Blog · Exam Prep · Updated August 3, 2026 · 8 min read

The Florida CAM Exam: What's on It and How to Pass First Try

Everything the state exam actually tests, the three question types that fail otherwise-prepared candidates, three worked example questions, and a day-by-day two-week study plan — so your first attempt is your only attempt.

Short answer: The Florida CAM exam is 100 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour limit, administered on computer by Pearson VUE; you need 75% to pass and results appear instantly. Failed attempts can be retaken after 24 hours for another $49.50 fee.

Exam facts at a glance

The exam is the final step to your Florida CAM license — often called an LCAM (Licensed Community Association Manager) license. You become eligible to sit for it after completing the state-required 16-hour pre-licensure course and being approved by the DBPR (Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Here are the core numbers as of 2026:

Two framing thoughts before we get into content. First, 75 out of 100 means you can miss a full quarter of the exam and still pass — this is a test of solid preparation, not perfection. Second, three hours for 100 questions is generous; almost nobody fails the CAM exam because of time. People fail because of whatis asked, which is exactly what the rest of this guide covers. If you're still earlier in the process, start with the full guide to how to become a CAM in Florida.

What's on the LCAM exam: the five content areas

The exam draws from the same subject areas as the required 16-hour pre-licensure course — that's deliberate. The course exists to prepare you for exactly this test, which is why treating it as real study (not a box to check) matters so much. The five areas:

• Governance and Florida law. The heart of the exam: Chapter 468, Part VIII (the CAM licensing law itself), Chapter 718 (condominiums), Chapter 719 (cooperatives), and Chapter 720 (homeowners' associations) of the Florida Statutes. Expect questions on governing documents, board and member meetings, notice requirements, elections, quorums, and official records.
• Financial management. Operating budgets, reserve funding, assessments and collections, and financial reporting — the money side of running an association, including basic calculations.
• Insurance and risk management.The coverage types associations carry, claims handling, and how a manager reduces the association's liability exposure.
• Human resources. Hiring, supervising, and managing association staff and contractors within employment-law basics.
• Physical property management. Maintenance planning, vendor contracts and bidding, and oversight of common elements.

The state doesn't publish a fixed question count per area, and the mix can vary between test forms — so prepare across all five rather than betting on one. That said, candidates consistently report that governance and statute questions carry the most weight, and they're also where the trickiest questions live.

The 3 traps that fail prepared candidates — with worked examples

Most people who fail the CAM exam didn't skip studying. They studied concepts and got beaten by question types. There are three of them. The example questions below are original — written by us in the state's format to show you the mechanics, not taken from any actual exam.

Trap 1 — Statute-specific details

The exam loves exact numbers from the statutes: notice periods, response deadlines, dollar thresholds, retention periods. You can't reason your way to these; you either memorized them or you didn't.

Question 1

A Florida condominium association's board of directors will hold a regular board meeting to discuss landscaping bids. Under Chapter 718, notice of this meeting must generally be posted conspicuously on the condominium property at least how far in advance?

• A. 24 hours
• B. 48 hours
• C. 7 days
• D. 14 days

Answer: B. Regular board meetings generally require notice posted conspicuously on the property at least 48 continuous hours in advance. The trap: every option is a real notice period somewherein the statutes — 14 days applies to certain other meeting types — so recognizing "a notice period exists" isn't enough. You need the right number matched to the right situation. Build a one-page chart of notice periods and deadlines and drill it until it's automatic.

Trap 2 — Financial math

Nothing beyond arithmetic, but the questions test whether you know which numbers go where. Reserve funding is the classic setup.

Question 2

An association's roof has an estimated replacement cost of $180,000 and a remaining useful life of 12 years. The roof reserve account currently holds $60,000. Using the straight-line method, what annual reserve contribution is required for the roof?

• A. $5,000
• B. $10,000
• C. $15,000
• D. $20,000

Answer: B. Straight-line reserve funding is (replacement cost − current reserve balance) ÷ remaining useful life: ($180,000 − $60,000) ÷ 12 = $10,000 per year. The trap answers are what you get by forgetting to subtract the existing balance ($15,000) or by dividing the balance instead of the shortfall ($5,000). On exam day, write the formula down first, then plug in — the wrong answers are engineered to match the common shortcuts.

Trap 3 — "Best answer" wording

Several options can be defensible; the exam wants the most correct one — usually the answer that follows proper procedure and respects the manager's scope of authority.

Question 3

At a community social event, a unit owner angrily tells the CAM that a neighbor's dog barks all night in violation of the rules and demands the association "do something now." What is the BEST course of action for the manager?

• A. Promise the owner that the association will fine the neighbor
• B. Go speak with the neighbor immediately to resolve the dispute
• C. Ask the owner to submit the complaint in writing so it can be handled under the association's enforcement procedures
• D. Tell the owner it is a civil matter between neighbors

Answer: C.A and B might feel responsive, and D is sometimes true of neighbor disputes — that's what makes this a trap. But fines and enforcement belong to the board acting through the governing documents' procedures, not to a manager making promises at a party. The best answer is almost always the one that routes the issue into the documented process. When you're torn between two options, ask: which one follows procedure and stays inside the CAM's authority?

