Frequently used terms

Conditions of a Limited Licence:

Must be supervised by a General Licensee or a Transitional General Licensee. Together, they will determine their preferred method for:

• Entering into a contract or an agreement without approval of a Supervising Licensee.
• Managing, controlling, or disbursing more than $500 of general funds without approval of a Supervising Licensee.
• Managing, controlling or disbursing reserve funds.
• Signing status certificates.

Refer to Section 8 of the General Regulation for detailed information.

Condominium Management Provider Licence:

Any corporation, sole proprietor, partnership, association or other organization that provides condominium management services. An applicant must obtain this licence to continue providing condo management services beyond March 30, 2018.

Condominium Management Services:

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

Some exemptions may apply as per Section 1 of the CMSA that are identified and prescribed in Section 2 of the General Regulation.

Deemed Licences:

Allows individuals and companies to continue offering condominium management services until they have applied for a licence and the CMRAO Registrar has decided on their application. Starting November 1, 2017, individuals and companies will be deemed to hold a licence if they have been practising condominium management sometime between November 1, 2016 and October 31, 2017. Individuals may hold a Deemed Limited Licence or Deemed Transitional General Licence. Companies may also hold a Deemed Condominium Management Provider Licence. All Deemed Licences will expire on March 30, 2018. To continue offering condominium management services beyond that date, individuals and companies must apply for a licence between November 1, 2017 and March 30, 2018.

Education:

To qualify for a General Licence, individuals must meet certain education requirements. Initial requirements are defined under the general regulation and designated by the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. This licence is based on the successful completion of four courses developed by the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO):

1. Condominium Law
2. Physical Building Management
3. Financial Planning for Condominium Managers
4. Condominium Administration and Human Relations

Applicants can also satisfy educational requirements by successfully completing ACMO’s four associated challenge exams or the examination that ACMO requires for the applicant to qualify for the Registered Condominium Manager (RCM) designation. Please note: this is only if the applicant has at least two years of experience prior to November 1, 2017.

For more information, please refer to the licence application guide, or see Sections 5 and 11 of the General Regulation and in the Minister’s designation.

General Licence:

Effectively a full licence, with no supervision requirements. Requires two years condo management work experience within the past five years, and completion of the educational requirements for a General Licence. Can act as a Supervising Licensee for individuals with a Limited Licence, and as the Principal Condominium Manager for a licensed Condominium Management Provider firm.

Limited Licence:

An entry-level licence that currently requires no condo management education or work experience. The applicant must work under the supervision of at least one condo manager who holds a General Licence or Transitional General Licence. The licensee must comply with the specific conditions on the licence (restrictions on the services they can provide, as prescribed in Section 8 of the General Regulation). The holder of a Limited Licence can progress to a General Licence upon completion of the necessary work experience and education.

Principal Condominium Manager:

Either a General Licensee or a Transitional General Licensee who ensures that the condo management provider (firm) complies with the Condominium Management Services Act and the regulations. Every licensed condominium management provider must designate one of its licensed condominium managers as its principal condominium manager.

Supervising Licensee:

A General Licensee or Transitional General Licensee who oversees and supervises the work of a Limited Licensee and is responsible for their work under specific circumstances. The Supervising Licensee must approve certain types of work (as prescribed in Section 8 of the General Regulation) before their supervisee can perform it. Supervising Licensees must be readily available to assist the licensee but do not necessarily have to be at their location.

Transitional General Licence:

Allows an individual to do all the same work as a General Licensee, with no supervision requirements. Requires two years condo management work experience within the past five years. Has not completed the educational requirements for a General Licence. Can act as a Supervising Licensee for individuals with a Limited Licence, and as the Principal Condominium Manager for a licensed Condominium Management Provider firm. The last day to apply for a Transitional General Licence is March 30, 2018. It can be renewed on an annual basis, as long as no more than three years have passed since the licence was issued.

Work Experience:

To qualify for a Transitional General Licence or General Licence, individuals will require a minimum level of condo management experience, which varies depending on the licensing stream.

Work Experience to qualify for a Transitional General or General Licence between November 1, 2017 and March 30, 2018:

Two years experience (2,920 hours) within the previous five years providing condominium management services to, or on behalf of a condominium corporation, as follows:

1. Collecting or holding contributions to the common expenses or other amounts levied by, or payable to, the corporation.
2. Exercising delegated powers and duties of the corporation or its board of directors, including:

• making payments to third parties on behalf of the corporation
• negotiating or entering into contracts on behalf of the corporation
• supervising employees or contractors hired or engaged by the corporation

Work Experience to progress from a Limited to a General Licence:

Two years (2,920 hours) of work experience, plus experience performing the following activities under the supervision of one or more Supervising Licensees:

1. Planned and participated in meetings of the board of directors of a client.
2. Planned and participated in meetings of owners, including at least one annual general meeting within the meaning of the Condominium Act, 1998.
3. Participated in the preparation of a budget for a condominium corporation that the applicant has presented to the Board of Directors of a client.
4. Interpreted financial statements for a client prepared under section 66 of the Condominium Act, 1998 and presenting them to the Board of Directors of the client.
5. Prepared and presented reports to the Board of Directors of a client.
6. Overseen the maintenance or repair of units, common elements within the meaning of the Condominium Act, 1998, or any client assets.

Work Experience Calculation:

2,920 hours of work experience is calculated using Statistics Canada’s definition of full-time work hours (30 hours/week) over a two-year period.