Blog · Getting Licensed · Updated August 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Florida CAM License Requirements: Do You Qualify?
The complete 2026 eligibility checklist for a Florida CAM license — what the state actually requires, what it surprisingly doesn't, and a quick self-check so you know in two minutes whether you can apply.
Short answer: Florida requires CAM applicants to be at least 18, hold a valid Social Security number, pass a fingerprint background check, complete 16 hours of approved pre-licensure education, and pass the state exam. No college degree, prior experience, Florida residency, or U.S. citizenship is required.
The eligibility checklist at a glance
If you're researching the LCAM (Licensed Community Association Manager) credential and worrying you won't qualify, here's the good news up front: Florida's CAM eligibility bar is one of the lowest of any licensed profession in the state. The table below is the entire picture — everything the state checks, and everything it deliberately doesn't.
| Requirement | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| At least 18 years old | ✓ Yes | Minimum age to apply |
| Valid Social Security number | ✓ Yes | Needed on the application |
| Good moral character | ✓ Yes | Verified via fingerprint background check |
| 16-hour pre-licensure course | ✓ Yes | State-approved; certificate valid 1 year |
| Pass the state CAM exam | ✓ Yes | After your application is approved |
| College degree or diploma | ✗ No | No education prerequisite at all |
| Prior management experience | ✗ No | Beginners welcome |
| Florida residency | ✗ No | Out-of-state applicants qualify |
| U.S. citizenship | ✗ No | Work authorization is enough |
| Spotless criminal record | ✗ No | Case-by-case DBPR review, not automatic denial |
Five yeses, five nos. If the first half of that table describes you — or can describe you within a few weeks — you can pursue the license. The rest of this post walks through each item, because the details matter (and because most of the anxiety people bring to this search is about things in the bottom half of the table).
The 5 requirements, explained one by one
1. Be at least 18 years old
Florida sets the minimum age at 18. There's no upper age limit — plenty of people earn the license as a second or third career, and retirees who want part-time on-site work are a familiar sight in Florida's condo communities.
2. Have a valid Social Security number
Your application to the DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation — the state agency that licenses CAMs) requires a valid Social Security number. Note this is an SSN requirement, not a citizenship requirement — more on that distinction below.
3. Demonstrate good moral character
This sounds subjective, but in practice it means passing a criminal background check. You'll be electronically fingerprinted through IdentoGO (the state's Livescan fingerprint vendor), and the results go directly to the DBPR. A record doesn't equal a denial — the state reviews history individually, as covered in the criminal record section.
4. Complete the 16-hour pre-licensure course
Before you can sit for the exam, you must complete 16 hours of state-approved CAM pre-licensure education. This is the only educational requirement in the entire process, and online self-paced courses let you finish it in a weekend. Your completion certificate stays valid for one year— you must pass the state exam within those 12 months or retake the course, so don't let it gather dust.
5. Pass the state exam
Once the DBPR approves your application, you sit for the state CAM exam at a Pearson VUE testing center (the company that administers Florida's CAM exam). The exam tests the material from the 16-hour course — Florida's licensing law in Chapter 468, Part VIII, plus the community association statutes: Chapter 718 (condominiums), Chapter 719 (cooperatives), and Chapter 720 (HOAs), Florida Statutes. You can read the licensing law itself at Online Sunshine, the official Florida Statutes site.
That's the whole list. For how these requirements fit into the start-to-finish process — application, fingerprints, timelines — see our full guide on how to become a CAM in Florida.
Meet the checklist? Then the 16-hour course is the only requirement standing between you and the exam — and you can start it 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 →
What is NOT required (and where the myths come from)
Most people searching for CAM requirements aren't looking for the list — they're looking for the thing they're afraid will disqualify them. So let's bust the four most common myths directly.
Myth 1: "You need a degree."No. Florida has no college, associate's, or even high-school-diploma requirement for CAM licensure. The state's logic is simple: the 16-hour course and the exam prove you know the material, so your transcript is irrelevant. People assume a degree is needed because CAM work involves budgets, contracts, and law — but the license itself gatekeeps on knowledge, not credentials.
Myth 2: "You need experience first." No. There is no experience prerequisite of any kind. You do not need to have worked in property management, real estate, or anywhere near an HOA. Career changers from hospitality, customer service, administration, and the military earn this license every month with zero industry background.
