What credentials should a community manager have?

CMCA is the entry-level professional credential, issued by CAMICB. AMS and PCAM are the successive CAI designations, with PCAM the most senior. RS is for reserve specialists and CIRMS for insurance and risk. At the firm level, AAMC is CAI's accreditation for Management Companies.

Seven states — Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, and Virginia — license community association managers. Florida also licenses the management firm itself.

Ask how many staff hold each designation rather than whether the firm "has" them, and ask specifically about the manager who would be assigned to you.

Keep the license and the designation separate in your head. A state license is permission to practice and its absence where required is disqualifying. CMCA, AMS and PCAM are voluntary and signal investment rather than permission — useful, but a licensed manager with fifteen years on communities like yours may serve you better than a PCAM who has never handled your product type.

Verify rather than accept. State licenses are searchable on the issuing board's register, CMCA is verifiable with CAMICB, and AAMC accreditation is listed in CAI's directory. All three take a couple of minutes.