Homeowners who live in condominium, cooperative or homeowner associations have a new consumer tool: the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) has debuted a new Web site featuring a data base of professionals who have obtained the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) credential. The site, www.nbccam.org, also provides consumers, media, managers and legislators with information on the CMCA® professional code of conduct, certification process, benefits of certification and news.

"We are thrilled to launch this important consumer resource, which will help NBC-CAM achieve its goal of providing association residents with a level of confidence in the qualifications of the CMCA-credentialed professional who manages their community," said Kris Cook, executive director of NBC-CAM. "Now homeowners can get detailed information on the skills and knowledge their association manager should possess as well as easy access to an international data base of more than 3,200 certified managers searchable by location, manager name and company name."

To obtain the CMCA® credential, a manager must successfully complete a 16-hour classroom course, the Essentials of Community Association Management, and pass the National Certification Examination. The test was developed by over 1000 managers, homeowners, and association professionals and is administered by an outside testing agency. Certified managers must adhere to the CMCA® Standards of Professional Conduct and pass continuing education courses.

The CMCA certification is the first tier of the pyramid of professionalism for community association managers, which is followed by the Association Management Specialist (AMS®) and the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®) designations offered by the Community Associations Institute (CAI).

NBC-CAM's new Web site also includes information on:

• How community association management differs from property management
• How managers can obtain and maintain the CMCA® certification
• Enforcement procedures for the CMCA® Standards of Professional Conduct
• NBC-CAM's annual report and press releases.

For more information, visit NBC-CAM's Web site or call 703/836-6902.

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. The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations — condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and the professionals who provide products and services to them.