Blog · Getting Licensed · Updated August 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Can You Get Your Florida CAM License Completely Online in 2026?
If the thing holding you back is a picture of week-long classroom seminars and trips to a state office, good news: the modern path to a Florida CAM — LCAM (Licensed Community Association Manager) — license runs almost entirely through your laptop.
Short answer: Almost entirely, yes. The 16-hour pre-licensure course, DBPR application, and fingerprint scheduling are all completed online. The only in-person steps are the fingerprint appointment itself and the state exam, taken at a Pearson VUE test center. Everything else happens from home.
What's online and what's in person — step by step
Getting licensed involves four steps, and each one has a clear answer to the "can I do this from my couch?" question. Here's the whole process at a glance:
| Step | Online? | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 16-hour pre-licensure course | ✓ Fully online | Self-paced course from any state-approved provider; certificate issued on completion, valid for 1 year. |
| 2. Fingerprints / background check | Booked online; ~15-minute visit | Schedule an IdentoGO Livescan appointment online with ORI FL921932Z; the scan itself is a quick in-person stop. |
| 3. DBPR application | ✓ Fully online | File the DBPR CAM 1 application and $205.50 fee (as of 2026) through the state's online portal; ~10-day processing, and online filings generally move faster than paper. |
| 4. State exam | ✗ In person | Scheduled online, taken at a Pearson VUE test center: 100 questions, 3 hours, 75 to pass, instant on-screen result. |
Quick definitions: the DBPR is Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the agency that issues CAM licenses under Chapter 468, Part VIII of the Florida Statutes. Pearson VUE is the national testing company that administers the state exam, and IdentoGO is the vendor that captures electronic fingerprints for the background check. All three run online portals — which is exactly why so much of this process is remote-friendly.
If you want the full detail behind each step, the complete guide to how to become a CAM in Florida walks through all four in depth. This post focuses on the format question — because for most people, that's the real decision.
The two unavoidable in-person moments (and how to make them painless)
Florida has no online option for two things: capturing your fingerprints and proctoring your exam. Neither is a burden if you plan them right.
The fingerprint appointment (~15 minutes). You book the slot online with IdentoGO, walk in, get scanned electronically, and walk out — the results transmit directly to the state. The one detail that matters is the ORI number: use FL921932Z when booking so your results route to the CAM board. A single wrong character sends your prints to the wrong place and stalls your application. IdentoGO locations are widespread, so most people find one within a short drive.
The exam (~3 hours).The state exam is computer-based but proctored in person at a Pearson VUE test center — 100 multiple-choice questions, a 3-hour limit, and a score of 75 to pass. Your result appears on screen the moment you finish, and if you fall short you can rebook after a 24-hour wait. Here's the part out-of-state readers should underline: Pearson VUE centers exist nationwide. You do not have to travel to Florida to take the Florida CAM exam — you can sit for it at a center near you in Georgia, Texas, New York, or almost anywhere else.
Add it up: the entire in-person footprint of your CAM license is about three and a quarter hours across two appointments, both booked online at times you choose. Sequenced well, it all wraps in weeks — here's exactly how long each step takes.
The biggest step is 100% online — and you can start it tonight.The 16-hour course is self-paced, so this weekend's free time can become your course certificate. 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 →
Online vs. classroom CAM courses: an honest comparison
Both formats satisfy the same legal requirement — 16 hours of state-approved pre-licensure education — and both end in the same certificate. The differences are practical:
| Factor | Online, self-paced | Live classroom |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Any time — evenings, weekends, lunch breaks | Fixed dates, usually two full days or several evenings |
| Pace | Your own — pause, rewind, re-read hard sections | The instructor's — miss a point and it's gone |
| Typical cost | Lower end of the $180–$340 market range, no travel | Higher end, plus travel, parking, and time off work |
| Retention | Strong for exam prep — you can revisit statutes and retake practice questions until they stick | Strong for live Q&A — you can ask an instructor questions in the moment |
| Location | Anywhere, including outside Florida | Where the provider holds sessions |
The retention point is the one people get backwards. The CAM exam rewards recall of specific details — notice periods, thresholds, and rules from Chapters 718 (condominiums), 719 (cooperatives), and 720 (homeowners' associations) of the Florida Statutes. A live lecture passes over those details once; an online course lets you revisit them as many times as it takes, right up to exam day. For a detail-heavy test, on-demand review is a genuine advantage.
Who online suits — and who should pick a classroom
Online is usually the right call if you're:
- Working full-time. No PTO burned on seminar days — 16 hours spreads comfortably across two weekends or a couple of weeks of evenings.
- Changing careers.You can start tonight instead of waiting for a provider's next scheduled session, keeping momentum while you're motivated.
- Outside Florida.Florida doesn't require CAM applicants to be state residents — or U.S. citizens, provided you're authorized to work in the U.S. You can complete the course from any state and take the exam at a Pearson VUE center near you.
- A re-reader. If you learn by going back over material, self-paced review beats a one-pass lecture.
A classroom might suit you better ifyou know you won't study without a scheduled session, or you strongly prefer live instructor Q&A. That's a real preference and worth honoring — an unfinished online course helps nobody. Just know it's a preference, not a requirement: the state treats both formats identically.
How online course completion is verified and reported to the state
A fair question: if the course is online, how does the state know you actually did it? Approved providers are required to deliver the full 16 hours of state-approved content and confirm you completed it — online platforms track your progress through the material and assess you along the way. When you finish, the provider issues your certificate of completion, the document that proves your eligibility to sit for the exam.
That certificate is valid for one year: pass the state exam within 12 months of completing the course, or the certificate expires and the course must be retaken. Rarely a problem — most people go from course to exam in a few weeks — but it's the reason to start the course when you're ready to follow through, not months before.
Choosing a legitimate, state-approved online provider
"State-approved" is not marketing language — it's a specific status. The DBPR approves education providers and their pre-licensure courses, and only hours from an approved course count toward the 16-hour requirement. Approval attaches to the provider and course, not the delivery format: an approved online course satisfies the law exactly as an approved classroom course does.
Before you pay any provider, run this quick check:
- Confirm approval. The provider should state its Florida approval plainly, and you can verify approved CAM education providers with the DBPR via myfloridalicense.com. If a provider is vague about approval, walk away.
- Confirm it's the pre-licensure course. Some providers also sell continuing-education courses for existing licensees. You want the 16-hour pre-licensure course.
- Look for exam prep, not just hours. The certificate gets you into the exam room; practice questions and full-length practice exams get you out of it with a pass. Prep quality is where providers differ most.
- Check certificate delivery.An instant digital certificate keeps your timeline moving; waiting on mailed paperwork doesn't.
Florida CAM Online checks every box. State-approved, 16 hours, fully self-paced, with practice exams built in and your certificate issued the moment you finish — start from home today. 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
Is the CAM exam offered online?
No. The state exam is taken in person at a Pearson VUE test center — but centers are available nationwide, testing is computer-based, and your result appears on screen immediately.
Are online CAM courses state-approved?
Approved providers are approved regardless of format — the DBPR approves the provider and course, not the classroom. Verify a provider's state approval before enrolling; legitimate providers make it easy to confirm.
Can I do the course from outside Florida?
Yes. The course is online, and Florida doesn't require CAM applicants to be state residents. Even the exam travels with you — Pearson VUE centers in other states administer the Florida CAM exam too.
Is online cheaper than classroom?
Usually. Online courses tend to sit at the lower end of the market price range, and they eliminate travel, parking, and time-off costs — often the largest hidden expense of classroom formats.
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.