Condominium Management
Regulatory Authority of Ontario

Frequently Asked Questions

I am interested in starting my own condominium management business. How do I apply for a company licence?

Since November 1, 2017, individuals and businesses who provide condominium management services, as defined by the Condominium Management Services Act, 2015 (CMSA), must hold a licence with the CMRAO. The CMSA defines condominium management services as any of the following services provided to, or on behalf of, a condominium corporation:

  • Collecting or holding contributions to the common expenses or other amounts levied by, or payable to, the corporation
  • Exercising delegated powers and duties of the corporation or its board of directors, including:
  1. making payments to third parties on behalf of the corporation
  2. negotiating or entering into contracts on behalf of the corporation
  3. supervising employees or contractors hired or engaged by the corporation

Companies must hold a Condominium Management Provider Licence with the CMRAO if they are providing any of the services outlined above. To apply for this licence, please visit the Licences section and create an account to get started. If you already hold an individual licence with the CMRAO, you can use the same account to apply.

When applying for a Condominium Management Provider Licence, please note the following:

  • The address for service must be in Ontario
  • The company must employ a principal condominium manager who already holds a General Licence or Transitional General Licence with the CMRAO
  • The company must carry the following insurance coverage:
  1. Errors and Omission Insurance that includes coverage for every condominium manager that the company employs
  2. Fidelity Insurance including against losses that a client of the provider suffers and that arise from dishonesty of condominium managers that the provider employs or of other employees, directors and officers of the provider

I have held my Limited Licence for almost two years. Can I apply for a General Licence?

You should apply for a General Licence when you have done all of the following:

  1. You have worked under supervision of a general or transitional general licensee and obtained two years (2,920 hours) of condominium management services, as defined by the Act.
  2. You have completed all of the following tasks under the supervision of a supervising licensee who holds either a General Licence or Transitional General Licence:
    • Planned and participated in meetings of the board of directors of a client
    • Planned and participated in meetings of owners, including at least one annual general meeting within the meaning of the Condominium Act, 1998
    • Participated in the preparation of a budget for a condominium corporation that the applicant has presented to the Board of Directors of a client
    • Interpreted financial statements for a client prepared under section 66 of the Condominium Act, 1998 and presented them to the client’s Board of Directors
    • Prepared and presented reports to client’s Board of Directors
    • Overseen the maintenance or repair of units, common elements within the meaning of the Condominium Act, 1998, or any client assets
  3. You have successfully completed the education requirements for a General Licence. The education must be completed within 5 years of your making an application for a general licence.
  •  

You have obtained a new Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check dated no more than 6 months prior to applying for a general licence. You can complete it online here: https://pages.sterlingbackcheck.ca/landing-pages/c/cmrao/

Please contact the college where you have completed the education requirements and ask them to mail your transcripts directly to the CMRAO:

Attn: Licensing Department

P.O. Box 48087 RPO Davisville

Toronto, ON M4S 3C6

I am a limited licensee and I want to know if there is a requirement to progress to a General Licence? If so, how long do I have to obtain my General Licence?

There is no “time limit” for a limited licensee to obtain a General Licence. An individual can choose to hold their limited licence indefinitely. However, it is important to note that applicants for a General Licence must complete the educational requirements within 5 years prior to submitting their application for a General Licence.

How is the work hours requirement calculated for a limited licensee to progress to a General Licence?

Applicants for a General Licence must complete 2 years of condominium management services under the supervision of a supervising licensee within the 5 years before applying for the General Licence. The CMRAO considers 2,920 hours to be the equivalent of 2 years. This calculation is based on Statistics Canada’s definition of full-time work (30 hours per work) and factors in some consideration for time-off (vacation, leave, and so on).

I started a licence application, but I do not have all the information. Will all the information I have inputted so far disappear?

You can save your application by clicking “Save and Continue” and then click “Exit.” Once you are ready to resume your licence application, please log back in to your CMRAO account then click on your name on the top-right and select “Applications.” Click on the red arrow next to your licence application and select “Continue.”

I made an error in my licence application and it has already been submitted. How can I edit this information?

Please send an email to licensing@cmrao.ca about the changes you wish to make on your licence application. A licensing officer should be able to assist you with the necessary changes.

It is very important for applicants to provide accurate information on their application forms. If you discover an error or if the information you provided has changed, you should contact the CMRAO as soon as possible. A licence application could be refused if false or misleading information is provided to the CMRAO.

