What the CAM credential is
The CAM is the National Apartment Association's credential for people who run an apartment community day to day. Its education arm, the NAA Education Institute, awards it. It is a professional credential, so no state requires it. Owners and management companies use it to see whether a manager has had structured training in running a property.
The course covers how a property actually makes money: occupancy, marketing plans, managing a leasing team, keeping residents, inspections, preventive maintenance, unit turns, vendors, hiring and evaluating staff, employment records, and financial work such as maximizing net operating income and reporting property performance to the owner. Many people take it after time as an assistant manager or when they step up to community manager.
How you earn it
You must meet three requirements. The first is at least 12 months of onsite property management experience. You can build that experience while you take the course, and NAAEI issues a provisional certificate until you reach 12 months. The second is all 40 hours of CAM coursework. The third is passing the exam within six months of declaring candidacy.
Local and state apartment associations affiliated with NAA schedule the classroom programs, and you can also take the course online. The online version has seven modules. The exam is taken online under remote proctoring and is administered by Meazure Learning. You get four hours to answer 185 multiple-choice questions, the result is pass or fail, and your computer needs a webcam and audio.
Cost and renewal
NAAEI's online CAM costs $925 for NAA members and $1,155 for nonmembers. You can also buy one module at a time for $132 (member) or $165 (nonmember). The online course does not include the textbook. NAAEI does not refund or transfer exam, extension, renewal or reinstatement fees.
The credential renews every year on the anniversary of the date you earned it. You pay $125 in dues and log eight continuing education credits through NAA's PACE portal. If you miss a renewal, the credential goes inactive and you lose the right to use the letters. You have five years to reinstate it by paying back dues, the missing credits and a $50 fee. After five years you must take the course and exam again.
How CAM differs from the CPM and a Florida CAM license
The CPM comes from the Institute of Real Estate Management, and the bar is higher. IREM requires 36 months of qualifying experience, including a minimum portfolio such as 200 residential units at one to four sites. Candidates take eight courses and a capstone. IREM puts the average total cost at $7,700 to $10,000 and says the process usually takes 18 to 24 months. Most people earn a CAM at the site level and pursue the CPM later as a regional or portfolio manager.
A Florida CAM is a different thing that happens to share the initials. It is a state license for community association managers, the people who run HOAs and condominium associations. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issues it. The NAA credential does not let you manage associations in Florida, and the Florida license is not an apartment credential.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. BLS OEWS May 2025, moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index. The figures cover the whole property, real estate and community association managers series, not CAM holders alone. Location, property size and moving to a regional role are what move pay most. Refer to the Residential & Multifamily Property Management salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- Onsite experienceYou need at least 12 months of onsite property management experience. Until you meet it, NAAEI issues a provisional certificate.
- CourseworkComplete all CAM coursework, which totals 40 hours. You can take it in a classroom through an NAA affiliate or online in seven modules.
- ExamPass a proctored online exam of 185 multiple-choice questions in four hours, scored pass/fail. You must meet all exam standards within six months of declaring candidacy.
- Annual renewalEach year, on the anniversary of earning the credential, pay $125 in dues and submit eight continuing education credits.
- ReinstatementAn inactive credential can be reinstated within five years by paying back dues, the missing credits and a $50 fee. After five years you must retake the course and exam.
State by state
| Florida | Florida requires a state Community Association Manager license, issued by DBPR, to manage associations for pay when they have more than 10 units or a budget of $100,000 or more. Licensees complete 15 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. That license is separate from the NAA credential. |
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How to get there
- Year 0-1Work onsiteStart as a leasing consultant or assistant manager to build the onsite management experience the credential requires.
- Year 1Enroll in the CAM courseTake the 40 hours through a local NAA affiliate or online. Experience can still be accumulating while you study.
- Year 1-2Pass the examSit the four-hour, 185-question proctored exam within six months of declaring candidacy.
- Every yearKeep it activeEach year, pay $125 and log eight continuing education credits in PACE.
- Year 3+Consider the CPMOnce you have 36 months of qualifying experience and a large enough portfolio, IREM's CPM is the next step for regional roles.
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Questions people ask
Do I need a CAM to work as an apartment manager?
No. The CAM is a voluntary credential from the National Apartment Association, and no state requires it. Employers may prefer it or pay for it, but whether you need a real estate or other state license depends on your state and is a separate question.
Can I take the CAM course before I have 12 months of experience?
Yes. NAAEI lets you build the 12 months while you take the course. You hold a provisional certificate until you meet the experience requirement.
How much does the CAM cost?
The online course costs $925 for NAA members and $1,155 for nonmembers. Single modules cost $132 or $165. After you earn the credential, renewal is $125 a year plus eight hours of continuing education.
Is the NAA CAM the same as a Florida CAM license?
No. The Florida Community Association Manager license is a state license from DBPR for managing HOAs and condominium associations. The NAA credential does not satisfy that license requirement.
What happens if I let my CAM lapse?
The credential becomes inactive and you can no longer use the CAM letters. You can reinstate it within five years by paying back dues, the missing credits and a $50 fee. After that you must retake the course and exam.
Should I get the CAM or the CPM?
The CAM fits people managing one apartment community and needs only 12 months of experience. The CPM from IREM needs 36 months of experience and a minimum portfolio, and IREM estimates it costs $7,700 to $10,000, so it suits managers moving into portfolio or regional roles.
Sources
- National Apartment Association: Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)
- National Apartment Association: CAM Online
- National Apartment Association: Renew Your Credential
- IREM: CPM experience requirements
- IREM: CPM FAQs
- Florida DBPR: Community Association Managers and Firms
- Community Associations Institute: Florida manager licensing
