Community Association Manager Licensing – Certification Requirements, Governance and
Exam Preparation Study Guide
Community Association (Definition) - ✔✔a residential homeowners' association in which
membership is a condition of ownership (mandatory) of a unit in a planned unit development,
or of a lot for a home or a mobile home, or of a townhouse, villa, condominium, cooperative, or
other residential unit which is part of a residential development scheme and which is
authorized to impose a fee (assessment) which may become a lien on the parcel.
Assessment - ✔✔The amount of money a unit or parcel owner pays for their share of the
expenses of the community association. The statute allows association to file an assessment lien
against the unit or parcel if unpaid.
Condominium - ✔✔that form of ownership of real property created pursuant to this chapter
(Section 718), which is comprised entirely of units that may be owned by one or more persons,
and in which there is, appurtenant to each unit, an undivided share in common elements
What does a condo association own? What is deeded in the association's name? - ✔✔Nothing.
NOTHING. The association is responsible for the insurance and maintenance, but it has no deed
in its name.
Who owns the common elements in a condominium association? - ✔✔All the owners own
common elements jointly.
Cooperative (definition) - ✔✔that form of ownership of real property wherein legal title is
vested in a corporation or other entity and the beneficial use is evidenced by an ownership
interest in the association and a lease or other muniment of title or possession granted by the
association as the owner of all the cooperative property.
In a cooperative, how many deeds are there? - ✔✔There is one deed. Title to all the real estate
is owned by the corporation. Each shareholder receives a Shareholder's Certificate as evidence
of their capital contribution to the corporation.
,In what type of community association would an owner have a shareholder's certificate? -
✔✔Cooperative. Owner has a shareholder's certificate if they are part of the cooperative.
Shareholder's Certificate (definition) - ✔✔What is the evidence of an owner's capital
contribution to the cooperative corporation. This entitles the owner to sign a Proprietary Lease
with the corporation for the exclusive use of the air space for their unit or pad.
Proprietary Lease (definition) - ✔✔gives an owner (in a coop) the exclusive use of the air space
for their unit or pad.
Homeowners' Association (definition) - ✔✔a Florida corporation responsible for the operation
of a community or a mobile home subdivision in which the voting membership is made up of
parcel owners or their agents, or a combination thereof, and in which membership is a
mandatory condition of parcel ownership, and which is authorized to impose assessments that,
if unpaid, may become a lien on the parcel. The term "homeowners' association" does not
include a community development district (CDD) or other similar taxing district created
pursuant to statute.
Who owns deeds in an HOA? - ✔✔Each parcel owner has a deed to their individual parcel. The
corporation has common areas or property deeded in the corporation's name.
Who owns the dirt on a parcel in an HOA? - ✔✔The homeowner owns the dirt on THEIR
parcel. HOA owns the dirt on COMMON parcels.
Chapter 607 (definition) - ✔✔Florida For Profit Corporate Act that governs For Profit
corporations
Chapter 617 (definition) - ✔✔Florida Not For Profit Corporate Act that governs Not For Profit
corporations
,Statute 718 - ✔✔Governs Condominiums
Statute 719 - ✔✔Governs Cooperatives
Statute 720 - ✔✔Governs Homeowners' Associations
Statute 721 - ✔✔Governs Timeshare Plans
Common Elements (definition) - ✔✔the portions of the condominium property not included in
the units
Examples of Common Elements - ✔✔drywall, plumbing, electrical inside the walls, clubhouse,
pool, streets, etc.
In which type of corporation (community association) would the term "common elements" be
used? - ✔✔Condominium
Limited Common Elements (definition) - ✔✔those common elements which are reserved for
the use of a certain unit or units to the exclusion of all other units (ie. assigned parking space,
private balcony, private elevator, etc.)
Examples of Limited Common Elements - ✔✔balcony, private elevator, patio connected to a
unit, assigned parking space, storage unit, boat slip, etc.
Common Areas (definition) - ✔✔the portions of the cooperative property not included in the
units (ie. clubhouse, pool, streets)
For what type of association is the term "Common Areas" used? - ✔✔Cooperative.
, Limited Common Areas (definition) - ✔✔those common areas which are reserved for the use
of a certain cooperative unit or units to the exclusion of other units (ie. balcony, private elevator,
patio connected to the unit, etc.)
Examples of Limited Common Areas - ✔✔balcony, private elevator, patio connected to the
unit, assigned parking space, storage unit, boat slip, etc.
Association Property (definition) - ✔✔all real property within a community which is owned or
leased by an association or dedicated for use or maintenance by the association or its members.
Short Version: property shared by all the owners in a homeowners' association (also referred to
as common property or common area)
Examples of Association Property (common areas or common property) - ✔✔Pool, clubhouse,
streets, park, entrance feature, etc.
Who owns the paint, tile, and carpet in a condominium? - ✔✔The homeowner. The
homeowner owns the air space from the drywall and floor inwards.
Who owns the drywall and floor baseboards/concrete in a condominium? - ✔✔EVERYONE.
Every owner in the condo owns these common elements.
In a Cooperative, what deeds/certificates does an owner possess? - ✔✔Their building deed (ie.
mobile home deed), Shareholders Certificate (for proof they made capital contribution), and
their Proprietary Lease (so they have the right to their specific space)
If someone lives in a cooperative community, but isn't a Shareholder, what deeds to they
possess? - ✔✔Their building deed (ie. mobile home deed), and a rental agreement with the
cooperative so they RENT their space that their mobile home is on. Or they RENT the space
their unit is in/on.
