Blog · Renewal & CE · Updated August 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Florida CAM License Renewal: The Complete 2026 Guide (15 vs. 17 CE Hours)
When your license expires, exactly how many continuing-education hours you need — the 15-vs-17 distinction that confuses everyone — what each hour must cover, and the renewal walkthrough start to finish.
Short answer:Florida CAM licenses renew every two years, expiring September 30 of the renewal year, with a renewal fee of about $105. Managers who don't handle HOAs need 15 hours of continuing education per cycle; managers of HOAs need 17 hours, including HOA-specific coursework such as recordkeeping. CE is reported to the DBPR electronically, then you renew and pay online.
The renewal facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cycle | Biennial — every two years |
| Expiration date | September 30 of the renewal year |
| Renewal fee | About $105 |
| CE requirement | 15 hours (non-HOA managers) or 17 hours (HOA managers) |
| How CE is reported | Electronically by the course provider to the DBPR, typically within 1–3 business days |
| Where you renew | Online through the DBPR portal, after CE posts |
15 hours or 17? The distinction, finally clear
This is the question driving a surge in renewal searches, and the answer turns on one thing: whether you manage homeowners' associations. Florida added HOA-specific education on top of the standard requirement, reflecting how much Chapter 720 law has changed recently.
The standard 15 hours (managers who don't handle HOAs)
- 3 hours — Legal update. The changes to statutes and rules since your last cycle. Non-negotiable and genuinely useful, given how fast this area of law is moving.
- 3 hours — Insurance and financial management.
- 3 hours — Physical property management.
- 3 hours — Human resources.
- 3 hours — Electives. Any approved CAM CE topic.
The 17-hour HOA track
Managers of HOAs complete the curriculum above plus HOA-specific education: at least 5 hours on HOA-specific topics, of which 3 hours must specifically cover HOA recordkeeping. If any association in your portfolio is a Chapter 720 HOA, plan for 17 — and given how most portfolios evolve, most Florida managers should simply assume the 17-hour track. Doing the HOA hours when you didn't strictly need them costs you two extra hours; the reverse mistake blocks your renewal.
The renewal walkthrough, step by step
- Confirm your track — 15 or 17 hours, per the portfolio question above.
- Complete approved CE courses before September 30 of your renewal year. Only DBPR-approved CE providers count; online self-paced options exist for every required category.
- Let the provider report electronically. Approved providers transmit your completions to the DBPR, typically within 1–3 business days. Verify your hours posted before assuming anything.
- Renew online and pay the ~$105 fee through the DBPR portal. Done — next expiration, two years out, September 30.
Don't do it in September
The whole system compresses in the final month: courses sell out or rush-charge, provider reporting queues stretch past the 1–3 day norm, the portal strains, and one hiccup — a course that reports late, a category short one hour — has no slack left to absorb it. The professional move is finishing CE by early summer of the renewal year. Two years of runway exists precisely so the last week of September doesn't have to be exciting.
What happens if you miss September 30
A license not renewed by expiration becomes delinquent — and practicing community association management on a delinquent license is the kind of unlicensed-activity exposure no manager should flirt with, since Florida law requires an active license for paid management of associations over 10 units or $100,000 budgets (the threshold rules). Delinquency is curable within a grace window by paying additional fees, but reinstatement terms and deadlines are set by the DBPR and have hard edges — if you're reading this already past your expiration, stop reading and contact the DBPR directly at (850) 487-1395 for your specific reinstatement path. If you're heading toward a lapse because you left the profession, note that letting a license fully expire can eventually mean starting over — course, exam, all of it — which is a painful way to save $105.
Your first renewal
Newly licensed managers often hit a quirk: your first cycle may be shorter than two full years, depending on where in the biennial cycle you were licensed. The safe assumptions: your expiration date is September 30 of the cycle's end year regardless of when you were licensed, your CE clock is running now, and the DBPR portal shows your exact expiration date — check it the week your license is issued and calendar it. Building the CE habit early beats discovering the requirement in a renewal-month panic.
Choosing CE courses worth the hours
All approved hours count the same on paper; they are not the same in value. The legal-update hours reward a current, Florida-specific course — the 2024 board-education overhaul (covered here), milestone-inspection and SIRS rules, and each session's statutory changes are exactly what boards will ask you about. Electives are your chance to buy market value with hours you must spend anyway: insurance literacy and structural-compliance topics are what Florida boards are currently desperate for, and a manager who spends electives there is doing salary negotiation by other means (see what drives CAM pay). Treat CE as positioning, not paperwork.
Renewal vs. everything else: where this fits
If you're not yet licensed and landed here researching the profession's ongoing obligations — smart; most people check the entry price and never the maintenance cost. The full picture: 16-hour course and four-step licensing process (the complete guide), roughly $485–$675 to get licensed (cost breakdown), then this page's routine — about $105 and 15–17 hours every two years — to keep it. As professional-license maintenance goes, it's light.
Frequently asked questions
When does my Florida CAM license expire?
September 30 of your two-year renewal cycle's end year. Your exact date shows in your DBPR portal account.
How many CE hours do I need?
15 hours per two-year cycle — or 17 if you manage any HOAs, including at least 5 HOA-specific hours of which 3 must cover HOA recordkeeping.
Can I do all my CE online?
Yes — approved online CE exists for every required category, self-paced. Only DBPR-approved providers' hours count.
How do my hours get reported?
Approved providers report electronically to the DBPR, typically within 1–3 business days of completion. Verify they've posted before renewing — and before the deadline.
What if I miss the September 30 deadline?
The license becomes delinquent; reinstatement involves additional fees and DBPR-set deadlines, and practicing on a delinquent license is unlicensed-activity territory. Contact the DBPR at (850) 487-1395 for your specific path.
Do extra CE hours roll over to the next cycle?
Plan on no — complete each cycle's requirement within that cycle rather than banking hours.
Is the renewal different for LCAMs?
No — LCAM and CAM are the same license, same renewal, same CE.
Not licensed yet? The maintenance is light and the entry is lighter — the 16-hour course is step one. 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 →
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.