Community Associations Institute (CAI) was created to serve the business, educational and networking needs of community associations. Recognizing that a combination of experience and education best serves their members, CAI created several credential and designation programs for both managers and business partners. While most members recognize the community manager designations of AMS (Association Management Specialist) and PCAM (Professional Community Association Manager), designations for business partners are not as widely known. Here is your guide to Business Partner designations:

Reserve Specialist (RS)
To receive the RS designation, individuals must hold a bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture or engineering (or equivalent experience and education), have prepared at least 30 reserve studies, and comply with the strict Professional Reserve Specialist Code of Ethics.

Community Insurance & Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS)
In order to achieve the designation of CIRMS, the insurance specialist must have at least 5 years of experience specifically in the community association insurance field. Additionally, they must have been the practitioner for at least 25 association insurance programs over the last 3 years, and demonstrate significant involvement both in CAI and the provision of insurance and risk management to community associations. This may include educational programs, articles for industry publications, and involvement in CAI as a whole.

College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) Membership
Probably the most difficult to achieve, applicants to the CCAL must complete an extensive application process. They must have minimum of 10 years of legal practice, with specific emphasis in community association law. They must also have published writings related to community association law as well as taught educational courses in the industry.

Educated Business Partner Distinction
What about the business partners that are not in the Reserve, Insurance or Legal fields? Active CAI business partners can achieve the distinction of “Educated Business Partner” by completing coursework specifically relating to their community association clients. They must also show their commitment to the industry and their clients.

More information about professional credentials, including how to obtain them and how to find credentialed professionals near you, can be found on the CAI National website at www.caionline.org.

Terri Guest, CIRMS, is the Northern California Sales & Marketing Representative for Berg Insurance Agency and may be reached at Terri@BergInsurance.com.