Professional Designations

NCFAA offers several designation and certification options through the NAAEI. Click on each designation or certification below to learn more about the respective program. For a list of upcoming classes, visit our upcoming classes calendar.

Designations:

CAM CAMT CALP CAPS CAS

Certifications:

CPO EPA

Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)

The Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) Program provides an opportunity for you to gain valuable knowledge and experience as a recognized leader in the apartment industry. This course will help you improve your job performance with a combination of in-class activities, home assignments and assessments. An increasing number of owners and management companies are seeking NAA-designated CAM's to fill their leadership positions. Earning your CAM allows you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and ability to manage an apartment community and achieve owners’ investment goals.

You'll learn about:

  • Occupancy rates
  • Comprehensive marketing plans
  • Sales team management and product readiness
  • Equitable treatment of current and potential residents
  • Resident retention and the maintenance of a positive company image
  • Consistent and ongoing resident communication
  • Positive resident service and issue resolution
  • Enforcement of company policy in compliance with laws and regulations
  • Property inspections 
  • Preventive maintenance programs
  • Service request process
  • Apartment turnover process
  • Contractors and vendors
  • Recruitment, hiring, orientation, and training of high-caliber employees
  • Systematic employee evaluation
  • Employment regulations and record keeping
  • Analysis of the property’s financial operations with corrective actions for underperformance
  • Monitoring of property performance to achieve the owner’s investment goals
  • Accounting principles and practices
  • Maximizing net operating income
  • Reporting property performance honestly and accurately

Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT)

The Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) Program is a course designed as an introduction for new maintenance professionals or as a refresher for more experienced technicians. The course is divided into two sections – two non-technical courses consisting of online learning and five technical courses consisting of hands-on classroom training. The CAMT offers the latest material and information that will help you excel in maintaining an effective maintenance program. 

You'll learn about:

  • Processing work orders correctly, timely, and to residents’ satisfaction
  • Electrical services and repairs
  • Plumbing services and repairs
  • HVAC services and repairs
  • Painting services
  • Construction services and repairs
  • Mechanical services and repairs
  • Appliance services and repairs
  • Lock and key services and repairs
  • Customer service and performing maintenance tasks according to company policy and procedures
  • Minimizing personal and property damage while safely performing maintenance activities
  • Fair housing regulation compliance
  • Environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance
  • Reporting and documentation of maintenance activities in compliance with company policy and regulation
  • Curb appeal, property inspection, and daily maintenance
  • Established procedures for maintaining recreational facilities and common areas
  • Implementation of a preventive maintenance schedule
  • Product repair and replacement decisions
  • Professional behavior patterns, communication skills, and appearance
  • Clear and respectful communication with residents, team members, and contractors

Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP)

In 2021, the National Apartment Leasing Professional credential changed its name to the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional credential. The newly named CALP credential continues to ensure that leasing professionals throughout the industry are fully prepared for success.

Earning CALP, your first industry credential, signals to an employer your commitment to a career in residential property management.

You'll learn about:

  • Using technology to generate traffic
  • Monitoring and managing your community’s reputation
  • Inspecting the leasing center, tour route, model units, and vacant apartments
  • Shopping the competition while building relationships with competitors
  • Compiling a comprehensive community resource tool
  • Effective marketing plans
  • Relationship sales process and evaluating personal sales performance
  • Evaluating a prospect’s commitment level and overcoming objections
  • Reviewing the next steps in the sales process with prospective residents
  • Applying fair housing laws and communicating rental criteria
  • Qualifying prospective residents according to rental policy
  • Preparing and reviewing leases with new residents
  • The move-in process
  • Responding to resident issues and maintenance requests with appropriate follow-up
  • Building relationships with residents and creating a sense of community
  • Reporting incidents, maintaining documentation, and taking corrective action
  • Maximizing revenue and operational efficiency
  • Securing and processing lease renewals
  • Conducting a market survey

Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS)

The Certified Apartment Porfolio Supervisor (CAPS) Program is an in-depth review of property management principles and techniques as used by the professional supervisor. The course helps the professional make the connection between knowledge and on-the-job performance. Training is divided into five, eight-hour courses. Let the CAPS program help you stand out in an extremely challenging environment. The CAPS designation provides professional credibility, industry recognition and personal growth and development. Earning your CAPS takes you to the next level in property management.

You'll learn about:

  • Recruiting high-performing employees
  • Employee performance, engagement, and retention
  • Minimizing conflict through stakeholder communications
  • Ethical behavior and conflicts of interest
  • Annual operating budgets and owner performance objectives
  • Property and portfolio results
  • Due diligence process
  • Property takeover process
  • Capital improvement plans
  • Managing risk through inspections, follow-up procedures, and incident reporting compliance
  • Minimizing legal risk and liability
  • Regulatory agency oversight of assisted housing
  • Analyzing property performance data to inform action
  • Management agreements
  • Evaluating and reporting property performance using key performance indicators

Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS)

The Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS) Program is an opportunity for suppliers to understand the everyday challenges faced by the apartment managers and the properties they oversee. This course is ideal for both new and experienced vendors. CAS isn't just a title – it's training that helps you better meet the needs of the apartment communities you serve. Earning CAS allows you to network with your peers from other companies, learn about the benefits and activities your local apartment association offers, and engage in apartment association meetings and events. 

You'll learn about:

  • Applicant screening, leasing contracts, and move-ins
  • Rent collection, lease renewal, the move-out process, lease termination, and eviction
  • Property management systems and their functions
  • How community managers create avpositive fair housing environment
  • Minimizing risk through inspections, preventative maintenance, safety programs, and documentation
  • Addressing property and environmental hazards and crime
  • Analyzing property financial operations and underperformance
  • Monitoring property performance to achieve an owner’s investment goals
  • Maximizing net operating income

Certified Pool Operator (CPO)

The Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Program is the most accomplished aquatics educational course and is widely accepted by health officials. The course will teach valuable information on such topics as water testing and evaluation, treatment, filtration, maintenance and solving daily operating problems. Florida Code requires certification, particularly for management company and property team members.

Benefits Include:

  • Proven Education for a Broad Understanding of Pool Care and Management
  • All Courses are Taught by NSPF® Certified Instructors
  • Widely Accepted and Recognized by National, State and Local Authorities
  • Covers Local and State Codes
  • Comprehensive Handbook
  • Certification is Valid for Five Years

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technician Certification

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a mandatory program that requires all technicians to be certified before performing maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of an appliance that contains refrigerant chemicals.

Types of EPA Certifications

Type I - for servicing small appliances
Type II - for servicing high and very high pressure appliances
Type III - for servicing low pressure appliances
Universal - for servicing all appliances

To obtain certification, technicians must pass a closed-book proctored test which contains 25 questions about EPA regulations, and 25 questions on recycling procedures in the area in which they work. They may choose to test in only one area, or they may choose to test in more than one area, or they may choose to take the universal test which consists of 100 questions: 25 general and 75 sector-specific (25 from each sector of Type I, Type II and Type III). The minimum passing score is 70%.

The above content was adapted from the NAA Course Catalog and ACC Tech (EPA).