To Professional Development And Growth
By CAMICB Executive Director Matthew Green, CAE
Community association managers who hold and retain the CMCA credential demonstrate they’re accomplished professionals committed to developing their skills and knowledge by participating in ongoing continuing education (CE) coursework and professional development opportunities year-round.
Recertification, the process through which CMCAs retain their credential, is not just a requirement but a valuable opportunity for promoting and demonstrating continued competency in the association management profession. Over the last ten years, an impressive 88 percent of CMCAs, on average, successfully finished the recertification process.
By participating in CE opportunities that pertain specifically and primarily to community association operations or management, CMCAs contribute to their own professional growth and the development of the CMCA as a recognized standard for experienced managers.
The types of professional development CMCAs participate in encompass a variety of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees and coursework, conferences, professional coaching, community workshops, seminars, symposiums, and webinars. In addition, courses may include accounting, human resources, and public administration.
A Sampling of CE Opportunities
The following are some examples of the many different types of programs in which CMCAs participate, including CAMICB’s newest opportunity, volunteer service credits.
Recognized course providers: The CAMICB Continuing Education Review Committee plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and relevance of the CE opportunities available to CMCAs. They have a pre-approved coursework list for CMCA recertification continuing education credit. Any coursework approved by a state regulatory agency for manager licensing requirements will also be approved for CMCA recertification continuing education credit, further ensuring the credibility and value of these courses.
The CAMICB Continuing Education Review Committee must review and approve any in-house training management companies provide to qualify for CE credit.
CMCA prerequisite coursework is also approved for continuing education. It’s important to note that CMCAs may not use the coursework to meet examination eligibility and continuing education requirements. For example, if a CMCA used CAI’s M100: The Essentials of Community Association Management as their prerequisite education to sit for the CMCA examination, they may not submit it for CMCA recertification continuing education credit. Coursework that meets the standard criteria may be submitted for review and approval to CAMICB. If the proposed coursework meets the requirements, it will be approved for a two?year cycle.
Volunteer service credits: Credit hours may be earned for volunteer service to organizations advancing community associations or the management profession. Credit hours for advocacy work supporting community associations and management professionals may also be granted. CAMICB must approve the organization and service hours before a credential holder submits their recertification application. The maximum total hours allowed for volunteer service during the two-year recertification cycle is 8 hours. Credential holders must provide objective evidence of their participation to receive continuing education credit for volunteer service.
CAI: CAI’s website (www.caionline.org) and local CAI Chapters offer an array of resources, networking, and professional development opportunities. To find a local chapter, go to: https://www.caionline.org/Chapters/Pages/Find-A-Chapter.aspx. Your local chapter will also offer specific opportunities to impact your community, specifically your state. For example, in California, opportunities may be state-specific to drought, wildfires, the Davis Stirling Act, etc.
Coursework that supports the operations of a community: Credit may be awarded for attendance at local law seminars and local college or university courses about accounting, business practices, computers, or foreign languages. CAMICB calculates CMCA credit on an hour?for?hour basis (e.g., one hour of class attended equals one hour of CMCA credit). Courses related to buying and selling real estate are not acceptable.
Self-study: Self-study credits are limited to no more than four hours every two years and must be pre?approved by CAMICB. A written request for approval should include a description of the course or activity (including outline, syllabus, or summary, as applicable) and the estimated length of time. Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) home study courses are not considered self?study.
Teaching credits: Teaching a course related to community association management can qualify for continuing education credit. Two credits are earned for each class hour the first time the course is taught. When the same course is re?taught, one hour of credit is earned for each class hour.
Authorship Credits: An article for a regional or national community association publication may qualify for continuing education credit. A copy of the published work and the total number of words written must be submitted to CAMICB. The determination of the number of hours depends upon the word length of the article; the longer the article, the more credits. Please note that copies of publications must be submitted within ample time for review before the recertification due date.
If you have questions about whether a particular course or activity is eligible for CE credits, please visit www.camicb.org or contact CAMICB at info@camicb.org—we’re here to help!