Almost 70 U.S. cities in 31 states will host professional management courses in 2008, an ambitious schedule that will bring the benefits and convenience of continuing education to thousands of managers, volunteer leaders and others involved in the governance and management of community associations.
Developed by Community Associations Institute (CAI), the 2008 Professional Management Development Program (PMDP) schedule includes a record 200-plus classes. In January alone, classes will be taught in 16 cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Seattle.
PMDP courses have helped thousands of professionals gain in-depth understanding of the critical elements of association governance and management. Specifically targeted to professional managers, these courses remove the guesswork from often-complicated issues, providing the knowledge and perspective that make managers more effective and valued employees.
Close to 4,500 community managers and others will attend PMDP courses in 2007.
Education in the community association industry begins with CAI's popular M-100: The Essentials of Community Association Management. For managers, the M-100 is the starting block for attaining professional designations and gaining the skills and knowledge needed to accelerate professionalism, careers and marketplace value. For board members and others, the course is a practical review of the fundamentals of community management. In addition to on-location seminars, the M-100 is offered as a home-study manual and an online course.
More specialized PMDP courses include:
- M-201: Facilities Management
- M-202: Association Communications
- M-203: Community Leadership
- M-204: Community Governance
- M-205: Risk Management
- M-206: Financial Management
- M-310: Management Company Administration
- M-320: High-Rise Maintenance and Management
- M-330: Advanced Insurance and Risk Management
- M-340: Managing the Large-Scale Association
- M-350: Manager and the Law
- M-360: Leadership Practices in Building Community
- M-370: Management of Mixed-Used Developments
- PCAM Case Study
"Our PMDP program continues to expand because managers and management companies see the value of investing in professional development, and that lifts the entire community management profession," says Dave Jennings, CAE, CAI's vice president of education. "The more students learn, the more valuable they become to the communities they serve."
Jennings points out that the courses are taught by many of the most skilled and experienced experts in the community association industry. "These industry leaders volunteer their time and share their expertise to educate and enrich others," Jennings adds. "They make the PMDP program the success that it is."
In addition to learning from experts, PMDP courses help students earn credentials and designations that help community managers build more successful and rewarding careers in the community management industry.
CAI's affiliate organization, the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM), offers the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) credential. Managers who successfully complete the M-100 and pass the National Certification Examination become CMCAs. CAI provides educational opportunities toward even more advanced designations, such as the Association Management Specialist (AMS), Large-Scale Manager (LSM) and Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). All are designed to elevate the professional abilities of association managers.
More than 7,500 managers have earned CMCA certification. Almost 4,000 professionals have been awarded the AMS designation, while more than 1,600 have earned the advanced PCAM.
Learn more about PMDP courses and/or view the 2008 schedule or the remaining 2007 slate of courses.
Learn more about credentials and designations.