CMCA EXAMINATION PREPARATION - YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS
Passing the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) examination is an essential milestone in your community management career. The resources listed below will aid you in your exam preparation efforts. Refer to the CMCA Study Guide for a detailed breakdown of each content outline. 
This page serves as a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the CMCA exam. Read on to discover the tools and resources available to help you prepare with confidence. The most effective preparation strategies typically use a variety of resources to build a well-rounded understanding of the exam content.
Some CAMICB-owned preparation resources are accessed through the CMCA Resource Center and require you to sign in to your My CMCA account. Additional recommended resources are offered by third parties and may have their own access or purchase requirements.
Note: Purchase and/or use of these preparation materials is not required to become eligible to sit for the examination and use of these materials does not guarantee a passing score.
Understand the CMCA Exam
Before you begin studying, take time to understand the structure and content of the CMCA examination by reviewing the exam content outline, which defines exactly what knowledge and skills will be tested. Knowing how the exam is created and organized will help you focus your preparation and use your study time effectively.
The CMCA content outline serves as the blueprint for the exam and specifies the knowledge statements from which exam questions are developed. Knowledge statements are organized into six domains, each with a defined weighting. These weightings determine how many questions appear from each domain, making the content outline a critical tool for prioritizing study efforts. Familiarizing yourself with these domains and how they are represented on the exam will help you prioritize your study efforts.
CMCA Study Guide
The full content outline can be found in the CMCA Study Guide, available as a free electronic download. The Study Guide also includes detailed descriptions of the available preparation resources, a recommended pathway for exam preparation, and a set of sample questions to help familiarize you with the language and phrasing of CMCA exam questions.
Access the CMCA Study Guide
CMCA Handbook
The CMCA Handbook, also available as a free electronic download, is a comprehensive guide covering the CMCA examination application process, exam day procedures, scoring, and next steps after taking the exam. While the Study Guide focuses on the content of the exam, the Handbook serves as an essential reference on the processes and policies related to earning the CMCA.
Access the CMCA Handbook
CMCA Self-Assessment
An effective study plan starts with understanding what you already know and where to focus your efforts.
Once you’ve reviewed the CMCA Study Guide and Handbook, turn to the CMCA Self-Assessment: a free tool designed to help you self-evaluate your familiarity with each knowledge statement on the CMCA content outline, highlighting your strengths and identifying areas where additional study may be beneficial. Taking time to assess your readiness early can help you study more efficiently and with greater confidence.
There are two formats available. An interactive electronic version allows you to track your confidence by content area and build a personalized study plan. A printable version is also available for candidates who prefer to complete the assessment by hand. The self-assessment is not graded and does not predict exam performance; it is intended to help you prioritize your preparation.
The self-assessment also provides areas to set goals and create a schedule. Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your CMCA exam preparation. Use your self-assessment results create a preparation plan and stay on track. Use the study resources described below to support your preparation.
Access the CMCA Self-Assessment electronic version or printable version
Study Resources
The study resources below are intended to support a comprehensive and flexible approach to CMCA exam preparation. Some resources are developed and maintained by CAMICB and are accessed through the CMCA Resource Center, while others are provided by third parties and may require purchase or sign-in depending on the provider.
CMCA Resource Center (Sign-In Required)
The following preparation resources are developed and maintained by CAMICB and are accessed through the CMCA Resource Center. You will be prompted to sign in to your My CMCA account to access these materials.
For best results, sign in to your My CMCA account first (Login > My Account > My CMCA). Then, open a new browser tab or window and use the links below to access these resources.
CMCA Practice Exam
CAMICB offers an online CMCA Practice Exam for candidates seeking familiarity with CMCA exam content and question types. To maintain the integrity of the CMCA examination, questions presented in the practice exam are not live questions that will appear on the exam. Instead, they are drafted by subject-matter experts or rotated off previous exams.
The CMCA Practice Exam is available for purchase for $40 through the CMCA Resource Center. CMCA Practice Exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Access the CMCA Practice Exam
*If you previously paid for the practice exam on TesTrac, please contact us as info@camicb.org. We will provide you with a voucher code on our new platform.
CMCA Exam Preparation e-Learning Course
A free, on-demand resource developed by CAMICB to help strengthen test-taking strategies and prepare you for the CMCA exam. Please note that this course has not yet been updated to align with the current CMCA content outline. Candidates are encouraged to use modules selectively based on their individual study needs.
Access the e-learning Course
Additional Study and Reference Resources
The following recommended resources are provided by third parties and may require purchase or sign-in depending on the provider. These resources are not owned or maintained by CAMICB.
Quizlet Key Terms
These flashcards cover key terms and definitions relevant to the CMCA exam are available for free through Quizlet. They do not require sign-in through a My CMCA account.
Access the Quizlet Flashcards
*Quizlet also offers a paid subscription, Quizlet Plus, which is administered by Quizlet, not CAMICB. Quizlet Plus includes additional study features built from the key terms. Purchase is not necessary to access the flashcards and is completed directly through Quizlet; CAMICB does not control access, additional content, or pricing.
Prerequisite Course Materials
If you completed a prerequisite course to establish eligibility for the CMCA, reviewing those course materials can reinforce foundational knowledge. Prerequisite course manuals such as CAI’s M-100 Participant Guide or Tinnelly Law’s Building Community: The Foundations of Community Association Management course may support your preparation. However, keep in mind that prerequisite course manuals are not comprehensive CMCA review courses, and the CMCA exam may include topics not addressed in those materials. Use prerequisite course manuals as one component of a broader study plan.
Access to purchase CAI’s M-100 or Tinnelly Law’s Building Community
CAI’s Guides for Association Practitioners (GAPs)
A recommended series of guides covering a wide range of community association management topics. These resources are available for purchase through CAI. While there are more than two dozen GAP volumes available, CAMICB specifically recommends the following six as part of a comprehensive CMCA exam preparation plan. These volumes are available from CAI for individual purchase or as a bundle (called the CMCA Study Kit) at a discounted rate.
- Bids & Contracts: How to Find the Right Community Association Professional
- Drafting Rules: How Community Associations Maintain Peace & Harmony
- Insurance: How Community Associations Protect Themselves
- Meetings & Elections: How Community Associations Exercise Democracy
- Reserve Studies and Funds: How & Why Community Associations Invest Their Assets (Third Edition)
- Risk Management: How Community Associations Protect Themselves
Access the CAI GAPS
Community Association Management Best Practices Reports
A series of reports detailing best practices for various aspects of community management. Free downloads are available through the Foundation for Community Association Research website.
Access the FCAR Best Practices Reports
As you prepare for the CMCA exam, plan to use a variety of study resources and approaches that align with your learning preferences and experience. Remember that each candidate’s study journey is different. Keep the CMCA exam content outline in mind as you study to ensure you are focusing on the knowledge areas tested on the exam. As exam day approaches, refer to the test-taking strategies and guidance included in the CMCA Study Guide to help you review effectively and approach the examination with confidence.
Best of luck preparing to earn the CMCA: The Essential Credential!
Impartiality: The CAMICB Board of Commissioners is committed to impartiality in all aspects of the certification program, including actions related to applicants, candidates, and CMCA credential holders. The Board monitors its policies to ensure continued impartiality. The Board’s commitment to impartiality includes the development of an annual Threat Analysis, the commitment to adhere to the conflict of interest policy, and the review of all complaints. The Board does not permit influence or pressure from internal or external sources to compromise impartiality.