Want 200+ questions like these? Our 16-hour course includes two full-length timed practice exams built around exactly these three question types — so exam day feels like a rerun. The state-approved 16-hour course is 100% online and self-paced, with two full-length practice exams and an instant certificate — $299 with a 7-day refund guarantee. Enroll now →

The 2-week study plan (day by day)

Two weeks of one-to-two-hour sessions is enough for most candidates who've completed the 16-hour course. The plan front-loads the heavyweight material (law and finance), then uses practice exams to find and fix your weak spots.

One scheduling note: your course completion certificate is valid for one year, so there's no need to rush — but momentum helps. Candidates who test within a few weeks of finishing the course retain far more than those who wait months. Here's how the exam fits into the overall licensing timeline.

Exam day logistics: scheduling, IDs, and test-center rules

Once the DBPR approves your application, you'll schedule your exam directly with Pearson VUE, the testing company that administers Florida's licensure exams — online through their scheduling portal or by phone. Pick a morning slot if you can; you'll be fresher, and you leave the afternoon free in case of check-in delays.

On exam day, bring two forms of identification, both with signatures, at least one a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card), plus your reservation confirmation number. The name on your ID must match the name on your registration — a mismatch can get you turned away, which counts against you.

What to expect inside the test center:

• Arrive about 30 minutes early for check-in, which typically includes a photo and signature.
• Personal items — phone, notes, bags, smartwatch — go in a locker. The exam is closed book; scratch materials are provided.
• The exam runs on a computer with simple navigation: answer, flag for review, move on. Flag the statute-detail questions you're unsure of and return to them with your remaining time.
• When you submit, your score appears on screen immediately. Pass, and the licensing process wraps up from there; the fee breakdown for everything you've paid along the way is in our Florida CAM license cost guide.

Florida CAM license test locations

The exam is offered at Pearson VUE test centers throughout Florida, with locations in and around every major metro — including the Miami / Fort Lauderdale / West Palm Beach corridor, Orlando, Tampa and St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Naples, Sarasota, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Pensacola. Availability varies by center, so candidates in smaller markets sometimes drive an hour to the nearest site or pick a center with an earlier open slot.

You'll see the live list of centers, addresses, and available dates in Pearson VUE's scheduling portal when you book — check a couple of nearby centers before settling, since dates can differ by weeks between sites. Details on exam scheduling and vendor contact information are also available through the DBPR at myfloridalicense.com.

If you fail: the 24-hour retake rule and what to change

First, the rules are forgiving: there's no lifetime limit on attempts. You can reschedule after a 24-hour waiting period, paying the $49.50 exam fee again for each attempt. Your on-screen result gives you performance feedback by area — save it, because it's your retake study plan.

Second, don't just "study more" — study differently. Failing candidates almost always describe the same experience: the concepts felt familiar, but the questions hinged on details they half-knew. The fix is targeted, not general. Rebuild your numbers chart for the areas you scored lowest, drill it from memory, and take at least one full-length timed practice exam before rebooking. Most people who fail once and change their approach pass the second attempt.

And while 24 hours is the minimum wait, it's rarely the right choice. Give yourself several days to a week of targeted review — the $49.50 refee is small, but walking in with the same preparation and expecting a different result is how people end up on attempt three.

How practice exams predict your real score

A full-length, timed practice exam is the single best predictor of your real result — far better than how confident the material feels when you re-read it. Recognition is not recall: re-reading feels like knowing, but the exam only rewards what you can retrieve cold, under a clock, phrased in a way you haven't seen before.

A simple rule of thumb for reading your practice scores:

• 85%+ on a timed practice exam— you're ready. Book the real thing while the material is fresh.
• 75–84%— you'd probably pass, but you're inside the margin of error. Spend two or three days on your weakest areas, then re-test.
• Below 75%— don't book yet. Your misses list is telling you exactly which modules to restudy first.

The reason to aim above the passing line on practice runs: exam-day nerves and unfamiliar question wording reliably shave a few points off practice performance. A buffer turns a coin flip into a formality.

Know your score before Pearson VUE does.The Florida CAM Online 16-hour course includes two full-length timed practice exams that mirror the real test's format — most students walk in already knowing they'll pass. The state-approved 16-hour course is 100% online and self-paced, with two full-length practice exams and an instant certificate — $299 with a 7-day refund guarantee. Enroll now →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Florida CAM exam?

It's passable with focused study. The statute-detail questions — exact notice periods, deadlines, and thresholds from Chapters 468, 718, 719, and 720 — are the main reason people fail, not the concepts. A numbers chart plus timed practice exams neutralizes them for most candidates.

How many times can I retake it?

There's no lifetime limit. Wait 24 hours after a failed attempt, pay the exam fee again, and rebook. That said, a few days of targeted review beats an immediate retake almost every time.

Is the exam open book?

No. It's closed book — no notes, statutes, or reference materials are allowed in the testing room. Scratch materials are provided at the center.

Do I get my results immediately?

Yes. The exam is computer-based, and your result appears on screen the moment you finish. There's nothing to wait for in the mail.

Florida CAM Online is a private education provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the State of Florida, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or any government agency. Fees, requirements, and continuing-education rules are set by the state and may change; always verify current details with the Florida DBPR before applying. This guide is for informational purposes and is not legal advice.