While property management certification is not required by law, it’s still something you should strongly consider whether you are new to the field or a property management veteran. In a field that is ever-changing, many property managers today are turning toward education and certification programs both as a means of getting a leg up on the competition and staying up-to-date on the latest and greatest industry practices and innovations.

If you’ve considered bolstering your property management career with an education program, there are a few that you may want to check out. Following is an overview of notable property management programs to give you an idea of what to expect and which may work best for you.

National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM)

The National Association of Residential Property Managers is a great option for those already in the property management profession who want to gain additional education to grow their knowledge base and forward their career. If you own or manage your own property management company, you should note that NARPM® offers a diverse set of programs tailored to job type. With programs for property management company owners, property managers, and property management office staff, your entire team can benefit from the NARPM® programs.

NARPM® courses are taught by association members who are also principals in their own property management companies. This is critical because for any education program in this field to be truly effective, it’s imperative that instructors have a solid understanding of how the principles they’re teaching translate into real-life situations.

You can choose between four certifications, depending upon your primary job function and area of focus. These include:

Residential Management Professional (RMP)
Master Property Manager (MPM)
Certified Residential Management Company (CRMC)
Certified Support Specialist (CSS)

NARPM® has regional nationwide offices where classes are offered or, alternatively, you can opt for an online distance education class where students receive all the information they would in a classroom setting from the comfort of their own home or office. For a list of upcoming classes, click here .

National Apartment Association (NAA)

The National Apartment Association is designed specifically with the multi-family housing industry in mind. Through the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI), the association offers classes both for current property management professionals and for promising newcomers looking to build a property management career.

NAA’s unique class offering very specifically drills down to various property management job functions as seen in their certification offerings:

Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)
Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT)
Certified Apartment Property Supervisor (CAPS)
Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS)
National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP)

As with NARPM®, classes are offered in NAA’s local and regional offices. Their entire CAM program, however, can be taken online .

Finally, NAAEI has set up ApartmentCareerHQ.org, a great resource for undergraduate students who are considering working toward a property management career. This site will help students identify colleges that offer a Resident Property Manager major program, arming future industry professionals with the information they need before embarking on a property management career.

Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) & Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI)

Although they are two distinct entities, in addition to its own webinars and seminars trade association the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) also provides access to partner education company Building Owners and Managers Institute International’s (BOMI) educational programs and certifications. Both of these companies have their fingers on the pulse of real estate and rental market education. Their offerings can be taken at regional offices, online, or over the phone at teleconference seminars. In addition to offering more traditional certification, BOMA also provides a wide variety of webinars and seminars that address up-to-the-minute industry issues. For example, with the current economy in mind, BOMA recently conducted a webinar on “Recognizing and Managing Tenant Financial Distress” and have an upcoming webinar on “Keeping Tenants Happy in a Depressed Economy.”

 

BOMI International offers more traditional certification courses which include:

 

Real Property Administrator (RPA)
Facilities Management Administrator (FMA)
Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT)
Property Management Financial Proficiency (PMFP)
Property Administrator (PAC)
Building Systems Maintenance (SMC)

In addition to their certification courses, BOMA offers some great practical energy conservation seminars as part of their BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) . BEEP offers property managers a great way to get ahead of the green curve and market themselves as forward-thinking professionals, authoritative in energy conservation matters. This is not to mention the fact that course attendees will learn how to save money by making their properties more energy efficient.

BOMA also hosts an annual international conference (this year’s is in Philadelphia from June 28-June 30). Although this is not a means of certification, it is a great way to obtain a lot of information quickly, with more than 40 sessions over the course of two days.