“Class Is in Session: The ABC’s of Florida’s Board Member Education Requirements” – FLCAJ
Benjamin Franklin famously said in 1789, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Had he lived in a community association in Florida, his quote likely would have read “… except death and taxes and changes in Florida community association law.” There were a voluminous number of bills filed during the 2025 legislative session that dealt with community associations. While the vast majority of these bills will never become law, those that do become law often have major impacts on the daily operations of a community association, ranging from meeting requirements to official records, reserve funding, investment of association funds, community association managers, hurricane protection, and so on. The legislature expects every board member in this state to understand and follow all these laws that change almost every year, in addition to the governing documents of the specific association.
Fortunately for board members, Florida is leading the way in ensuring board members have access to educational materials to meet their obligations. Florida is the only state that has adopted laws mandating the education of board members according to Community Associations Institute (CAI)[1]. So, what level of education is required of board members in Florida? That answer depends on whether the community is a condominium, cooperative, or homeowner association. Different education requirements apply to each type of community.
Condominium Associations
Condominiums are the most highly regulated by Florida. Board members in a residential condominium are required to sign an acknowledgement that they have read the governing documents and will uphold the policies of their association. In addition, these board members are required to complete both a certification course and continuing education courses throughout their tenure. The requirements for board member education are found in §718.112(2)(d)(5)b, Florida Statutes.
The board member certification course is a four-hour course. Condominium directors who were elected before July 1, 2024, had until June 30, 2025, to complete this requirement. Condominium directors elected on or after July 1, 2024, must take the four-hour course within 90 days after being elected or appointed or one year prior to being elected or appointed. The written certification and educational certificate are valid for seven years after the date of issuance and do not have to be resubmitted as long as the director serves on the board without interruption during the seven-year period. Upon completing the initial condominium director certification course, the obligation for directors to remain educated continues. They must also annually complete a one-hour legal relating to changes to Florida’s Condominium Act and any amendments to rules adopted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The association must certify to the DBPR each year that each director has met their educational requirements, and the DBPR has the power to investigate compliance by directors with all educational requirements. Should a director choose not to complete their required education courses or submit their certificate of completion, then that director is temporarily suspended from the board until they meet their legal obligations.
Homeowners’ Associations
Florida Statute §720.3033(1) sets out homeowner association educational requirements for directors, and these requirements have been further clarified by the DBPR. One of the major differences between the requirements for homeowner associations and condominiums is there is no requirement for the homeowner association board member certification course to be four hours long. However, it must address specific topics, including financial literacy and transparency, recordkeeping, levying of fines, and notice and meeting requirements. Another important difference is there is no longer a requirement for a director to submit a written certification that they have read the governing documents of the association and will uphold the association’s policies. Instead, all board members in a homeowners’ association must complete a board member certification course. This course must be completed every four years, and the certificates from the course must be submitted to the association. There is no submission to the DBPR.
The DBPR indicates that for board members who were elected or appointed prior to July 1, 2024, then the board member certification program must be completed within four years of their election or appointment to the board as long as the director serves without interruption during the four-year period. Board members who are elected on or after July 1, 2024, must complete their board member certification program within 90 days of election or appointment.
Notable for homeowner association directors is a requirement to complete either four or eight hours of continuing education annually, depending on the number of parcels in their association. A director of an association that has fewer than 2,500 parcels must complete at least four hours of continuing education annually. A director of an association that has 2,500 parcels or more must complete at least eight hours of continuing education annually. The DBPR indicates that these hours must be completed every year between July 1st and June 30th by all directors, regardless of when they were elected or appointed, and that board members may count their completion of their continuing education requirement once every four years.
Like condominium associations, if the director fails to comply with the educational requirements, the director is temporarily suspended from the board until compliance occurs.
Cooperative Associations
Finally, Florida has basic educational requirements for cooperative directors in §719.106(1)(d), Florida Statutes. Directors can either sign a written acknowledgement that they have read the governing documents and will uphold the association’s policies, or they can take a board member certification course within 90 days of being elected or appointed or within one year before. There is no requirement for cooperative board member education to be a four-hour course, and there is no continuing education requirement. The course certificate is valid and does not have to be resubmitted as long as the board member serves without interruption. Once again, if the director fails to comply with the educational requirements, the director is temporarily suspended from the board until compliance occurs.
Conclusion
Florida is leading the way nationally when it comes to board member education for community association directors. The industry has pushed education even further forward by having a host of cutting-edge courses for board members available on all the various issues they will face as directors. Becker has more than 30 classes approved by the DBPR that we offer on-demand online. The availability and ease of access of these courses ensures compliance may be achieved for all directors. Finally, associations must also remember that all directors’ educational certificates and written acknowledgements are official records of the association that are open to the members, and they must be posted on the website for associations that must comply with website requirements.
Allison L. Hertz, Shareholder, Becker
Allison L. Hertz is a shareholder in the West Palm Beach office of Becker. Ms. Hertz is board certified by the Florida Bar in condominium and planned development law. She is a graduate of the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, and Ms. Hertz has exclusively represented community associations and individual property owners since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2007. Hertz devotes her practice to working with her clients on the broad range of legal issues that community associations face on a regular basis. She has extensive experience in all aspects of community association law. Hertz is a native of Palm Beach County. For more information, visit www.beckerlawyers.com.
[1] Advocacy Priorities Overview | CAI Advocacy | Community Associations Institute
