Updated October 2005
Note: Given the changes that states may make in this area, please contact individual state regulators for the most current licensing or registration requirements for states of interest.
Community association managers who become a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), as designated by the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM), provide assurance that they are competent in their knowledge of critical aspects of community association management. Holding this certification provides consumers with protection against incompetent management and elevates the profession. Understanding the importance of competent professional community association management, some states (such as those below) have taken steps to regulate the profession as follows:
Alaska: Under Chapter 88 of the Alaska Real Estate Commission's regulation entitled "Real Estate Statutes and Regulations' Real Estate Brokers and Other Licensees," a person may not collect fees for community association management or practice or negotiate for a contract to practice community association management unless licensed as a real estate broker, association real estate broker, or real estate salesperson in this state (Chapter 88, Article 02, Section 08.88.161.(5) and (6)). A person can qualify for a limited license to practice community association management by obtaining an associate broker license if, at the time of issuance, the person is employed by a broker (Sec. 08.88.171.(e-f)). 
www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pub/RECregulations.pdf
Connecticut: The state's Department Of Consumer Protection, Real Estate & Professional Trades Division (www.state.ct.us/dcp/cwp) regulates the registration of community association managers (CAMs). General Statutes of Connecticut, Sec. 20-450 to 462, defines a CAM as a person who provides association management services, including providing services, preparing budgets, advising or assisting the association in obtaining insurance, coordinating or supervising the overall operations of the association, etc. A fidelity bond may be required: No person who provides association management services under the provisions of sections 20-450 to 20-462, inclusive, shall control, collect, have access to or disburse funds of an association unless, at all times during which the person controls, collects, has access to or disburses such funds, there is in effect, a fidelity bond complying with the provisions of [the stated] section.
California: On January 1, 2003, the Manager Certification Titling Act went into effect that regulates when community association managers may call themselves "certified." The new law requires that community association managers who hold themselves out as "certified" must first comply with statutory requirements. The new law does not require community association managers to be certified nor is the process regulated by the state.
District of Columbia: The Real Estate Board of the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs regulates community association managers as commercial "property managers." The examination utilized for licensure of "property managers," does not measure the core competencies of community association managers.
Florida: The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation regulates the licensure of community association managers in Florida. Under most circumstances, community association managers in Florida are required to be licensed in order to carry out their duties as a manager. For more information on the specific requirements, please visit: http://www.state.fl.us/dbpr/pro/cam/cam_codes.shtml
Georgia: Community association managers (CAMs) must be licensed under the Georgia Real Estate Commission in order to function as a community association manager in the state (www.grec.state.ga.us; grecmail(at)grec.state.ga.us). Individuals must be at least 18 to be licensed as a community association manager, and applicants for the CAM exam must complete educational course hours (there are no experience requirements for a community association manager's license). There is no license requirement to work in a high rise. Reports are that the CAM tests focuses more on knowledge of real estate issues and law, as opposed to more of the critical competency areas of managing community associations. While CAI supports the regulation of community association managers, CAI advocates that managers be tested and regulated on the core functions associated with managing community associations, and not as property managers, brokers, or real estate licensees.
Nevada: The Nevada Real Estate Division (www.red.state.nv.us/CIC/cic_home.htm) regulates the certification of community association managers in this state. Title 10 Property Rights and Transactions, Chapter 116.700 prohibits a person from acting as a community manager without a permit or certificate. "Community manager" is defined (NRS 116.023) as a person who provides for or otherwise engages in the management of a common-interest community. Both community association management and Nevada-specific law comprise the education requirements for this certificate, and CAI's Essentials of Community Association Management—M100 course is one way to meet the required community association management provision. Education waivers for the non-law portion of the requirements, made on a case-by-case decision, are permitted for direct community association management experience.