Occupational licensing is a legal requirement, usually mandated by a state or province that a credential be obtained or an exam be passed to practice a profession. Ostensibly, the regulation exists to protect consumers being served by the profession.

While CAI supports educated and competent community managers through our education, certification, and designations, CAI does not support state licensing of community association managers for a variety of reasons. The substantial costs associated with licenses creates higher consumer prices, a barrier to entry in a labor market that is already strained, and a governmental tendency to rely on unrelated subject matter experts to develop the competency assessment (exam) for community managers.

The current political trend for occupational licensing is licensing reform, which requires states to defend their state licensing laws, amend licensing laws to support individuals with a criminal record reentry into the labor market, and reciprocity of licenses from state to state.

In 2023, four states introduced legislation regarding licensing for community association managers:

Hawaii:  HCR 6 – Requests the department of licensing conduct a sunrise review of licensure and regulation of community association managers.  A sunrise review is an analysis and evaluation of the benefits of licensing community association managers.

Maryland – HB 80 – Requires licensing of community association managers. The CAI Maryland Legislative Action Committee opposes this legislation because it doesn’t recognize CAMICB or CAI credentials. It creates a financial burden on managers and consumers, and is a barrier to enter the profession.

New York – S 663 – Requires community association managers to be licensed.  The CAI New York Legislative Action Committee opposes this legislation because it doesn’t recognize CAMICB or CAI credentials. It creates a financial burden on managers and consumers and is a barrier to enter the profession.

Virginia – SB 1480 – Requires an analysis, review, and justification of the community association manager licensing requirements currently in place.

British Columbia and Ontario, and several provinces in Australia require licensing of community association managers. In the U.S., California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, and Virginia have some form of licensing.

Licensing or credentialing surfaces at a federal level in the way of resources and funding for professional development. In the 117th Congress, CAI supported two bills that provided funding or resources for individuals to take education classes and earn credentials in their profession.

Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act: H.R. 2171 / S. 905. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation expands eligible uses of tax-favorable “529” education savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs, such as certification and recertification exams.

Resources & Education to Build (REBUILD) Skills Act: Pending. This bill provides eligible displaced workers, returning service members, and military spouses federally funded “Career Rebuilding Scholarships” to earn certifications and would create a national database of quality certification programs.

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