The Community Association Institute (CAI) offers community association managers many opportunities for professional development through its Professional Management Development Program (PMDP, and AMS, and PCAM designations). The PMDP serves as a road map to help professional managers navigate community associations (and their careers) to success with a series of courses that help managers acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the diverse demands of the profession.

The PMDP courses are designed to prepare the professional manager for the Association Management Specialist (AMS) designation, or the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designation. These designations are the easy way to identify the best in the industry.

If you are a manager, focusing on your professional development is vital to your continued success. Each designation level will enhance your knowledge and improve your ability to effectively operate a community association.

As a homeowner, encouraging and supporting your community manager through his or her professional development will enhance your community's status. The community will benefit from a professionally run operation and the value and desirability of your community will grow - this is definitely a great benefit for everyone!

CAI Property Managers Holding Designations

PCAM is the highest nationwide professional designation available to managers who specialize in community associations. To earn a PCAM, one must complete the following courses:

• M-100 - Essentials of Community Association Management
• M-201 - Facilities Management
• M-202 - Association Communications
• M-203 - Community Leadership
• M-204 - Community Governance
• M-205 - Risk Management
• M-206 - Financial Management

All of these courses run about two (2) days in length. After seccessfully completing all of these courses, and having at least three (3) years experience in the field community management, you may apply for the case study exam, which is usually held at the CAI National Conference site.

The AMS® designation is the second tier of professionalism for community association managers. It is the first advanced level of recognition awarded by the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the nation's voice for condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations. The AMS designation must be renewed every three years. To earn the AMS designation one must:

• have a minimum of two years experience managing the finances, administration, and facilities of at least one community association
• complete more than 16 hours of intensive instruction in law, communications, operations and asset protection
• engage in continued educational development
• adhere to professional ethical standards
• earn the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) certification from the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM)
• be a member of CAI in good standing

Obtaining the CMCA credential demonstrates that you possess the fundamental knowledge required to effectively manage community associations. To earn a CMCA you must complete the following:

• Successfully complete the Community Association Institute's M-100 course, The Fundamentals of Community Association Management
• Complete the CMCA application
• Pass the National Certification Examination

This designation program was developed to recognize those association management companies that have chosen to demonstrate a commitment to excellence and to practice association management in an ethically prescribed, fiscally responsible manner. To obtain the AAMC® designation, the applicant must:

• Have provided community association management services for at least three full years
• The supervisor is a PCAM® member
• At least 75% percent of the company's managers must hold one of the following designations or certification: CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®, or CPM® of that 50% of the managers must hold the AMS®, PCAM®, or CPM® designation
• Must maintain fidelity, general liability and worker's compensation insurance in addition to meeting federal, state and local laws
• Client verification
• Management staff receives at least 12 hours of continuing education every three years
• Meet or exceed standards for all of its client association:
1. Maintains a separate bank account for each association which is reconciled monthly
2. Has its Board(s) acknowledge investments and disbursement of reserve funds
3. Provides, at least quarterly, a balance sheet, income statement, budget comparison, statement of disbursement, and receivables report
• Will support the AAMC® program by:
1. Being a member in good standing of the Community Associations Institute (CAI)
2. Submitting requested information, renewal forms (every 3 years), and dues as requested (once a year)
• Comply with the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics