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"The value of certification is recognized by firms that want to have a high degree of confidence that their team is ethical and properly trained and proficient in state-specific community management. Individuals who attain certification want to grow and set themselves apart from the rest and reap the benefits of professional recognition. In our organization, certification is not only an individual achievement, but is also encouraged and recognized by our business leadership."
-Debbie Evans, CCAM, Professional Community Management, Inc., CMF
For over a decade, CACM has been providing community managers with the opportunity to become a Certified Community Association Manager® and achieve the CCAM® designation. This accomplishment confers on an individual the recognition of achieving a professional standard in technical competency and ethics and communicates that he or she is committed to maintaining the highest level of professionalism.
Why should I obtain my certification?
Certification sets an individual apart from others in the same profession. The CCAM® designation after your name says that you have successfully met recognized standards of professional achievement in areas related to state-specific community management competencies, professional behavior and personal conduct. It also displays a level of education and experience as a community manager with a commitment to the community association management profession.
For a new professional, pursuing and achieving certification:
- Ensures that you have the necessary technical skills and competency requirements needed to deliver outstanding service to your clients
- Enables you to get ready for new assignments and increasing responsibilities
- Provides greater opportunity for career advancement
For the veteran professional, pursuing and achieving certification:
- Demonstrates a commitment to upgrading skills and lifelong learning
- Increases your credibility and provides a competitive edge
- Provides greater opportunity for career advancement
For the management firm, supporting and encouraging an employee's pursuit of certification:
- Increases employee satisfaction
- Provides a strategic competitive advantage in the marketplace that comes from maintaining a staff of trained and certified professionals
REQUIREMENTS FOR CCAM® CERTIFICATION
1. Be a high school graduate or its equivalent, and be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be employed* as a community association manager for the six (6) months immediately preceding the application date, as evidenced by the experience report on the application.
*Please note: ‘Employed’ is defined as an applicant who is paid by an association or association management company.
3. All applicants (whether full service management or financial management) must meet the following educational requirements for the CCAM® certification program*. These certification courses meet the statutory standards required by Assembly Bill 555. An applicant must successfully complete these courses, including achieving a
passing score on each course examination of at least 70%, within three (3) years of application to the program.
a. The Basics of Association Management (BAM). This course represents fourteen (14) hours of general management education. This is a 2-day class and can be taken in two (2) one-day modules or both module staken during two (2) consecutive days. OR
If the applicant has two (2) years of experience, the applicant may apply to challenge the BAM course and pay the appropriate fee. Verification of experience will be required.
b. California Law for Community Associations. This course represents sixteen (16) hours of education in law pertaining to community associations. This is a 2-day class and can be completed by taking the four (4) core
courses individually (each core course is 4 hours) or all four (4) core courses taken during two (2) consecutive days.
c. Ethics for California Community Managers. This course represents four (4) hours of general management education.
*Completion of required coursework DOES NOT constitute automatic CCAM® Certification. The CCAM®Application and required supplemental information, as outlined below, must be completed and submitted for approval.
HOW TO APPLY FOR CCAM® CERTIFICATION
1. The CCAM® application may be completed and/or submitted either prior to, during, or after completion of the required education courses.
2. Complete and sign the application verifying that the information provided is accurate and that the applicant agrees to subscribe to the CACM Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Employer or supervisor must also sign the application verifying information reported (please reference page 2 of 5 of
application).
4. Complete payment form and submit the application processing fee ($75*) and the annual maintenance fee ($105*) with the application (total amount due with application is $180 and may be paid by check or major credit card). *These are CACM member rates. Non-member rates are $175.00 application fee, $500.00 annual maintenance fee ($675).
5. Provide three (3) recommendations, in the approved format, one each from the following professionals: (The recommendation form is page 5 of the application)
- Association Board or Committee Member;
- A CCAM® or PCAM in good standing or your employer (please note: if the employer submits a letter of recommendation on the applicant’s behalf, the employer will still need to complete a separate Verification of Employment form, to be provided by CACM once all other requirements for certification have been met); and,
- A Professional Affiliate/Vendor (i.e.: attorney, insurance agent, landscape professional, or other vendor type with which the applicant conducts regular business).
(Please note: Instructions on the recommendation form must be strictly followed. Recommendations not mailed directly to CACM in a sealed envelope with the person’s signature over the seal or letters submitted in any other format will not be accepted).
6. Application and Recommendation Letters expire six (6) months from date of completion. After six (6) months, the application and/or letters of recommendation become invalid and new documents will need to be submitted.
7. Verification of Employment will be sent directly to applicant’s employer once all other application and education requirements have been met.
NOTIFICATION OF CCAM® APPLICATION/CERTIFICATION STATUS
1. Once application is received, a status report is sent by CACM notifying applicant of receipt of the application and informing the applicant of any additional information required.
2. Once CACM has determined that all application requirements have been met, the applicant will receive notice. The applicant is not certified until officially notified of certification by CACM.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CCAM® RE-CERTIFICATION
Effective January 1, 2009, CACM is implementing a higher standard of eligibility for all CCAMs recertifying in 2010 and beyond. The purpose of the CCAM recertification process is to measure and improve the mastery of skills and competencies actively practiced by managers holding the CCAM credential. Demonstrating continued competence is in the best interest of both the public and the community management industry. It also provides you with the ability to obtain continued professional development.
The number of hours required for recertification will remain the same; 30 hours every 3 years. However, how these hours are obtained is changing. Following is a schedule of the new CEU requirements:
Classroom Hours – minimum of 20 CEU hours obtained by completing the following:
- Ethics (4 CEU hrs)
- One Law Seminar (7 CEU hrs) (a minimum of 1 NC Law Seminar/Trade Show or SC Law Seminar). An exam will be administered at the end of the 2009 Law Seminar, and in future Law Seminars. A certificant that does not successfully complete the examination at the time it is offered will not be awarded CEU credit for the Seminar. This includes both DRE credit and CCAM credits. If you attend a Law Seminar and do NOT wish to receive CEU credit, you are not required to complete the exam.
- Any combination of Tier II & III Courses, Facilities Management Conferences or CEO Business Forum, totaling 9 hours. Some of these courses may require an exam.
- CACM Statewide Expo (4 CEU hrs)
Event/Non-CACM Hours – maximum of 10 CEU hours obtained by completing the following:
- CACM Forums (1 CEU hr), CACM Statewide Expo (3 CEU hrs), Pre-approved Online Courses or Outside Provider Courses
In addition to the revised educational requirements, recertifying CCAMs must currently be employed in the practice of, or seeking employment as, a community association manager. If you are no longer practicing in the community management profession or are not active in the day-to-day activities of a community manager, you will not be eligible to obtain recertification. If you are not able to meet the eligibility requirements for recertification, your CCAM credential will expire on the anniversary of your current renewal date. Recognizing non-practicing certificants, or certificants practicing a different profession, sends a confusing message to the industry, the legislature, and the public at large. Based on these guidelines and standards, it is not appropriate to issue or re-issue a credential to an individual who does not practice the essential elements of the profession or no longer meets the standards established for initial certification. These standards are consistent with those required in the initial certification process.
Please note, CCAMs with a recertification date in 2009 will be allowed to recertify under the current course requirements; however, new employment eligibility requirements must be met.
Please contact
certification@cacm.org for additional information regarding reinstatement of certification or CCAM
® status.
