Committee central | May/June 2024

Creating a new path to ARM® certification

Designations and Certifications Committee approves new affordable housing course

By Anthony Tynan, CPM®

Certifications are a critical part of IREM. By earning an IREM certification, individuals and firms demonstrate key competencies to clients, customers, owners, firms, and the public. IREM’s certifications include the Certified Property Manager^®(CPM^®), Accredited Residential Manager^® (ARM^®), and Accredited Commercial Manager (ACoM^®) for individuals along with our Accredited Management Organization (AMO^®) for firms.

The CPM is IREM’s most prestigious and oldest certification, launched in 1938, followed by the AMO in 1945 and the ARM in 1975. The ACoM is IREM’s newest certification, launched in 2006.

Throughout IREM’s history, updates to our certification requirements have allowed IREM to respond to industry needs, thereby maintaining relevance to the industry, clients, customers, owners, firms, and the public. The Designations and Certifications Committee is charged with reviewing and recommending changes and enhancements to IREM’s designations, certifications, and accreditation.

Objectives of enhancing IREM certifications

The Designations and Certifications Committee focuses on the following objectives, and each will be considered by the Committee when making recommendations. The objectives incorporate several IREM priorities.

Objectives of the IREM Designations and Certifications Committee include:

Contributing to the achievement of IREM’s mission and strategic goals through research, planning, and monitoring relative to designation, certification, and accreditation
Overseeing U.S. designation, certification, and accreditation competencies, education, and exams
Establishing and refining the requirements for earning an IREM designation, certification, or accreditation, or any future designation, certification, or accreditation as may be determined by the Governing Council
Reviewing certification metrics and suggesting strategies to increase membership certification
Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

Committee highlights

Last year, the committee approved the addition of a new affordable housing certification course for the ARM education requirement. This new course, launching in 2024, will provide an additional pathway for those in affordable housing to the ARM certification.

In 2024, the committee continues to review IREM’s certifications to ensure their relevance to the changing needs of the industry. This includes analyzing the requirements of IREM’s certifications to ensure that candidates can complete the certification process expediently and with as few impediments as possible.

The committee continues to review certification metrics, including admissions applications, approval numbers, and retention rates. By reviewing these metrics, the committee can then suggest strategies to grow IREM certifications.

Core requirements for IREM certifications*

For individuals

Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®)
- Have a total of three years (36 months) of qualifying real estate management experience managing a minimum portfolio by the time of graduation.
- Complete the eight CPM certification courses that provide core competency knowledge.
- Demonstrate your knowledge with the CPM Capstone, a two-part final assessment that includes a Management Plan Skills Assessment and the CPM Certification Exam.
- Be a CPM candidate at the time of graduation and have been a CPM candidate for at least one year (this requirement is deemed as having been met for those who are ACoMs or ARMs for at least 12 months prior to graduation).
- Hold membership in the National Association of REALTORS^® as a REALTOR^®, REALTOR^® Associate, or Institute Affiliate.
- Hold an active real estate license (if required for your position in your state).
- Attend at least two of your IREM chapter’s events within 12 months prior to graduation and be endorsed by the chapter.
Accredited Residential Manager^®(ARM^®)
- Have a total of one year (12 months) of qualifying experience managing a residential or mixed-use portfolio of a minimum size by the time of graduation.
- Complete two certification courses covering fundamentals in residential property management and ethics via the ARM Track.
- Demonstrate your knowledge by passing the 100-question ARM Certification Exam via the ARM Track.
Accredited Commercial Manager (ACoM^®)
- Complete two certification courses covering fundamentals in commercial property management and ethics via the ACoM Track.
- Demonstrate your knowledge by passing the 100-question ACoM Certification Exam via the ACoM Track.

For management firms

Accredited Management Organization (AMO^®)
- Identify a CPM in an executive management position in your firm to complete the AMO certification course.
- Submit the AMO Application for IREM review to verify that your firm meets the required financial, operational, insurance, and client service standards.
- Become accredited, get officially recognized, acquire the right to use the AMO accreditation in business activities, and start utilizing the benefits of being an AMO.
- Reaccredit every three years to maintain the AMO accreditation.

*Requirements are generalized. To review the full certification and accreditation requirements, including fees, go to irem.org/certifications.

Issue: May/June 2024 Volume 89 Issue 3

Journal of Property Management

Anthony Tynan, CPM®, is the 2024 chair of the Designations and Certifications Committee. He is vice president of asset management at Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing in Columbus, Ohio.