Exam Preparation Study Guide
Community Association (Definition) - ✔✔a residential homeowners' association in which
membership is a condition of ownership (mandatory) of a unit in a planned unit development,
or of a lot for a home or a mobile home, or of a townhouse, villa, condominium, cooperative, or
other residential unit which is part of a residential development scheme and which is
authorized to impose a fee (assessment) which may become a lien on the parcel.
Assessment - ✔✔The amount of money a unit or parcel owner pays for their share of the
expenses of the community association. The statute allows association to file an assessment lien
against the unit or parcel if unpaid.
Condominium - ✔✔that form of ownership of real property created pursuant to this chapter
(Section 718), which is comprised entirely of units that may be owned by one or more persons,
and in which there is, appurtenant to each unit, an undivided share in common elements
What does a condo association own? What is deeded in the association's name? - ✔✔Nothing.
NOTHING. The association is responsible for the insurance and maintenance, but it has no deed
in its name.
Who owns the common elements in a condominium association? - ✔✔All the owners own
common elements jointly.
Cooperative (definition) - ✔✔that form of ownership of real property wherein legal title is
vested in a corporation or other entity and the beneficial use is evidenced by an ownership
interest in the association and a lease or other muniment of title or possession granted by the
association as the owner of all the cooperative property.
In a cooperative, how many deeds are there? - ✔✔There is one deed. Title to all the real estate
is owned by the corporation. Each shareholder receives a Shareholder's Certificate as evidence
of their capital contribution to the corporation.
,In what type of community association would an owner have a shareholder's certificate? -
✔✔Cooperative. Owner has a shareholder's certificate if they are part of the cooperative.
Shareholder's Certificate (definition) - ✔✔What is the evidence of an owner's capital
contribution to the cooperative corporation. This entitles the owner to sign a Proprietary Lease
with the corporation for the exclusive use of the air space for their unit or pad.
Proprietary Lease (definition) - ✔✔gives an owner (in a coop) the exclusive use of the air space
for their unit or pad.
Homeowners' Association (definition) - ✔✔a Florida corporation responsible for the operation
of a community or a mobile home subdivision in which the voting membership is made up of
parcel owners or their agents, or a combination thereof, and in which membership is a
mandatory condition of parcel ownership, and which is authorized to impose assessments that,
if unpaid, may become a lien on the parcel. The term "homeowners' association" does not
include a community development district (CDD) or other similar taxing district created
pursuant to statute.
Who owns deeds in an HOA? - ✔✔Each parcel owner has a deed to their individual parcel. The
corporation has common areas or property deeded in the corporation's name.
Who owns the dirt on a parcel in an HOA? - ✔✔The homeowner owns the dirt on THEIR
parcel. HOA owns the dirt on COMMON parcels.
Chapter 607 (definition) - ✔✔Florida For Profit Corporate Act that governs For Profit
corporations
Chapter 617 (definition) - ✔✔Florida Not For Profit Corporate Act that governs Not For Profit
corporations
,Statute 718 - ✔✔Governs Condominiums
Statute 719 - ✔✔Governs Cooperatives
Statute 720 - ✔✔Governs Homeowners' Associations
Statute 721 - ✔✔Governs Timeshare Plans
Common Elements (definition) - ✔✔the portions of the condominium property not included in
the units
Examples of Common Elements - ✔✔drywall, plumbing, electrical inside the walls, clubhouse,
pool, streets, etc.
In which type of corporation (community association) would the term "common elements" be
used? - ✔✔Condominium
Limited Common Elements (definition) - ✔✔those common elements which are reserved for
the use of a certain unit or units to the exclusion of all other units (ie. assigned parking space,
private balcony, private elevator, etc.)
Examples of Limited Common Elements - ✔✔balcony, private elevator, patio connected to a
unit, assigned parking space, storage unit, boat slip, etc.
Common Areas (definition) - ✔✔the portions of the cooperative property not included in the
units (ie. clubhouse, pool, streets)
For what type of association is the term "Common Areas" used? - ✔✔Cooperative.
, Limited Common Areas (definition) - ✔✔those common areas which are reserved for the use
of a certain cooperative unit or units to the exclusion of other units (ie. balcony, private elevator,
patio connected to the unit, etc.)
Examples of Limited Common Areas - ✔✔balcony, private elevator, patio connected to the
unit, assigned parking space, storage unit, boat slip, etc.
Association Property (definition) - ✔✔all real property within a community which is owned or
leased by an association or dedicated for use or maintenance by the association or its members.
Short Version: property shared by all the owners in a homeowners' association (also referred to
as common property or common area)
Examples of Association Property (common areas or common property) - ✔✔Pool, clubhouse,
streets, park, entrance feature, etc.
Who owns the paint, tile, and carpet in a condominium? - ✔✔The homeowner. The
homeowner owns the air space from the drywall and floor inwards.
Who owns the drywall and floor baseboards/concrete in a condominium? - ✔✔EVERYONE.
Every owner in the condo owns these common elements.
In a Cooperative, what deeds/certificates does an owner possess? - ✔✔Their building deed (ie.
mobile home deed), Shareholders Certificate (for proof they made capital contribution), and
their Proprietary Lease (so they have the right to their specific space)
If someone lives in a cooperative community, but isn't a Shareholder, what deeds to they
possess? - ✔✔Their building deed (ie. mobile home deed), and a rental agreement with the
cooperative so they RENT their space that their mobile home is on. Or they RENT the space
their unit is in/on.
