By Madeline Hay, CAMICB’s Director of Exam Administration

The Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB) is poised to usher in a new era for the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) exam, offering a revamped blueprint that mirrors the dynamic landscape of association management across the globe. These changes, stemming from a thorough job analysis study conducted between 2021 and 2022, reflect an evolution in the core competencies required by community association managers worldwide.

Job Analysis 

Job analysis is the cornerstone of ensuring that the CMCA exam remains an authoritative assessment tool, reflecting the contemporary roles and responsibilities of association managers. This comprehensive study involved a multifaceted approach, dissecting the complexities of association management to chart a revised course for the credential.

The task of redefining the blueprint through job analysis was a colossal undertaking spanning 18 months. The comprehensive study involved 13 project phases, including reviews of over 100 primary source documents, survey responses from 3,000 managers around the world, and more than 90 hours of collaborative meetings with 55 subject matter expert volunteers. Notably, 20 of these experts were sourced internationally, reflecting the global significance and diverse perspectives encompassed in this endeavor. This validation process ensured that the CMCA exam blueprint aligns with the real-world experiences and challenges faced by professionals in the field.

Updated Blueprint 

The job analysis study resulted in an updated blueprint that encapsulates the requirements of modern community association management. Notable changes include a reorganization of job tasks and knowledge into six principal categories compared to the previous eight, allowing for a more cohesive representation of the industry’s nuances.

For instance, content previously segregated into distinct categories, such as “Budgets, Reserves, Investments, and Assessments” and “Financial Controls,” will now be consolidated under broader headings like “Financial Management” and “Risk Management.” This streamlined approach better reflects the multifaceted nature of association management, presenting a more cohesive and holistic assessment framework for aspiring CMCA candidates.

One of the findings of the job analysis study was a significant emphasis on meetings and events in the daily responsibilities of early-career managers. Consequently, the exams will see an expansion of the “Meetings and Events” domain from 10% to 18%. Furthermore, “Property Maintenance” and “Risk Management” will increase by 3% and 4% respectively, while “Contracting” reduces from 13% to 10%.

Notably, the human resources domain, constituting 6% of the current exam content, will no longer feature in the revised blueprint.

Current Blueprint (Remains Until December 2024) 

Topic Area	% of Exam
1. Meetings	10
2. Governance, Legal and Ethical Conduct	23
3. Budgets, Reserves, Investments, and Assessments	15
4. Financial Controls	11
5. Risk Management and Insurance	11
6. Property Maintenance	11
7. Contracting	13
8. Human Resources	6
Total	100

Updated Blueprint (Starting in December 2024) 

Topic Area	% of Exam
1. Meetings and Events	18
2. Governance and Compliance	23
3. Financial Management	20
4. Risk Management	15
5. Contracting	10
6. Property Maintenance	14
Total	100

The CMCA Candidate Handbook and the CMCA Study Guide have been updated to reflect the revised blueprint. The current Handbook and Study Guide – valid through December 2024 – will remain on www.camicb.org through the end of December. The updated Study Guide and Handbook are also now available on the website. After December 2024, only the updated Study Guide and Handbook will be available.

Managers planning to test before December 2024 should refer only to the current Handbook and Study Guide. Managers planning to test after December 2024 should utilize only the updated Handbook and Study Guide. 

Looking Ahead

The redefined CMCA exam blueprint, meticulously curated through a comprehensive job analysis study, embodies CAMICB’s commitment to elevating industry standards. 

These changes are not merely cosmetic but serve a foundational purpose—to ensure that the CMCA exam genuinely reflects the essentials of community management worldwide. The blueprint revisions align the exam content with the ever-evolving needs of the profession, encapsulating the industry’s best practices, irrespective of geographic nuances.

Stay tuned as CAMICB offers more in-depth exploration of the blueprint throughout the next year leading up to the December 2024 change, symbolizing a leap forward in certifying the finest professionals in community association management.

Questions regarding the launch of updated forms of the CMCA examination may be forwarded to info@camicb.org or call 703-970-9300.