online classes. You will also learn where you can find these courses for free at any time of the year.
How to obtain your community association manager license?
Before diving into the renewal process, let’s see how you obtain a community association manager license in Florida.
You require a CAM license in Florida when managing a community association (HOA, Condo, Co-ops) of more than 10 units and/or with an annual budget of more than $100,000.
To become a licensed community association manager (CAM), you must complete at least 16 hours of classroom or online instructions. These classes will help you get the knowledge required to pass the Florida CAM State Exam.
Once you complete the 16 hours course, you must submit your certificate of completion to take the test.
The Florida CAM State Exam has 100 multiple choice questions. You have 3 hours to complete the test. You need a minimum score of 75 to pass the evaluation and obtain your community association manager license.
How to renew your community association manager license?
All community association manager licenses expire on September 30th of every even-numbered year. For yours to remain valid, you must complete 15 hours of continuing education every two years. In general, the 15 hours are split between five different categories of 3 hours each. The topics are the following:
- Physical Property (OPP) – 3 hours
- Insurance and financial management (IFM) – 3 hours
- Legal Update (LU) – 3 hours
- Human Resources (HR) – 3 hours
- Elective in any of these areas (ELE) – 3 hours
Each time you attend a class in one of these categories, you earn Continuing Education (CE) Credits. Keep in mind that these classes should be state-approved. Click here to see a list of state-approved courses. This file includes the topic, time, credits, instructor name, and classroom format (in-person or online).
Classroom vs Online CAM license courses
You can choose to attend a CE class either in-person or virtually. The information you will get will be the same. Both formats allow you to ask questions and interact with the instructor and other participants.
A classroom format may suit you better if you enjoy meeting new people and networking. Whereas participating in a virtual class allows you to learn from the comfort of your home or office. A lot of times, these classes are recorded so participants can rewatch them whenever they want.
Here’s an example of a recent CE class recording.
Please note that watching a CE class recording doesn’t allow you to get credits for your license renewal. To get credits, you would need to sign up to a platform such as Zoom so the instructor can check your attendance. Once your attendance is confirmed, the instructor can submit your credits to the DBPR.
Online classes offer a lot of flexibility. They are ideal for professionals that are busy and often on the go.
The classroom format may provide more social interaction, but the virtual one ensures less distraction and helps you save time.
The easiest and most affordable way to renew your license is by attending online classes. Many providers offer free online CE classes throughout the year so that you can sign up at your convenience. This means you no longer have to arrange your schedule around these events. You can register for a course in the morning and attend it just a few hours later.
Is a Florida CAM license valid in other states?
Each US state has its own regulations. As of 2012, nine states require community association managers to be licensed:
- Alaska
- California
- Connecticut
- The District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Nevada
- Virginia
For your Florida CAM license to be valid in one of these states, there must be licensing reciprocity. This means that the jurisdiction of one’s state allows licensees from another state to practice in its jurisdiction. If you are planning on moving to another state, check if reciprocal licenses are possible and the requirements.
Where to find free online CAM license courses for Florida?
Vinteum
Vinteum hosts several free online CE classes per month. The diverse courses cover all the topics required to renew your community association manager license. Different vendors also attend, making it a great opportunity to network.
It is very easy to sign up and log in to the classes. You receive reminders so that you don’t forget about them. After the course, you receive the recording along with bonus educational materials. Click here to sign up and receive information about upcoming online free CE classes.
Campbell Property Management
Campbell Property Management is an association management services company. They provide management services to community associations in South Florida. They host online CEU classes as well on a variety of topics. You will receive news about their company and services by signing up for their newsletter.
Final points
CE classes allow you to learn about the latest industry trends. They help you become an informed and talented professional. Community association managers are often on the go. Watching online CE courses and other educational webinars enables you to save time, gain new skills and grow your business.
