The National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers' (NBC-CAM) Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) certification program meets the requirements of a new California law that mandates community association managers holding themselves out as "Certified Common Interest Development Association Managers" to meet certain educational requirements.

California Governor Gray Davis recently signed into law Assembly Bill 555, which specifically requires that managers holding themselves out to be "certified" must either pass an examination or have achieved certification designated by a professional association for community association managers within the previous five years. The law also makes it an unfair business practice for a common interest development manager and certain other persons to use the title of "certified common interest development manager" without meeting these specified requirements, or to state or advertise that he or she is certified or licensed by a governmental agency to act as certified common interest development manager.

Thomas M. Skiba, CEO of NBC-CAM, commented: "Californians can be assured that common interest development managers with NBC-CAM's CMCA certification have the fundamental knowledge and expertise required to effectively manage homeowner, condominium and cooperative associations and meet the qualifications required under AB 555. This law affirms NBC-CAM's continuing role in helping homeowners protect their investment and quality of life through professional community association management."

In California, there are some 300 individuals holding the CMCA certification, and over 3 million common interest development households. The law takes effect July 1, 2003.

The National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) was established in 1995 by the Community Associations Institute to ensure that managers have the appropriate skills to effectively manage community associations. To date, more than 4,000 professionals across the country have earned the CMCA certification.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 210,000 community associations - condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and the professionals who provide products and services to them.