Certified Community Association Manager^® Program

What is CCAM^® Certification?

The CCAM^® (Certified Community Association Manager) program was developed to establish and ensure standards of practice and professionalism in managing California community associations. The process entails meeting specific requirements and qualifications, including successful completion of the CACM^SM Core Law and Ethics Courses, as well as a six month minimum experience requirement. Individuals participating in the program enjoy continued personal and professional growth in the industry.

Application Process

All NEW applicants who apply for Certification on or after January 1, 2003, must meet the revised program requirements. These program parameters satisfy the statutory requirements of Business & Professions Code 11500, et. seq. which took effect July 1, 2003.

1. Applicant membership in CACM is optional but does afford reduced certification and education course fees and additional benefits for an applicant. If the applicant is a CACM member, they must be a member in good standing.
    
2. An applicant, who performs either full service management and/or financial management functions and meets all other program requirements, is eligible to apply for certification.
    
3. All applicants (whether full service management or financial management) must meet the following educational requirements for the CCAM certification program. An applicant must successfully complete these courses, within three (3) years of application to the program.
    
   1. The Basics of Association Management BAM
      (14 hours general management).
       
   2. California Law for Community Associations
      (16 hours California law).
       
   3. Ethics for California Community Managers (4 hours).
       
4. Complete and sign the application verifying that the basic information, education, employment, and narrative is accurate and that the applicant agrees to subscribe to the CACM Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
    
5. Obtain signature of applicant’s employer or supervisor verifying information reported on the application is correct. Current employment will also be verified by CACM.
    
6. Submit the application processing fee and the annual maintenance fee with the application.
    
7. Provide three letters of recommendation. These letters must be from the following professionals: 
    
   1) Association client board member, committee member or Chairperson. 2) A CCAM^® or PCAM in good standing.
   3) A Professional Affiliate (i.e.: attorney, insurance agent or other vendor type with which the applicant conducts regular business). 
    
   Follow the instructions on the Form letter included in the application packet. To insure confidentiality, the letters must be mailed directly to CACM in a sealed envelope with the person’s signature over the seal. 
    
8. If applicant is a member of CACM, the member must be in good standing. Good standing means the applicant must be current with any CACM accounts receivable and not have any pending Form 1-A or Ethics sanctions filed against them.
    
9. Application and Recommendation Letters expire six (6) months from date of completion.

CACM will acknowledge receipt of application form, by mail. Individuals submitting application forms which are incomplete, do not meet requirements and/or qualifications, lack letters of recommendation or fees will be notified by mail.

Once all required components have been received, the application will be reviewed. Following review, all applicants will be notified by mail of status or award of Certification.

Newly certified individuals will be issued a certification number, a CCAM^® welcome packet, a copy of the Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice, the CCAM^® certificate and CCAM^® pin. Certification expires three years from issue date.

Applicants and Certified Community Association Managers must abide by all program and member parameters in order to maintain active enrollment.

CCAM^® Certification Requirements and Qualifications

To become a CCAM, an applicant must:

1. Pay the current CCAM applicant certification processing and current CCAM maintenance fee. 
    
2. Be a high school graduate or its equivalent, and be at least 18 years of age.
    
3. Be employed for the past 6 months as a community association manager, as evidenced by the experience credit form on the application.
    
4. All applicants (whether full service management or financial management) must successfully complete the following educational requirements for the CCAM certification program. within three (3) years of application to the program.
    
   • The Basics of Association Management (BAM), 
   • California Law for Community Associations,
   • Ethics for California Community Managers.

Certification Qualifications for Full Service Management

If the applicant practices Full Service Management, the applicant must perform minimum of 7 of the 10 functions used to define community association manager duties. The ten (10) full service management functions include:

1. Budget preparation
2. Contract negotiation and administration
3. Providing a Board of Directors guidance on the administration of governing documents and laws related to the activities and affairs of community associations
4. Supervision of association employees and staff members
5. Management of association maintenance programs
6. Management/administration of association Rules and Regulations and Architectural Standards
7. Management/supervision of association recreational programs
8. Primary responsibility for homeowner/resident/tenant communications and liaison
9. Risk management of association properties, activities and business affairs
10. Responsible for the implementation of association Board of Director’s policies.

Certification Qualifications for Financial Management

If the applicant practices Financial Management only, the applicant must perform a minimum of 10 of the 12 functions used to define community association financial management duties. The twelve (12) financial management functions include:

1. Management/administration of association daily financial affairs
2. Provide guidance and assistance to the Board of Directors regarding the interpretation of governing documents and affairs of the community association
3. Duties include owner/resident/tenant communications and liaison regarding the financial activities of the association
4. Identify and report financial anomalies to the association
5. Oversee the billing and collection of assessments and the application of the delinquency control policy of the association
6. Respond to escrow demand statements, requests for disclosures, and 3rd party requests for access to association documents
7. Coordinate with financial institutions regarding association funds, updating bank signature cards, investment of reserve funds and related activities
8. Cause to be prepared interim financial statements and accompanying documents that comply with Civil Code Section 1365.5
9. Coordinate with CPA to cause to be prepared annual financial statements in compliance with Civil Code Section 1365
10. Filing of various federal and state documents mandated by law included but not limited to 1099 forms, payroll taxes, EDD requirements, federal and state tax returns, estimated tax payments
11. Maintain vendor and supplier histories including invoices, payments, tax ID numbers, and other information required to properly report expenses and payments
12. Maintain corporate financial records either electronically or as original documents as directed by the Board of Directors

The following information packages contain additional information and requirements on the certification process:

CCAM^® Re-Certification

A CCAM^® must be re-certified every three years, starting with the third annual billing year after initial certification. There is no fee for re-certification, however to qualify for re-certification, a CCAM^® must file a re-certification application and maintain certification. 

In order to maintain certification, a CCAM or applicant must be current with all membership (if applicable) and certification maintenance fees, all event, registration fees, continuing education, and any other applicable fees.

As a matter or course, CACM always notifies all managers who are due for re-certification of their renewal date. We also inform the manager of the completed credits and what additional credits are needed, if any. 

The following information packages contain additional information and requirements on the recertification process:

CCAM^® Termination and Reinstatement

CCAM^® applicants or program participants may be terminated from the program for nonpayment of fees or violations of the CACM Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice. Termination of CACM membership automatically terminates participation in the CCAM^® program.

Please contact the office of CACM for further information regarding reinstatement of membership or CCAM^® status.