Manager Licensure Clean-Up Bill Signed Into Law

Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1343 into law.  HB 1343 clarifies who is required to be licensed as a Community Association Manager.  Specifically, HB 1343 states:

• Employees of management companies who perform duties such as clerical, accounting or maintenance and are under the supervision of a licensed Community Association Manager are not required to be licensed.
• Principals and other executive officers of management companies who are not “Designated Managers” and are not involved in day-to-day Community Association Management are not required to be licensed.
• Independent contractors who preform clerical, accounting or maintenance functions and who do not perform community management functions are not required to be licensed.

Licensure Exam
There are two parts of the Community Association Manager licensing exam. The “General Portion” is intended to measure managers’ competency to carry out core functions of Community Association Management. The “Colorado Law Portion” is designed to assess applicant’s basic understanding of laws applicable to Colorado HOAs and the applicant’s ability to interpret governing documents.

• Current managers who hold a current CMCA, AMS or PCAM designation from the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (and are in good standing), or any other designation recognized by the Director of the Division of Real Estate, are only required to take and pass the Colorado Law Portion of the exam.

Provisional License
Current managers who have not passed the manager licensing exam prior to July 1, 2015 may be eligible to apply for a Provisional License which would be good through December 31, 2015.

Apprentice License
HB 1343 allows prospective individuals interested in community association management to apply for an Apprentice License so long as they are working under the direct supervision of a licensed Community Association Manager.  Apprentice Licenses are granted for the purposes of learning and gaining experience and will be valid for a one year period.

The Division of Real Estate is expected to adopt emergency rules to address qualifications and procedures for obtaining Provisional and Apprentice Licenses soon.