CAM[R] course popular in Boston.

The Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) course is proving successful with the Rental Housing Association (RHA) of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.

This year, the CAM curriculum, offered by the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI), is better than ever, said Kelly Casey, RHA Assistant Director. "The content has improved drastically," she said. "It is less repetitive and the instructors have said that the materials are better written with more depth."

In 2006, 26 RHA members are working toward their CAM designations and 20 more were put on a waiting list to be given priority enrollment in 2007. The association chooses to keep classes small for better interaction and group activities, Casey said.

She said that the association has had maximum enrollment during the past few years. "Member companies are requiring that managers achieve their certifications, and property managers want to stand out as professionals in the field," Casey said. "The more that member companies learn about the courses, the more they want to have their employees earn their designations."

RHA offers the CAM curriculum once per year during an eight-week period with one module taught each week, so professionals in the course do not have to be away from their offices for a large block of time.

Designation course attendees include owners of a small number of units, seasoned property managers seeking a refresher course and real estate agents learning more about the rental market, Casey said. The professionals with varied backgrounds create a wonderful dynamic in the course, she said.

RHA offered the National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) course in April and the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAT) course in the spring. The association is working to offer the Rental Owners Course (ROC) later this year.