CMCA certification, short for Certified Manager of Community Associations, is a professional credential for community association managers, often called a CAM certification. It is administered by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB). Candidates qualify through a prerequisite course, two years of experience or an eligible state license, then pass the CMCA exam.
If you manage HOAs, condominiums or cooperatives for a living, the CMCA is usually the first credential people ask about. CAMICB has certified more than 25,000 CMCAs, and boards, management companies and some state regulators recognize it. This guide covers how to qualify, what the exam looks like, what it costs, how to keep it current and how it fits with other credentials and state licenses.
What Is CMCA Certification?
The Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) is a professional certification for people who manage community associations. CAMICB describes it as the only international certification program designed exclusively for managers of homeowner and condominium associations and cooperatives. It shows that a manager understands the fundamentals of running an association, which our guide to community association management describes in more detail.
Many people search for it as a "CAM certification" or "community association manager certification". Those terms usually refer to the CMCA, though "CAM" can also mean a state-issued license, covered below. CAMICB also points to a Foundation for Community Association Research salary survey showing that CMCA-certified managers earn, on average, 20% more than non-credentialed managers.
CMCA Eligibility: Three Ways to Qualify
According to CAMICB, candidates must meet one of three prerequisite pathways before applying for the exam:
• Education. Complete and pass an approved prerequisite course on community association management.
• Experience. If you have at least two years of experience as a community association manager (not an assistant manager), you can receive a one-time waiver of the course. If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you must take the course before retaking it.
• License or credential. Hold an active Arizona CAAM, California CCAM, Florida CAM, Illinois CAM or Nevada CAM.
Once you qualify, you apply online for the CMCA exam and then pass it.
CMCA Exam Format and Content
The CMCA exam is a 2.5-hour, 120-question multiple-choice test, with 100 scored questions and 20 unscored pilot questions. It is a computer-based exam delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers, and candidates can schedule it at any time during their one-year eligibility period. CAMICB updated the exam blueprint in December 2024, and the exam now covers six domains:
Meetings and governance are a big part of the job in practice. Our guide to HOA board responsibilities shows what boards expect from managers on that front.
How Much Does CMCA Certification Cost?
Source: CAMICB CMCA examination page, checked November 13, 2026. Fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
CMCA Renewal and Continuing Education
The CMCA is not a one-time credential. CAMICB requires recertification every two years, which means completing at least 16 hours of continuing education in community association management during each two-year cycle and reaffirming your commitment to the CMCA Standards of Professional Conduct. Certified managers are placed in an April 1 or October 1 cycle and must pay a non-refundable annual service fee by that date each year.
CMCA Study Guide and Practice Test Resources
Start with the official sources. CAMICB's exam preparation page lists the resources it recommends:
• CMCA Study Guide (free download). Contains the full content outline with domain weightings, a recommended preparation pathway and sample questions.
• CMCA Handbook (free download). Covers the application process, exam day procedures, scoring and next steps.
• CMCA Self-Assessment (free). Helps you rate your familiarity with each knowledge statement and build a study plan.
• CMCA Practice Exam. A 60-question online practice test, available for $40 through the CMCA Resource Center. Questions are not live exam questions.
• Exam Preparation e-Learning Course (free). CAMICB notes it has not yet been updated to the current content outline, so use modules selectively.
• Third-party materials. CAMICB points to Quizlet key-term flashcards, prerequisite course manuals such as CAI's M-100 guide, six of CAI's Guides for Association Practitioners (sold together as the CMCA Study Kit) and the Foundation for Community Association Research best practices reports.
CAMICB is clear that buying preparation materials is not required to sit for the exam and does not guarantee a passing score. If you use unofficial practice tests, check that they reflect the December 2024 blueprint.
CMCA vs. a State Community Association Manager License
The CMCA is a voluntary professional certification. A state CAM license is a legal requirement in states that regulate managers. The two often overlap:
• Florida requires a license for anyone paid to manage an association with more than 10 units or an annual budget over $100,000, under Section 468.431 of the Florida Statutes. According to CAI's Florida licensing summary, applicants complete at least 16 hours of pre-licensure education and pass a state exam. Our Florida CAM license guide covers the details.
• Illinois requires community association managers to be licensed. Under the examination method, applicants complete 20 hours of approved prelicensure courses and pass a community association management exam, and CAI's Illinois summary lists the CMCA exam as part of the standard pathway.
Licensing rules vary by state and change over time, so confirm current requirements with your state regulator before you apply.
CMCA, AMS and PCAM: The Community Manager Credential Ladder
After the CMCA, many managers pursue Community Associations Institute credentials. The CMCA exam is a requirement for both.
AMS certification (Association Management Specialist)
The AMS requires two years of direct community association management experience, passing at least two M-200 level courses (M-201 to M-206) and passing the CMCA exam. CAI lists the application fee as $170 for members and $405 for nonmembers.
PCAM certification (Professional Community Association Manager)
The PCAM is CAI's advanced manager credential. It requires five years of direct community association management experience, passing all six M-200 level courses, passing the CMCA exam and passing the PCAM case study. CAI lists the application fee as $225 for members and $460 for nonmembers.
LSM and AAMC
Managers of large-scale communities can pursue the Large-Scale Manager (LSM) credential, which requires an active PCAM, 10 years of community association management experience including five as a large-scale manager, and the CAI Large-Scale Managers Workshop or M-340. Management companies can pursue the Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) accreditation.
CMCA vs. Other Property Manager Certifications
"Property manager certification" covers a wide range of credentials. Many focus on rental and commercial property, where the work centers on leases, tenants and rent. The CMCA is built specifically for community associations, where managers work for an elected board, handle assessments and reserves, and follow governing documents and association law. If your career is in HOAs, condominiums or cooperatives, the CMCA and the CAI ladder are the most directly relevant credentials.
Is CMCA Certification Worth Getting?
For most community managers, yes. It signals baseline competence to boards and employers, it can satisfy part of some state licensing paths, and it is the gateway to the AMS and PCAM. It is also useful for managers building a career at a management company or starting their own firm. The main costs are the exam fee, study time and the ongoing continuing education, which also helps managers keep up with the challenges associations face.
Boards evaluating firms often ask about credentials too. Our guide to association management services explains what boards look for when hiring, and our article on manager burnout and retention covers the career side of the profession.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is CMCA certification?
CMCA stands for Certified Manager of Community Associations. It is a credential for professionals who manage HOAs, condominiums and cooperatives, administered by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board. Earning it shows a manager has the core knowledge to run an association, from governance and finances to maintenance and contracting.
How do you get CMCA certification?
Meet one of three prerequisites: pass an approved community association management course, have at least two years of experience as a community association manager, or hold an eligible state license. Then apply online and pass the CMCA exam. Renew every two years with 16 hours of continuing education and the annual service fee.
How much does CMCA certification cost?
According to CAMICB, the $360 fee covers the application, the exam and your first year of certification, and retakes cost $200 each. Certified managers also pay an annual service fee to keep the credential active. A prerequisite course, if you need one, is priced separately by the course provider, so budget for it before you apply.
Is CMCA certification the same as a state CAM license?
No. CMCA is a voluntary professional credential, while a CAM license is issued by a state. Some states, such as Florida and Illinois, require community association managers to be licensed. An active state license from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois or Nevada can also satisfy the CMCA prerequisite, which lets you skip the course.
What comes after CMCA certification?
Many managers move on to Community Associations Institute credentials. The AMS requires two years of direct management experience, two M-200 level courses and the CMCA exam. The PCAM requires five years of experience, all six M-200 courses, the CMCA exam and a case study. Large-scale managers can pursue the LSM.
Content Writer
Patrick Bohan is a content strategist focused on property management technology, HOA operations, and real estate. A Cornell graduate, he began his career at UBS covering housing markets, homeownership policy, and financial regulation experience that now informs his research driven approach to proptech content. Today he bridges the gap between software teams and the practitioners who use them, producing practical resources on community associations, rental operations, and accounting workflows for property managers.
