National Credential Courses

Earning a credential demonstrates your commitment to your career and gives you valuable insights and real-world skills you can use on the job. Credentials also validate your knowledge and skills, enhance your credibility, boost your confidence and earn you respect among clients and peers.

Courses available with the GDAA

Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) 

Leasing professionals are the first people prospective residents meet and are responsible for generating traffic, conducting leasing demonstrations, overcoming objections and qualifying prospective residents. Earning CALP, your first industry credential, signals to an employer your commitment to a career in residential property management. 

  • Using technology to generate traffic
  • Monitoring and managing your community’s reputation
  • Inspecting the leasing center, tour route, model units, and vacant apartments
  • Shopping the competition while building relationships with competitors
  • Compiling a comprehensive community resource tool
  • Effective marketing plans
  • Relationship sales process and evaluating personal sales performance
  • Evaluating a prospect’s commitment level and overcoming objections
  • Reviewing the next steps in the sales process with prospective residents
  • Applying fair housing laws and communicating rental criteria
  • Qualifying prospective residents according to rental policy
  • Preparing and reviewing leases with new residents
  • The move-in process
  • Responding to resident issues and maintenance requests with appropriate follow-up
  • Building relationships with residents and creating a sense of community
  • Reporting incidents, maintaining documentation, and taking corrective action
  • Maximizing revenue and operational efficiency
  • Securing and processing lease renewals
  • Conducting a market survey

Details: 

  • Cost:
    • Entire Course: $375
    • Single Module: $70
  • Requirements: 
    • Minimum of six months of onsite property management experience in a leasing role (This can be obtained while taking the course; you will receive a provisional certificate until this requirement is met.)
    • Successful completion of seven CALP courses
  • Candidacy Period: 6 months
  • Exam: 120 questions; 2 hours; $60 retake fee
  • Renewal:
    • The CALP credential requires annual renewal based on the anniversary date of completion. Submission of both annual CALP dues of $50 and documentation of three hours of continuing education credits should be submitted to complete the annual CALP renewal. Renew Here.

2023 In-person Course Dates: 4/18/23-4/20/23

Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT)

Maintenance expenses are the single largest controllable element in any operating budget. This course acts as an introduction for new maintenance professionals or as a refresher for the veteran employee, teaching what it takes to run a cost-effective maintenance program.

  • Processing work orders correctly in a timely fashion, and to residents' satisfaction
  • Electrical services and repairs
  • HVAC services and repairs
  • Painting services
  • Construction services and repairs
  • Mechanical services and repairs
  • Appliance services and repairs
  • Lock and key services and repairs
  • Customer service and performing maintenance tasks according to company policy and procedures
  • Minimizing personal and property damage while safely performing maintenance activities
  • Fair housing regulation compliance
  • Environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance
  • Reporting and documentation of maintenance activities in compliance with company policy and regulation
  • Curb appeal, property inspection, and daily maintenance
  • Established procedures for maintaining recreational facilities and common areas
  • Implementation of a preventive maintenance schedule
  • Repair and replacement decisions
  • Professional behavior patterns, communication skills, and appearance
  • Clear and respectful communication with residents, team members, and contractors.

Details:

  • Course Cost:
    • Members: $950
    • Non-members: $1,150
  • Requirements:
    • Minimum of 12 months of apartment or rental housing maintenance experience. 
    • Successful completion of all CAMT coursework
    • Pass the examination
  • Candidacy Period: 6 months
  • Exam: 100 questions; 2.5 hours; $55 retake fee
  • Renewal: None. This is a lifetime credential. 

CAMT Program Candidate Handbook

2023 In-person Course Dates: 12/11/23-12/15/23

Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)

Earning your CAM (Certified Apartment Manager) credential allows you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and ability to manage an apartment community and achieve owners’ investment goals. This CAM credential is available both in-person or online.

  • Occupancy rates
  • Comprehensive marketing plans
  • Sales team management and product readiness
  • Equitable treatment of current and potential residents
  • Resident retention and the maintenance of a positive company image
  • Consistent and ongoing resident communication
  • Positive resident service and issue resolution
  • Enforcement of company policy in compliance with laws and regulations
  • Property inspections
  • Preventive maintenance programs
  • Service request process
  • Apartment turnover process
  • Contractors and vendors
  • Recruitment, hiring, orientation and training of high-caliber employees
  • Systematic employee evaluation
  • Employment regulations and record keeping
  • Analysis of the property’s financial operations with corrective actions for underperformance
  • Monitoring of property performance to achieve the owner’s investment goals
  • Accounting principles and practices
  • Maximizing net operating income
  • Reporting property performance honestly and accurately

Details:

  • Course Cost:
    • Members: $899
    • Non-Members: $1,798
  • Requirements:
    • Minimum of 12 months of onsite property management experience
    • Successful completion of all CAM coursework (totaling 40 hours)
    • Meet all examination standards within six (6) months of declaring candidacy
  • Candidacy Period: 6 months
  • Exam: The CAM exam is an online exam held in a proctored environment and timed for four hours. The exam is administered by Castle Worldwide. Your computer must be equipped with a webcam and audio capability in order to complete the exam. The CAM exam is scored pass/fail and consists of 185 multiple choice questions. Learn more.
  • Renewal: The CAM credential requires annual renewal based on the anniversary date of completion. Submission of both annual CAM dues of $100 and documentation of eight hours of continuing education credits should be submitted to complete the annual CAM renewal. Renew now.

    Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)

A valued supplier partner has a deep understanding of the apartment industry. This course helps you gain that insight so you can better position your products and services to meet industry needs. This course is ideal for new salespeople and will help industry veterans gain a better understanding of how apartment communities function and the challenges they face in their day-to-day operations.

  • Applicant screening, leasing contracts, and move-ins
  • Rent collection, lease renewal, the move-out process, lease termination, and eviction
  • Property management systems and their functions
  • How community managers create a positive fair housing environment
  • Minimizing risk through inspections, preventative maintenance, safety programs, and documentation
  • Addressing property and environmental hazards and crime
  • Analyzing property financial operations and underperformance
  • Monitoring property performance to achieve an owner's investment goals
  • Maximizing net operating income

Details:

  • Course Cost:
    • Members: $675
    • Non-Members: $1,350
  • Requirements:
    • Complete the Supplier Success Course
    • Employment within the apartment industry in a supplier position
    • Successful completion of all CAS coursework (totaling 26 hours)
    • Pass the CAS exam within six (6) months of declaring candidacy
  • Candidacy Period: 6 months
  • Exam: 100 questions; 2 hours; $60 retake fee
  • Renewal: The CAS credential requires annual renewal based on the anniversary date of completion. Submission of both annual CAS dues of $100 and documentation of three hours of continuing education credits should be submitted to complete the annual CAS renewal.