Any person who provides management services is required to register with the Department of Consumer Protection (Department) and submit to a state and national criminal background, complete a nationally-recognized course on on community association management, and pass the Community Association Managers' International Certification Board (CAMICB) Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA) examination. Management services is defined as any one of the following:
- Collecting, controlling, or disbursing funds of the association or having authority to do so.
- Preparing budgets or other financial documents for the association.
- Assisting in the conduct of or conducting association meetings.
- Advising or assisting the association in obtaining insurance.
- Advising the association in the overall operations of the association.
Professionals who are licensed by the state, such as attorneys, are exempt from having to register. An officer or director is also exempt, so long as he or she does not control more than two-thirds of the voting power in the association. However, under the Department's broad interpretation, anyone else who provides any of the listed management services must register and complete the requirements.
Registration Requirements
Each applicant must apply using a form provided by the Department. Anyone seeking an initial community association manager registration certificate with the Department must submit to a state and national criminal background check. The Department is prohibited from issuing a registration to someone until it receives the person's background check.
Click here for the required form.
The applicant must submit $260 with the initial application ($200 registration fee and a $60 application fee). The applicant must notify the Department within five days of any changes.
Background Check
On or after October 1, 2012 any person seeking an initial certificate of registration shall submit a state and national criminal record check to the Department along with the completed application.
State check can be obtained from:
State Police Bureau of Identification
1111 Country Club Road Middletown, CT 06457.http://www.ct.gov/despp/cwp/view.asp?a=4212&q=494532
National criminal history may be obtained from:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm
Educational Requirements
All community association managers are required to successfully complete a nationally-recognized course on community association management. Anyone who was registered before October 1, 2012, has until October 1, 2014, to complete the course; anyone initially registered on or after October 1, 2012 must complete the course within one year of registration.
CAI's M-100 course is a prerequisite course that is available in seminar and online formats.
Examination Requirements
Community association managers who receive their initial registration after October 1, 2012, as well as those who were registered before then and have been registered for less than 10 years, are required to pass an examination, with the same deadlines as required for completing the course outlined above. The exam may be the CAMICB's CMCA or a similar examination that the Department commissioner prescribes in regulations.
Click here for more information on CAMICB's CMCA examination and certification.
Bonding Requirements
Each applicant for a community association manager registration certificate must include with the application proof of the existence of the necessary fidelity bond(s). The fidelity bond must cover the maximum funds that will be in custody of the applicant, and no less than the sum of three months' assessments plus the highest estimated level of reserve funds over the next 12 months. The bond is to also cover anyone who controls, collects, has access to or distributes association funds. There is a special exception for communities established prior to July 3, 1991, and have more than 2400 units. The required bond for those communities must cover no less than one-half of the maximum funds in custody of the applicant.
Renewal Requirements
Community association managers must renew their certificate annually by January 31. Proof of the necessary fidelity bond(s) and the $200 registration fee are required at the time of renewal.
Community association managers must also submit to the Department documentation showing that they have passed continued with additional course work to maintain their certification with 16 continuing education hours.
Here are the Department's Renewal Requirements.
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