After submitting a licence application, how long does it take for it to be processed?

The CMRAO has established the following service standards for licence applications:

  • Limited Licence: 95% of completed applications processed within 5 business days
  • General Licence: 95% of completed applications processed within 10 business days
  • Condominium Management Provider Licence (for businesses): 90% of completed applications processed within 30 business days

Some applications require more time to review. You will be contacted if the CMRAO requires additional information from you.

Once a decision on your application is made, you will be contacted via email. You may check the status of your complaint by logging in at www.cmrao.ca.

I am licensed with the CMRAO. Is there a designated title I can use?

As a licensed condominium manager, you have the option to use an approved designation to represent your licence:

  • If you have a General Licence, you may use:

Ontario Licensed Condominium Manager (OLCM)

  • If you have a Limited Licence, you may use:

Ontario Licensed Condominium Manager (OLCM-L)

I let my licence expire last year, how can I reinstate my licence?

There is a time frame in which a licence can be reinstated depending on the licence type. A limited licence can be reinstated within 31 days from the date the licence expires. A General Licence may be reinstated within 2 years of the expiry of the licence. If these periods have passed, you may apply for a new licence and you will need to meet the licensing requirements in force at that time.

Requests for reinstatement are assessed on a case-by-case basis. You must continue to meet the requirements for a licence. If you wish to reinstate your licence, please submit a request to info@cmrao.ca. You cannot provide condominium management services while the licence is expired and the application for reinstatement is under review.

Please note the application for reinstatement will require updating of information on the licensee using the online portal and payment of the full in-year licensing fee. If your reinstatement application is approved, your licence would be set to expire within the same licensing year. For example, if you reinstate your licence on February 11, 2021, then your licence would be set to expire June 30, 2021.

I changed employers recently. How do I report this to the CMRAO?

You can update your employment details through your CMRAO profile. To do so, you will need to log in to your account at www.cmrao.ca, proceed to the “Employment” tab and select “Add Employer.”

To add an end date to an employer, click on the red arrow next to the employer and select “Remove.” Please note that once an end date is added, this record will disappear from your profile temporarily pending confirmation from the principal condominium manager of the provider firm. Once that is confirmed, the employment record would reappear on your profile.

I received confirmation that my licence application has been approved, but it is asking me to make a payment. I already paid $150.00 when I submitted my application fee. Is there another fee?

When submitting a licence application, payment of $150 is required as an application fee, which is for the CMRAO’s application process. This includes assessing the information provided in the application to ensure the applicant meets the legislative requirements depending on the licence type. For instance, the licensing officer may assess educational criteria and work experience, check references, validate criminal record checks, review business/corporate information and assess qualities such as character and financial responsibility.

When the application is approved, the applicant will be notified by email and will be required to pay the annual licensing fee.

Learn more about licensing fees:

My licence application was just approved. How long do I have to make my payment?

Applicants who are approved for a licence have three (3) weeks from the date of approval to make their payment. Your payment can be made by logging into your CMRAO account.

How is the licensing fee for a Condominium Management Provider Licence calculated?

The full licensing fee for a Condominium Management Provider Licence requires a base fee of $799 plus $327.00 per employed licensed condominium manager. The licensing fee for new licences would be prorated from the date of approval to the end of the licensing year.

For example, your provider firm was approved for a Condominium Management Provider Licence on February 12, and you employ two (2) licensed condominium managers. The fee would be calculated as follows:

  • Days between February 12 to June 30 = 139 days
  • 139 days x ([$799 + ($327 x 2)] / 365) = $553.33

I would like a copy of my receipt for my licence application. Can you please send me a copy?

You can access a copy of your invoice and/or receipt by logging in to your CMRAO account. Please follow the steps below:

  • Log in to your CMRAO account
  • Click on your name on the top-right and select Receipts / Invoices
  • Click on the invoice for the fee paid
  • Scroll down and you will see the option to “Print Receipt” or “Print Invoice”

Is it possible to be employed by more than one licensed condominium management business?

In order to be employed by more than one licensed condominium management provider business, a licensee must obtain written consent from each provider business that would employ the licensee. This condition applies to general licensees, limited licensees, and transitional general licensees under Ontario regulation 123/17. Consent letters must be signed by a person who has the authority to bind the provider business. A copy of all consent letters must be provided to the CMRAO and can be submitted via email to info@cmrao.ca.