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Since 1991 CACM has stayed abreast of growing legislative and management challenges to meet the professional education needs of the developing CID management industry. We have witnessed numerous changes over the years and have been proactive in designing new curriculum and educational methods to best support management practitioners in California. Our new tiered courses, tailored to both entry-level and seasoned managers, enhance your knowledge and continued growth as a professional community manager.
 
 
Some CACM courses are approved by the California Department of Real Estate (Sponsor 3012) for continuing education credit. However, this approval does not constitute an endorsement of the views expressed by the course authors, instructors, or lecturers. Students seeking DRE credit should be prepared to show picture identification and provide CACM with a DRE licensee number. The DRE has a course and instructor evaluation available on the lower right section of the home page of their website at www.dre.ca.gov.
 

Tier I Courses

The CCAM® Certification Program
Setting a goal to successfully complete the CCAM (Certified Community Association Manager) certification process means you have made a commitment to achieving a higher standard in community association management. Those who possess the CCAM certification have shown their peers, clients, employers and industry professionals that their achievement counts them among the best.
 
Basics of Association Management (BAM)
It was not long ago that managers simply thought about getting ready for a board meeting by mailing the board packet on time. Now the manager is expected to be an expert in community management, facilities maintenance, financial affairs, people management and more!  This course is designed to provide a broad understanding of the industry as well as the specific requirements to meet and exceed your community expectations. Participants will leave with practical information to put into use that day!
 
Course Highlights:
  • Community association definitions and types
  • Client relations and business etiquette
  • Community association governance and operations
  • Community association governing documents, amending and hierarchy
  • Financial management obligations
  • Insurance and contracts
  • Trends in community management

    This two-day course, offered in one-day modules, provides seven hours of continuing education credits for each day. For individuals with a real estate license, sixteen hours of DRE credit is available.  Please note the BAM course DOES NOT qualify for recertification.
 
BAM by Correspondence
If you have two or more years of verifiable experience, you may challenge the BAM course by registering to take a comprehensive exam.  The exam must be successfully completed within three months of the challenge request date.  California Department of Real Estate has not approved BAM by Correspondence for continuing education credit.  Contact CACM Education for more information and to register.
 
California Law: Modules I through IV
These interactive courses include 16 hours of instruction on the laws you must know and apply when managing or servicing community associations. Each module also provides four hours of DRE credit for individuals possessing a real estate license.  Please note the California Law modules DO NOT qualify for recertification.
 
Module I: Principles of California Law
Explore the numerous laws that define California's Common Interest Developments (CID) and how community associations are created, governed and maintained.  Learn how to define and enforce board, member and management's rights and responsibilities. Understand which legal remedies exist when problems cannot be resolved. A current Condo Bluebook is included with the extensive course materials. (4 hours plus exam)
 
Module II: Financial Management
Learn about the financial operations of a CID and actually work with balance sheets, revenue and expense statements, variance reports and other financial records. This course will take you through basic accounting principles, required financial disclosures, assessment collection principles and state reporting requirements as well as much more. After successfully completing this course, you will be comfortable with the financial questions that arise at your board meetings. (4 hours plus exam)
 
Module III: Community Management
Managing a community is often like managing a business. This course explores the many facets of employment issues, risk management, and property maintenance. You will learn how to manage personnel issues, environmental issues you need to consider while maintaining facilities and much more! (4 hours plus exam)
 
Module IV: Meetings and Records
Special meetings, annual meetings, monthly board meetings, elections, recalls, proxies... You will explore how to prepare for, notice and conduct a variety of CID meetings. This course will give you the confidence to prepare the best possible agendas and minutes. You will also define appropriate record retention policies. (4 hours plus exam)
 
California Law by Correspondence
Unable to attend scheduled classes? Been employed in the industry at least two years? Consider registering to complete the California Law modules by correspondence. You will receive up to date information, test yourself with quizzes and then take final exams. California Department of Real Estate has not approved California Law by Correspondence for continuing education credit.  You have six months to complete the courses. (16 hours)  Contact CACM Education for more information and to register.
 
