Since Rule 61B-19.004 took effect on September 7, 2026, the same handful of questions has been raised at HOA board meetings around Orange Park, Fleming Island and the rest of Clay County. The rule sets out how the director education requirement in section 720.3033, Florida Statutes, is carried out. The answers below are drawn from the rule and the statute.
I was just elected. How long do I have?
Ninety days. Within 90 days of being elected or appointed, a certificate showing completion of a Division-approved board member certification (BMC) course must be delivered to the association's secretary or equivalent officer. A certificate earned before the election is not accepted for HOA directors.
What does the BMC course cover?
Financial literacy and transparency, recordkeeping, levying fines, and notice and meeting requirements. Those subjects are listed in the rule's definition of the course.
How long is the certificate good for?
Four education years, as long as the director serves without interruption. An education year runs from July 1 to June 30. A director who has a break in service must take the BMC course again before serving.
How many continuing education hours are required each year?
The statute sets the annual amount by association size: four hours for associations with fewer than 2,500 parcels and eight hours for associations with 2,500 parcels or more. Most Clay County neighborhoods fall under the four-hour requirement. The certificate is due by June 30, the last day of the education year.
Can the hours come from different classes?
Yes. Several approved courses may be combined. The same course may not be taken twice in one education year to count the hours again.
Our manager takes CAM continuing education. Does that count for the board?
Not automatically. A course approved for community association manager licensing is counted toward HOA director CE only after the provider has applied for and received separate HOA approval, using DBPR Form CO 6000-14. Directors are advised to confirm that approval before relying on a CAM course.
Who keeps track of all this?
The rule assigns responsibility to the association's secretary or equivalent officer, including keeping the education records. A management company may help with reminders and filing, but the duty is held by the officer.
What happens if a director misses the deadline?
The board is required to suspend the director until the requirement is met. The seat may be filled temporarily during the suspension. On a small board, a single suspension can make quorum harder to reach, which is one more reason the deadlines are worth watching.
What counts as proof?
A valid certificate of completion whose title matches the approved course. Registration emails, receipts and attendance notices are not accepted in its place. Courses may be live, online or both, and the instructor is required to confirm that the whole course was completed before issuing a certificate.
The CAM Team works with HOA boards in Clay County and across Northeast Florida and keeps director education deadlines on each association's compliance calendar.