Myth 3: "You have to live in Florida." No. Residency is not required. You can live in Georgia, New York, or abroad, complete the course online, and travel to Florida for the in-person steps. Many people line up the license before relocating so they can start job hunting the day they arrive.
Myth 4: "You must be a U.S. citizen." No. Citizenship is not required — a valid SSN and authorization to work in the United States are what count. Details in the next section.
One thing that isreal: cost. The license isn't free — between the course, fingerprints, application, and exam you should budget several hundred dollars. We break down every fee in the complete Florida CAM license cost guide.
Requirements if you have a criminal record
A criminal record — felony or misdemeanor — does not automatically disqualify youfrom a Florida CAM license. The DBPR reviews each application individually, asking whether the offense has a "substantial connection" to the duties of a CAM. Because CAMs handle association money, financial crimes (fraud, theft, embezzlement) get the most scrutiny; an old DUI or a decades-old unrelated charge is a very different conversation.
Two rules if you have history. First, disclosure is mandatory— you must report all convictions and guilty or no-contest pleas, including cases where adjudication was withheld. Omitting something hurts you far more than the record itself. Second, come prepared with documentation: a written explanation of the circumstances and your rehabilitation, certified copies of court dispositions, and proof that all sanctions were completed. Character reference letters are optional but help. If you're unsure how your situation reads, the DBPR can be reached at (850) 487-1395 — and our dedicated guide to getting a CAM license with a criminal record walks through the review process step by step.
Requirements for non-citizens and visa holders
Florida's CAM license is open to non-citizens. What you need is practical, not political: a valid Social Security number and authorization to work in the United States. Green card holders and visa holders with work authorization (and an SSN issued as part of that authorization) can apply on the same terms as citizens.
The SSN is usually the deciding detail. If your immigration status includes work authorization, you can obtain an SSN, and the path is open. If you can't legally work in the U.S., you can still take a CAM course — but you won't be able to complete the license application until your work status changes. Given Florida's large international communities — where a manager who speaks Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole is a genuine hiring advantage — bilingual non-citizen applicants are often especially well positioned in this career.
Under 18? Here's how soon you can start
The minimum age to hold the license is 18, and the practical sequence matters: your course completion certificate is valid for one year, and you must pass the exam within that window. So a motivated 17-year-old shouldn't rush the course too early — the smart play is to start the 16-hour course a few months before your 18th birthday, then submit your application and sit the exam once you turn 18, with plenty of certificate validity to spare.
For a young person, this is worth taking seriously: CAM is one of very few licensed professions you can enter at 18 with no degree, no experience, and a few weeks of effort — a real professional credential while your peers are starting four-year degrees.
Self-check quiz: can I apply?
Run yourself through this decision list. It mirrors exactly what the state checks.
- Are you 18 or older? If yes, continue. If not, you can take the course early and apply at 18 — see the section above.
- Do you have a valid Social Security number? If yes, continue. If not: are you authorized to work in the U.S.? If so, you can obtain an SSN and then continue. If not, the application is blocked until your work status changes.
- Any criminal history? If no, continue. If yes, you can still apply — gather your court dispositions, write your explanation, and expect an individual DBPR review rather than an automatic answer.
- Willing to complete a 16-hour course and pass a state exam?That's the entire remaining effort. If yes — you qualify to start today.
Notice what's not on that list: your GPA, your résumé, your address, and your passport. If you cleared all four questions, eligibility is settled — the only thing left is doing the work.
You qualify — now what? The 16-hour course is the first and biggest requirement, and you can finish it online this weekend. 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
Do I need a degree to become a CAM in Florida?
No. There is no education requirement beyond the 16-hour state-approved pre-licensure course. No high school diploma, college degree, or prior coursework is required to apply.
Can non-US citizens get a Florida CAM license?
Yes. U.S. citizenship is not required. You need a valid Social Security number and authorization to work in the United States — green card and work-visa holders apply on the same terms as citizens.
Do I have to live in Florida?
No. Residency is not required. Out-of-state and international applicants can complete the course online and travel to Florida only for the in-person steps.
Does a criminal record disqualify me?
Not automatically. The DBPR reviews every case individually, looking for a substantial connection between the offense and CAM duties, with heightened scrutiny of financial crimes. Full disclosure and supporting documentation are required — see our criminal record guide for the specifics.
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.