Part III of Buildium’s Certifications and Educational Resources overview takes a look at the education programs of Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI) and Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

Although they are two distinct entities, in addition to its own webinars and seminars trade association BOMA also provides access to partner education company BOMI’s educational programs and certifications. Both of these companies have their fingers on the pulse of real estate and rental market education. Their offerings can be taken at regional offices, online, or over the phone at teleconference seminars. In addition to offering more traditional certification, BOMA also provides a wide variety of webinars and seminars that address up-to-the-minute industry issues. For example, with the current economy in mind, BOMA recently conducted a webinar on “Recognizing and Managing Tenant Financial Distress” and have an upcoming webinar on “Keeping Tenants Happy in a Depressed Economy.”

BOMI International offers more traditional certification courses which include:

• Real Property Administrator (RPA®)
• Facilities Management Administrator (FMA®)
• Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA®)
• Property Management Financial Proficiency (PMFP)
• Property Administrator (PAC)
• Building Systems Maintenance (SMC)

BOMA offers some great practical energy conservation seminars as part of their BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP®). BEEP® offers property managers a great way to get ahead of the green curve and market themselves as forward-thinking professionals, authoritative in energy conservation matters. This is not to mention the fact that course attendees will learn how to save money by making their properties more energy efficient.

BOMA also hosts an annual international conference (this year’s is in Philadelphia from June 28-June 30). Although this is not a means of certification, it is a great way to obtain a lot of information quickly, with more than 40 sessions over the course of two days.

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For part II we are visiting the National Apartment Association’s certifications and education programs.

National Apartment Association (NAA)

The National Apartment Association is designed specifically with the multi-family housing industry in mind. Through the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI), the association offers classes both for current property management professionals and for promising newcomers looking to build a property management career.

NAA’s unique class offering very specifically drills down to various property management job functions as seen in their certification offerings:

• Certified Apartment Manager® (CAM)
• Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician® (CAMT)
• Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS)
• Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS)
• National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP)

As with NARPM®, classes are offered in NAA’s local and regional offices. Their entire CAM program, however, can be taken online.

Finally, NAAEI has set up ApartmentCareerHQ.org, a great resource for undergraduate students who are considering working toward a property management career. This site will help students identify colleges that offer a Resident Property Manager major program, arming future industry professionals with the information they need before embarking on a property management career.

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While property management certification is not required by law, it’s still something you should strongly consider whether you are new to the field or a property management veteran. In a field that is ever-changing, many property managers today are turning toward education and certification programs both as a means of getting a leg up on the competition and staying up-to-date on the latest and greatest industry practices and innovations.

If you’ve considered bolstering your property management career with an education program, there are a few that you may want to check out. Following is an overview of notable property management programs to give you an idea of what to expect and which may work best for you. This three part posts introduces three organizations and their unique certifications and education programs.  Let’s begin with the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®)

The National Association of Residential Property Managers is a great option for those already in the property management profession who want to gain additional education to grow their knowledge base and forward their career. If you own or manage your own property management company, you should note that NARPM® offers a diverse set of programs tailored to job type. With programs for property management company owners, property managers, and property management office staff, your entire team can benefit from the NARPM® programs.

NARPM® courses are taught by association members who are also principals in their own property management companies. This is critical because for any education program in this field to be truly effective, it’s imperative that instructors have a solid understanding of how the principles they’re teaching translate into real-life situations.

You can choose between four certifications, depending upon your primary job function and area of focus. These include:

• Residential Management Professional (RMP®)
• Master Property Manager (MPM®)
• Certified Residential Management Company (CRMC®)
• Certified Support Specialist (CSS℠)

NARPM® has regional nationwide offices where classes are offered or, alternatively, you can opt for an online distance education class where students receive all the information they would in a classroom setting from the comfort of their own home or office. For a list of upcoming classes, click here.

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In part I, we informed you how to evaluate yourself for a career in property management and how to identify property managers in your network.  Part II examines what questions to ask your new networking pal.

Once you’ve identified a professional to speak with, maximize the opportunity. Make sure that you prepare your list of questions ahead of time—don’t just show up for the meeting and wing it. In fact, you’re best to start prepping your list a few days in advance to give yourself plenty of time to mull over what you want to find out. Following are some general questions to consider asking, but you should only use these as a basic guide. Be sure that you really take your own personality into account and are drilling down into the questions and topics that most pertain to your personality and qualifications for an enjoyable work environment.

• What is your favorite thing about being a property manager? What is your least favorite part?
• What characteristics or personality traits does it take to be successful in this industry?
• What are your biggest challenges as a property manager?
• Which software, applications, or other tools are used in property management?
• What motivates people in this industry to succeed? Money? Career advancement? Travel? Networking and friends?
• What websites, books, or magazines do you regularly use to learn and stay current with industry news?

Finally, when asking questions and determining what direction you want your own career to take, make sure you think long-term. Again, remember that just as important as asking other people questions is asking (and honestly answering) questions yourself. You may be okay with long hours now, but how will you feel about that in five years? What is the long-term outlook for careers in this field (also be sure to check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual report for more information on the sector’s outlook)? And do salaries generally significantly increase over time? If so, what is the average timeframe for promotion and what do you have to do to achieve that? Are you the type of person who will realistically do what it takes to achieve these milestones?

While one interview may provide you with all the answers you need, also bear in mind that there are different career paths even within the property management sector. There’s commercial property management and residential property management; short-term and long-term rentals; large property management offices and very small ones. With all this in mind, you may want to speak with a couple different property managers whose jobs and situations are differ from one another. The better you are able to really pinpoint the sort of job and environment you would most enjoy working in, the better the chances are that you will really enjoy your property management experience once you get in the door.

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One thing is for certain about property management: it’s not a 9 to 5 paper-pushing kind of job. It’s also unlikely that one workday will ever duplicate the next. As a property manager, you’ll need a diverse skill set and knowledge base that includes basic accounting, real estate, and legal principals. If you thrive on thinking on your toes and enjoy constantly switching gears, this may well be the career for you. This two part post examines the characteristics of property managers to help determine if you have what it takes to manage property.

Before diving in head first, you would be wise to educate yourself about what a career in property management entails, including your short- and long-term career outlook. Because property management requires such a diverse skill set, if the job is likely not a good fit for you it’s best to figure that out before investing time, effort—and perhaps even money—into creating a property management career for yourself. And if a career in property management is for you, the more research you do, the easier it will be for you to use that knowledge to prepare yourself for and identify the perfect job.

Begin by being honest with yourself. Do you enjoy working with numbers? Do you have a mind for legal matters and, if not, do you enjoy researching such topics and do so quickly and accurately? Do you enjoy working closely with people and does the idea of working with a diverse set of people excite you? How are you at problem solving? Are you efficient and decisive enough that you will be able to deal with maintenance issues on a timely basis? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” you may want to consider stopping before passing go.

But if all of this leaves you even more intrigued, your next step should be talking to the people who can really fill you in on the nitty-gritty details of what it means to be a property manger—property managers. Begin by seeing if any of your friends or family members know anyone in the field. If not, put a query in with a local realtor association or, even better yet, call a local property management company. If there’s a particular company you’re interested in working for, requesting an informational interview with them is the perfect place to start. A potential employer will be impressed by your drive and dedication and you can get a feel for the office’s environment to see if it might be a good fit for you. Local real estate schools or certification classes might have some ideas. And, if all else fails, try putting a posting up at on a local property management group’s website or the always-useful Craigslist.

Part II examines the questions you should ask your new contacts to determine if property management is right for you.

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