Fla. Admin. Code R. 61B-19.004 (2026)

This rule establishes the education and training requirements for directors of homeowners associations in accordance with section 720.3033, F.S. This rule applies to elected or appointed homeowner association directors who must complete a board member course, directors who must complete continuing education annually, and course providers seeking to offer Division-approved board member education and continuing education courses.

(1) Definitions.

(a) “Board member certification” or “BMC” means a Division-approved course offered to homeowner association directors to satisfy the initial certification requirement of section 720.3033(1)(a)4., F.S., which includes training related to financial literacy and transparency, recordkeeping, levying of fines, and notice and meeting requirements.

(b) “Continuing education” or “CE” means an ongoing Division-approved education course offered to homeowner association directors subject to the requirements of section 720.3033(1)(a)5., F.S.

(c) “Division” means the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Division approves BMC and CE courses subject to this rule on behalf of the Department.

(d) “Education year” means the period beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following calendar year.

(e) “Provider” means any authorized instructor of a Division-approved BMC or CE course who offers the course under this rule.

(2) Requirements for Course and Instructor Approval.

(a) Any prospective provider seeking Division approval to provide a Division BMC or CE course shall submit a completed DBPR Form CO 6000-13, Application for Homeowners Association Board Member Certification (BMC) or Continuing Education (CE) Course Approval or Renewal, http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19622, incorporated herein by reference and effective August 2026 to [email protected] or by creating an account through Department online services and completing an application online.

Except as otherwise provided, a completed application must include:

1. A list of all instructors, which shall include names, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and qualifications.

2. The verification procedure to confirm satisfactory course completion by participants.

3. A description of the method of delivery for the course.

4. A price list reflecting all participant fees.

(b) Instructor Qualifications. All instructors delivering educational content for BMC or CE courses must possess and demonstrate at least one of the following qualifications: 

1. A bachelor's degree and two (2) years of relevant work experience in the subject matter being taught; or 

2. An associate's degree and four (4) years of relevant work experience in the subject matter being taught; or, 

3. Six (6) years of relevant work experience in the subject matter being taught; or

4. A Florida-licensed attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar and relevant work experience in the subject matter being taught.

(c) Providers and prospective providers seeking to offer a CE course that has been previously approved as a Community Association Manager continuing education course, pursuant to Rule 61E14-4.003, F.A.C., shall submit a completed DBPR Form CO 6000-14, Application for Homeowners Association Continuing Education (CE) Course Approval or Renewal - Currently approved Community Association Manager (CAM) CE, http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19623, incorporated herein by reference and effective June 2026, to [email protected] or by creating an account through Department online services and completing an application online. A complete application must include: 

1. The approved CAM continuing education course number. 

2. A description of how the CE course relates to homeowners association governance. 

3. A template certificate of completion meeting Division requirements.

(d) Provider Review and Approval Process

1. After receiving a submission for approval, the Division shall notify the submitter of any deficiencies.

2. Prospective providers have thirty (30) days from the date of the Division’s notification of deficiencies to correct such deficiencies and submit the corrections to the Division. If corrections are not submitted to the Division within thirty (30) days, the submission is deemed withdrawn and must be resubmitted for Division approval.  

3. After receiving corrections, the Division will notify the submitter of any remaining deficiencies. Upon receipt of complete submission that meets all requirements of this rule, the Division will notify provider of approval. 

(3) Provider Renewal.

(a) Provider status shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of approval. A provider may apply for renewal within ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the approval period.

(b) Those seeking renewal of provider status must reapply using the same DBPR Form as used in the initial application. Providers who fail to renew their provider status on a timely basis in accordance with this rule shall not offer or advertise an approved BMC or CE course.

(4) Verification of Course Completion and Certificate of Completion. 

(a) An instructor must take reasonable steps to ensure that participants have satisfactorily completed a Division-created or Department-approved CE course in its entirety before issuing a certificate of completion. 

(b) The certificate of completion must match the Division-created course title or the CE course title on the application.

(c) The instructor must retain a copy of the participation roster, course records, and all issued certificates of completion for a period of one (1) year from the date the course is completed. These records shall be made available to the Division upon request.

(5) Delivery of Division Created or Division Approved Courses.

(a) Division-approved BMC and CE courses will be available at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/condominiums-and-cooperatives/education/, and shall include the dates that the course remains valid.

(b) Division-created or Division-approved BMC and CE courses may be provided to participants by one of the following methods:

1. Asynchronous instruction: A course consisting entirely of self-paced modules with prerecorded lectures and videos, written materials, or electronic media delivered outside the presence of an instructor.

2. Synchronous instruction: A course consisting entirely of live class sessions or lectures delivered by or in the presence of an instructor.

3. Hybrid instruction: A course consisting of both synchronous instruction and asynchronous instruction.

(6) Director Compliance.

(a) A board member satisfies the BMC or CE requirements by submitting a valid certificate of completion to the association’s secretary, or the equivalent officer, within the required timeframes: 

1. For BMC, within ninety (90) days of being elected or appointed, or within ninety (90) days after the start of the education year in which that board member is required to renew the BMC requirement; or 

2. For CE, on or before the end of the education year. 

(b) The association’s secretary, or the equivalent officer, is responsible for ensuring board member compliance with all educational requirements and maintaining education records. If a board member does not meet the education requirements upon the expiration of the applicable certificate submission timeframe, the board shall suspend the director from the board until compliant with the applicable requirement(s). The board may temporarily fill the vacancy during the period of suspension until the suspended member satisfies the appropriate requirement(s).  

(c) A BMC certification is valid for four (4) education years if the director serves without interruption. A director must take a new BMC course whenever there is a gap in service as an elected or appointed director.

(d) Directors may take multiple courses to satisfy the minimum continuing education requirements but may not take the same course multiple times in the same education year to satisfy the minimum continuing education requirements.

(7) Previously approved BMC and CE Courses.

(a) In addition to offering Division-created courses, providers may offer directors BMC and CE Courses previously approved by the Division if the applicable statutes and rules governing the course content remain unchanged. Upon determination by the Division that applicable statutes and rules governing the course content changed, the provider may only offer Division-created BMC or CE courses.

(b) The Division may rescind the approval of a previously approved BMC or CE course for the following reasons: 

1. The course content is inaccurate, outdated, or misleading. 

2. The course fails to meet the required learning objectives.  

3. Course approval was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation.

4. The course is primarily used for marketing, solicitation, or promoting specific products or services, rather than fulfilling the educational objectives. 

5. The instructor fails to comply with verification and recordkeeping requirements. 

6. The instructor does not comply with Division request to review course materials.

(c) Educational credit earned through a Division-approved BMC or CE course before the provider's approval is rescinded shall remain valid.

Rulemaking Authority 720.3033(1)(d) FS. Law Implemented 720.3033(1) FS. History–New 9-7-26.

Effective: 9/7/2026.