Ethics for California Community Association Managers
Integrity is the number one quality employers and clients value. During this interactive course, you will have the opportunity to explore a variety of scenarios calling into play the need to understand the official rules of conduct for community managers. We will review CACM's Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice for all CACM manager members as well as discuss ethics complaints, disciplinary action and the appeals procedures. This course is required for all managers seeking initial CCAM certification.
 
The Ethics course is also REQUIRED for recertification every three years and provides four hours of DRE credit for individuals who possess a real estate license. (4 hours plus exam)
 
Tier II Courses
These courses build upon knowledge gained from the certification courses or just being on the job. Not yet certified? You may also choose to take one or more of these courses because of a special interest or need. Certification is not a prerequisite.
 
Communication Tools For Effective Management
The single most important aspect of the community manager's role is the manager's ability to work effectively with all types of personalities. Communication skills build the bridges needed to deal effectively with homeowners, boards, and vendors. If your job includes motivating boards or committee members, negotiating contracts or training other managers, this course is for you. (3 hours)
 
Effective Meeting & Election Tools
Annual meetings, establishing quorums, election procedures, parliamentary procedures..... You already explored meeting notices, motions, agendas and other meeting basics in the California Law series. Now delve further into the tools needed to run meetings and elections smoothly and effectively. Prepare the paperwork, learn how to handle difficult members and use parliamentary procedures. (3 hours)
 
Insurance Principles
Listen to the professionals review a wide variety of insurance requirements and options for community associations. Dissect an insurance policy to find the "hidden" agendas. Prepare yourself to evaluate your associations' insurance policies as you gain an understanding of a myriad of options. The syllabus is a valuable reference tool providing extensive explanations of coverage terms and policy clauses. (3 hours)
 
Reserves - What, Why, How
The legislature has put a microscope on reserve studies during the past couple of years, and we expect more attention to be placed on the process. You may not need to be a reserve specialist but you do need to know when to call in a specialist, what information to gather, and what to expect. How do you use a reserve study as a planning tool? How does it drive the association's budget?
What if the association does not have reserves needed for a project? These questions and much more are discussed. (3 hours)
 
Tier III Courses
These advanced courses are designed for specialists, experienced managers, and those wanting to build upon skills learned in Tier II classes. There are no prerequisites.
 
Advanced Budgeting
This course is designed to take you to the next level in financial management and help you feel confident about the budget process, reserve funding plans, the effect of litigation on financial operations, the differences between budgeting for a conversion versus new construction, and much more. After successfully completing this course, you will understand how to utilize the budget and reserve study to evaluate the community association's financial status. (3 hours)
 
Advanced Insurance Principles
Using scenarios, learn to evaluate a wide variety of insurance dilemmas. Explore questions that must be asked and answered in order to determine the "insurable interest." Work with actual master policies and individual unit owner policies to better understand how to analyze the rights and responsibilities that you should expect and demand. Discuss the "exotic" coverages needed for lakes, streams, horseback riding trails, swim teams, day care and more. Look at emerging trends and what you need to get your boards ready for when it's time to bring in new coverage.  (3 hours)
 
CIDs: Creation Through Transition
This course explores an in depth view of the Department of Real Estate (DRE) regulations that impact associations and their managers. You will be given the tools to understand the procedures needed to successfully transition from developer control as well as how to track down elusive CID documents, file a claim against a bond, and understand phasing schedules, multi-mapped and multiphased projects. (3 hours)
 

Registration Requirements

 
Exams
Any exam that is not passed may be repeated for a cost of $25.00. All retakes must be completed within six months of original test date. Full course is required after six months.
 
DRE Credit
Some CACM courses are approved by the California Department of Real Estate (Sponsor 3012) for continuing education credit. However, this approval does not constitute an endorsement of the views expressed by the course authors, instructors or lecturers. Students seeking DRE credit should be prepared to show picture identification and provide CACM with a DRE licensee number.  Classroom attendance is required.
 
AICPA/CA State Board of Accountancy
CACM course material has been prepared to comply with the AICPA statement on standards for formal continuing professional education (CPE) programs. However, CPE requirements may differ by jurisdictions; therefore participants should consult their reporting jurisdiction.

CACM courses may also apply towards the continuing education requirements as set forth by the California Board of Accountancy. However, it is the licensee's responsibility to establish that a continuing education program contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee.