Association Management Specialist (AMS®)

The Association Management Specialist (AMS) designation says a lot about community managers who have earned this highly respected credential. It says they have the training and knowledge required to provide professional service to their community association clients. It says they understand the nature, importance and unique challenges of community association management. It says they are committed to excellence and continuing education. Employing a manager who has earned an AMS means you are committed to preserving the character of your community, protecting property values and meeting the expectations of your owners.

Earning an AMS credential requires a personal and professional commitment to self-improvement, with AMS candidates required to:

• Have at least two years verified experience in financial, administrative and facilities management.
• Pass an exam administered by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB). Successful completion of the exam is required to earn the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) credential.
• Successfully complete at least two of the following courses offered by Community Associations Institute: Facilities Management, Association Communications, Community Leadership, Community Governance, Risk Management and Financial Management.
• Redesignate every three years by meeting continuing education requirements.

 More than 90 percent of community association board members would prefer to hire a community manager who has the required education and experience to earn professional credentials.

Here’s what some of them said in a 2013 survey:

• “Credentialed managers steer us in the right direction,
  help with decision making and guide us in difficult situations.”
• “Novices miss things. There is no other way, without training
  and continuing education, that anyone—no matter how many years of experience—can keep up with a trained professional.”

Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®)

The CMCA certification provides standards for association management that can give owners and board directors confidence in their manager’s knowledge and ability to provide professional service. It is the only worldwide certification program designed exclusively for community association managers.

CMCAs must be certified by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB). The board administers the CMCA examination, a rigorous test that measures knowledge of community management best practices.

More than 63 million Americans live in an estimated 325,000 association-governed communities, and many of those communities entrust their management to CMCAs. These skilled professionals are trained in the evolving complexities of community association management. CMCA-certified managers have the expertise needed to safeguard the assets of community associations, protecting home values and providing homeowners with peace of mind.

The CMCA is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and complies with the NCCA’s stringent international standards for a professional certification program.

CAMICB is an independent board that sets the standards for community association managers worldwide. It is the first and only organization created solely to certify community association managers and enhance the professional practice of community association management.