We have received many questions regarding the new educational requirements passed by the Florida legislature during the 2024 session. Based on what we know now, please see the FAQ’s below explaining the differences in the educational requirements for Condo’s, Co-Op’s, HOA’s, & Managers.
Am I required to take a FOUR (4)-hour board certification course?
Condominiums: Yes
Homeowner Associations: The law does not specify how long the board certification class must be.
Co-Ops: No.
How often am I required to take the board certification class?
Condominiums: Every eight (8) years, unless there is a break in service, such as getting off the board and then back on a year later, in which case, you would have to retake the course.
Homeowner Associations: Every four (4) years, unless there is a break in service, such as getting off the board and then back on a year later, in which case, you would have to retake the course.
Co-Ops: N/A
What is the deadline to comply with the new board certification class requirement for Board Members elected or appointed prior to July 1, 2024?
Condominiums: June 30, 2025
Homeowner Associations: Within four (4) years of July 1, 2024
Co-Ops: N/A
What is the deadline to comply for board members elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2024?
Condominiums: within 90 days of being elected or appointed
Homeowner Associations: within 90 days of being elected or appointed
Co-Ops: N/A
Are board members now required to take a 1 hour Legal Update class in addition to the board certification class?
Condominiums: Yes
Homeowner Associations: No
Co-Ops: No
How often must we take the 1 hour Legal update class?
Condominiums: Every year in between board certification courses (i.e.: yr2/3/4/5/6/7)
Homeowner Associations: N/A
Co-Ops: N/A
Are we required to take Four (4) to Eight (8) Additional hours of education on any topics?
Condominiums: No
Homeowner Associations: Yes
Co-Ops: No
How many additional class hours are we required to take?
Condominiums: N/A
Homeowner Associations: Four (4) hours if your HOA has 2499 parcels or less/Eight (8) hours if your HOA has 2500 parcels or more.
Co-Ops: N/A
How often do we need to take the additional 4-8 hours?
Condominiums: N/A
Homeowner Associations: Every year
Co-Ops: N/A
Can the FOUR (4) hour board certification course satisfy four (4) hours for the Homeowner Associations?
We believe so; however, we are waiting for guidance on this from the DBPR.
Are there new educational rules for Managers?
Condominiums: Yes
Homeowner Associations: Yes
Co-Ops: Yes
What are the new rules for Managers?
Managers must take ten (10) credits of education every two (2) years. HOA managers must include at least five (5) credits specific to HOA content, and at least three (3) of those five (5) hours must be about Record Keeping specifically.
Is there a conflict between the Manager Education statute and the code?
Currently, the administrative code provides that fifteen (15) hours must be completed; however, the statute provides for ten (10) hours, and the statute supersedes the code, so it is ten (10) hours.
What is the required breakdown of credit type for Managers?
Currently, it is broken down as: 3 LU (Legal Update), 3 IFM (Financial), 3 OPP (Operational), 3 HR (Human Resources), and 3 ELE (Elective).
However, this will have to change now that the required CEU credits for Managers is going down to 10 credits. The DBPR has not provided new regulations about this yet.
Will there be a breakdown of required credit type for the additional hours of education for Homeowner Board Members?
The DBPR has not released regulations nor provided guidance on this yet.
Is there a rule regarding Managers being exempt from having to take classes?
Condominiums: Yes
Homeowner Associations: Yes
Co-Ops: Yes
Any Managers who have had an active license for ten (10) continuous years without a disciplinary record is exempt from continuing education.
*Continuing education is extremely important. We encourage Associations to add a continuing education clause into your Management and Employment contract(s). Please discuss with your attorney.
Who reports CEU credit to the DBPR for Managers?
The provider of the class must submit the Manager’s credits to the DBPR.
Who reports credit to the DBPR for board members?
The board members are responsible for submitting their own hours.
When will Becker’s FOUR (4) hour board certification course(s) be available?
Our board certification courses can be found on our website.
If you would like information about our Becker courses, please click HERE.