Which designation is more valuable:

Which endorsement is more valuable in terms of evaluating a candidate for employment:

1) CAA's Certified Residential Manager: tinyurl.com/CAcertifiedmanager
2) NAA'S CAM: tinyurl.com/Certifiedaptmgr
or
3) IREM's CPM: tinyurl.com/certifiedpropertymanager

Now I am going to throw myself out there and say when it really comes down to it, I look at the designations and say, hey, they are building and learning more about the trade. But success is how long have you been doing the job, out there actually managing?

There are those who have designations and they have not managed and are vendors and they know about what goes into, but have never really managed a property.

I think you know where I am going with this Johnny. Promised I would never write when I did not have the time to get deep into the issue.


I guess the bottom-line for me is what empresses me are those who have actually managed and have the scars of sitting in those tested positions and were successful! Those are the ones that I am interested in and if they failed at one point I am not adverse to that either, because I ask what did you learn from that failure!

The question is can you do the job? I know you have the title, but can you walk the walk as they say!

I appreciate and respect your opinions, Nate. Thanks

What I am considering is which of these endorsements I should pursue as additions to my 'toolbox of knowledge' as it relates to this industry.

Like I admitted to in another thread; my educational background has most certainly NOT been traditional..... High school (I was an average student and only did enough so that I could SWIM, in fact I got out of the physical education requirement for graduation as we were given the choice of sports or 4 semesters (2years) of actual physical education and I swam for the 4 semesters and participated in water polo for 1). I followed that with the Army (which I regret not making a career out of it, one of my 'brothers' retired last year as a Major with 23 years active duty, half of that he spent as enlisted before being recommended for OCS, I have another 'brother' that is a CSM now, and another that is also a Major, after more than 10 as enlisted); then a couple of years at college where I did not perform well as I was spending so much time helping my mom recover from surgery to remove a very rare type of brain tumor (at the time there were 300 known cases in the world, had I still been in the Army, I would have had the Red Cross contacting me to come home) and dropped out.

I have completed a number of the courses offered at Grace Hill, gotten Tax Credit Certification through Housing Credit College, and I did take a course through Allied Business Schools for property management. All of this coursework was completed online, on my schedule and at my pace.

I am probably going to apply to the VA to see if I can qualify for funding under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program provided by last year's VOW to hire veterans act. If I can qualify for this funding, I am asking which endorsement would be the most effective as an additional tool in my toolbox.

Hey Johnny,

Since you are in the profession, then it is looked upon as growth and trying to better your professional standing by adding some more tools to your arsenal of experence and knowledge which you have all read achieved! I am more partial to IREM. Every experience that I have had with them has been good and it seems as though they have a good solid base of professional trainers and instrctors.

I asked myself the same questions about two years ago. I spoke to different people, looked around on job boards and looked at each individual program to see if what I would be learning would be of value to me. I chose the CPM designation. I have completed everything but the management plan. I honestly can not tell you as of yet if it has added value or not. I will tell you that everyone that I have spoke to has said that it will. Good luck.

The Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management is the premier designation in property management. It is very different from the CAM designation offered by NAA and the focus is more toward the asset manager or large portoflio manager than the onsite property manager. IREM does offer the ARM designation wich is comparable to the CAM designation if you are looking to compare apples to apples.

I would advise going for the CPM designation and you can learn more about it at www.irem.org . There are also several scholarship options that IREM offers. www.irem.org/sechome.cfm?sec=iremfoundation

If you would like to contact me directly about the process I am happy to assist.

Perhaps I should have been more clear; I am currently a SITE level manager looking to add to my toolbox.

Unfortunately, I am currently also unemployed and hopefully will qualify for a grant under The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program/ VOW to hire heroes act of 2011.

Johnny,

The NAA and IREM are both private trade groups--are you sure that your program would cover tuition for a private certification? IREM has an internal scholarship program. Fortunately, i was awarded a grant both times I applied. The scholarship won't pay for all the costs, however, you would be responsible for roughly a third. Anyways, the CAM requires a time consuming project at its conclusion. It might be difficult for you to be successful at it as you are unemployed because doing so requires "inside" Information (i.e. budget and expense info, financial reports, etc.). I am unaware of any scholarship or financial aid program for NAA's CAM. It's cost is probably comparable to IREM's ARM, and both can be completed online (except for the ARM certification exam, which is proctored).

Both have an experience and education requirement. Both have comprehensive final examinations. The CAM attempts to get applicants to apply what they have learned through its time and labor intensive final project, which some would argue its necessity after all the education and testing involved. After all, we already have the experience, right? In lieu of a final project, the ARM application process considers the applicants character and integrity requiring letters of reccomendation and a managerial "sign off" on experience and work functions. I am a bit more partial to the ARM because I have it, but I also feel its more practical--for me personally. Emily is right, though, the CAM and ARM are very similar and both are meant for the residential site manager. I can't wait to get a little more experience under my belt so I can get the coveted CPM. Like Emily said, it really is the gold standard.

I appreciate the input, Nathan.

Since the launch of the Vow to hire heroes act does not start until next week, there are not a lot of details as to what programs qualify.

Assuming it does, what I was thinking is completing the training portions online and then pursuing the 'project' and the testing after becoming employed (this way, I can include the fact that I am a candidate for the designation on my resume). I would hope that an employer would see this and offer financial assistance / incentives to pursue the completion of the certification.

Am I off base here?

Johnny,

Most companies invest in those people that they know are going to stick with them. I do not know how far your apartment association is from you, but I would get with them and see what leads they have as well. Just keep plugging away brother and do not give up. You see there are those that do not see gold until it is all shiny and put before them, not realizing that the real gold is often time right there in front of them. Me, I say get in there and once you are in and proving your worth, seeing what the company can do for you if your other efforts do not produce results for you. Just in the short time I have been reading your posts and interacting with you, there is one thing that I know and that you will get in there and you will succeed!

I understand and agree with your train of thought, Nate; BUT... I would like to derail it slightly and add that I would like to be able to say on my resume that I am a candidate for whatever credential I decide on (at this point, I think I am looking at the IREM's ARM designation). This could open a new conversation in an interview:

-At what point are you in the process for the ARM?

*I am taking (or have completed) the necessary coursework online. I am not sure if you are aware, but there is a project that is part of the process and it must be based on an actual property. With your permission, I would like to use my new home as the subject property to base the project on. Be assured that this will in no way interfere with the performance of my duties and that I will share with you the end product. I understand that, since these credentials are mine to take wherever I go; I may not get any additional assistance from you beyond the use of a member discount you may be entitled to as an employer with the IREM, but I would appreciate any financial or other resource you can provide me as I complete these requirements.

I completed my CAM in 2005 and would say it was well worth it. At the time I had no experience in affordable housing or tax credit, however this was part of the course. One year later I changed companies and had my first tax credit community. While CAM in no way taught me all there was to know about tax credit, I did have a basic understanding of the program as well as being familiar with some of the terminology. The company I worked for at the time paid for the classes, but if you left within 6 months of the training you were required to pay it back.
I firmly believe in continuing education and try to attend any classes I can. Each time I learn something new, and it helps to stay motivated.

thank you!

Hi Lori.

1. When working with vendors like for example, Corp. fitness vendors, usually, do they have their own contract for you to sign or do you have a contract for them to sign?

2. For Recurring payments, HOw do you normally pay vendors? Do vendors get your business bank info to auto draft payment or do you all get the vendor's banking info so that you can direct deposit into their account?