​UPDATED CMCA EXAM BLUEPRINT

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Unveiling the Evolution of the CMCA Exam Blueprint: Changes Go into Effect December 2024 


The Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB) is poised to usher in a new era for the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) exam, offering a revamped blueprint that mirrors the dynamic landscape of association management across the globe. These changes, stemming from a thorough job analysis study conducted between 2021 and 2022, reflect an evolution in the core competencies required by community association managers worldwide.

Job Analysis 

Job analysis is the cornerstone of ensuring that the CMCA exam remains an authoritative assessment tool, reflecting the contemporary roles and responsibilities of association managers. This comprehensive study involved a multifaceted approach, dissecting the complexities of association management to chart a revised course for the credential.

The task of redefining the blueprint through job analysis was a colossal undertaking spanning 18 months. Starting in October 2021, the comprehensive study involved 13 project phases, including reviews of over 100 primary source documents, survey responses from 3,000 managers around the world, and more than 90 hours of collaborative meetings with 55 subject matter expert volunteers. Notably, 20 of these experts were sourced internationally, reflecting the global significance and diverse perspectives encompassed in this endeavor. The countries represented include the United Arab Emirates, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Spain. This validation process ensured that the CMCA exam blueprint aligns with the real-world experiences and challenges faced by professionals in the field.

Using the job anlaysis survey responses collected from thousands of managers around the world, the project team identified which of these tasks are performed most often by early career managers and which are most important to success on the job. The tasks that survey respondents identified as the most common and critical were selected as the tasks that will be tested on the updated CMCA exam.  

After finalizing the task list, the JA Team connected each task statement with the knowledge required to perform them competently. The resulting product is a comprehensive examination framework that details the tasks and corresponding knowledge that are expected of a Certified Manager of Community Associations.  

As the final step of the study, the JA Team convened for a two-day working session to determine what percentage of the exam should be allocated to each performance area. These percentages will be stated in the forthcoming exam blueprint that will provide the structure and layout for the CMCA exam over the next five years. The Board of Commissioners approved the updated blueprint in December 2022, marking the end of the job anlaysis study. 


Updated Blueprint 
The job analysis study resulted in an updated blueprint that encapsulates the requirements of modern community association management. This blueprint will go into effect in December 2024. Notable changes include a reorganization of job tasks and knowledge into six principal categories compared to the previous eight, allowing for a more cohesive representation of the industry's nuances.

For instance, content previously segregated into distinct categories, such as "Budgets, Reserves, Investments, and Assessments" and "Financial Controls," will now be consolidated under broader headings like "Financial Management" and "Risk Management." This streamlined approach better reflects the multifaceted nature of association management, presenting a more cohesive and holistic assessment framework for aspiring CMCA candidates.

One of the findings of the job analysis study was a significant emphasis on meetings and events in the daily responsibilities of early-career managers. Consequently, the exams will see an expansion of the “Meetings and Events” domain from 10% to 18%. Furthermore, “Property Maintenance” and “Risk Management” will increase by 3% and 4% respectively, while “Contracting” reduces from 13% to 10%.

Notably, the human resources domain, constituting 6% of the current exam content, will no longer feature in the revised blueprint.

The changes to the blueprint also serve to make the CMCA exam more relevant to an international audience by removing the references to US laws and regulations. While the content of the exam does still reflect the practice of community association management in the United States on a more general level, managers in other countries can make use of the available study materials to learn more about these practices as they prepare for the exam. 

The CMCA Study Guide has been updated to reflect the revised blueprint. Candidates are able to view the CMCA Study Guide (Updated Content Outline) and CMCA Study Guide (Current Content Outline)​. 

Changes to the CMCA exam will go into effect in December 2024, when the new version will be available at Pearson VUE testing centers around the world. Managers planning to test before December 2024 should refer only to the CMCA Study Guide (Current Content Outline). Managers planning to test after December 2024 should utilize only the updated CMCA Study Guide (Updated Content Outline). 

Looking Ahead

The redefined CMCA exam blueprint, meticulously curated through a comprehensive job analysis study, embodies CAMICB's commitment to elevating industry standards. 

These changes are not merely cosmetic but serve a foundational purpose—to ensure that the CMCA exam genuinely reflects the essentials of community management worldwide. The blueprint revisions align the exam content with the ever-evolving needs of the profession, encapsulating the industry's best practices, irrespective of geographic nuances.

Stay tuned as CAMICB offers more in-depth exploration of the blueprint throughout the next year leading up to the December 2024 change, symbolizing a leap forward in certifying the finest professionals in community association management.

Questions regarding the launch of updated forms of the CMCA examination may be forwarded to info@camicb.org or call 703-970-9300.  ​