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The state’s lawmakers enacted changes to the educational requirements for community association directors during last year’s legislative session, and additional changes are being considered in the current session that will soon be coming to a close.
Educational Requirements for Condo Directors
New condominium association directors had previously simply needed to certify in writing that they had read the association’s declaration, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policies, and they would endeavor to uphold all the stipulations and meet their fiduciary responsibilities. If they wished, they could instead submit a certificate certifying they had completed a seminar conducted by an educational provider that had been approved by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
As of last July, new directors of condominiums have been required to provide both the written certification as well as a certificate of completion of a qualifying seminar, which must be at least four hours long and include instruction on inspections, structural integrity reserve studies, elections, recordkeeping, financial transparency, fines/enforcement, and meeting requirements. Those who became directors prior to July 1, 2024, were given until June 30, 2025, to meet the new requirements.
The certification and educational requirements must be completed within 90 days of being elected or appointed, and the documents must be submitted to the association secretary and kept for seven years or through the duration of the director’s service, whichever is longer. Both the certification and educational certificate are valid for seven years, and directors who serve uninterrupted terms for that period do not have to resubmit them.
In order to become informed on all changes to the Condominium Act and related regulations, directors are also required to complete at least one hour of continuing education per year administered by the state agency or one of its approved providers. This requirement begins one year after the submission of their initial documents, and it continues for the duration of their tenure.
Educational Requirements for HOA Directors
Homeowners association directors elected or appointed after July 1, 2024, must submit a certificate of having completed an educational curriculum administered by an approved provider within 90 days of their taking office, and the certificate must be maintained on file for five years. It is valid for up to four years, and the educational requirement must be completed at least once during every four years of service. The information covered by approved providers must include recordkeeping, financial transparency, fines/enforcement, and notice and meeting requirements.
Directors of HOAs with fewer than 2,500 units must complete at least four hours of continuing education annually, and those serving in associations of 2,500 or more parcels must complete at least eight hours of continuing education per year.
Failure to meet these educational requirements are consequential. Those who fail to timely file the required certifications are suspended from their board service until they comply, and boards of directors are empowered to temporarily fill vacancies during such suspensions. Given such penalties, the educational requirements for board members of Florida community associations should be considered high-priority imperatives.
Our firm’s South Florida community association attorneys write about important matters for associations in this blog and our Miami Herald column, which appears every two weeks on Sundays, and we encourage association directors, members and property managers to click here and subscribe to our newsletter to receive our future articles.