A new board year brings new priorities, new questions and, sometimes, new directors. Start with a shared picture of what needs attention, who is responsible and when the board will review progress.

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Four habits for a stronger board year

  1. 01Learn

    Track each director’s education and certificates.

  2. 02Organize

    Know who owns each record and deadline.

  3. 03Communicate

    Make meetings and follow-up predictable.

  4. 04Follow through

    Assign an owner and a next step to every action.

Put director education on the calendar

Florida’s condominium and homeowners’ association requirements differ. Identify which rules apply to your community before choosing a course, then track each director individually.

CONDOMINIUM DIRECTORS

Certification + annual learning

4 hours

Minimum length of the qualifying initial education curriculum.

  • Submit the written certification and education certificate within the statutory window: one year before election or appointment through 90 days afterward.
  • Annual continuing education includes at least one hour on recent law and rule changes, beginning one year after the most recent certifications are submitted.
  • Have management check certificate validity, service history and filing requirements.
HOA DIRECTORS

Initial education + annual hours

90 days

After election or appointment to complete the required approved initial education.

  • Repeat the education for newly elected or appointed directors at least every four years.
  • Fewer than 2,500 parcels: at least four continuing education hours annually.
  • 2,500 parcels or more: at least eight continuing education hours annually.

Education sources: Florida Statutes §718.112 ↗, §720.3033 ↗ and DBPR education resources ↗. Reviewed November 8, 2026. Confirm that a course is approved for the requirement you need to satisfy.

Learn with BHA’s member network

Our members also offer education you can access on your own schedule:

  • Becker: Its BoardSmart Masterclass Express Series advertises on-demand condominium and HOA certification bundles and states that the program satisfies DBPR Board Certification and Legal Update education requirements. Access is listed through December 31, 2026. It is free for board members of Becker clients; the listed price for managers and non-client board members is $175. View Becker’s course details ↗
  • Siegfried Rivera: An on-demand Board Member Certification Webinar offers a certificate of completion. Review the course and confirm it matches your association type and current requirement. View Siegfried Rivera’s certification course ↗

General education, CAM license credit, board certification and annual board continuing education serve different purposes. A webinar’s subject alone does not establish that it qualifies.

Turn good intentions into five assignments

Use this BHA planning checklist with your property manager and association counsel. These are operating suggestions to adapt to your community.

  1. Give every deadline an owner.Name the person who tracks filings, education and follow-up, with a backup for absences.
  2. Keep records easy to locate.Review where certificates, minutes, contracts and financial support are stored and who maintains them.
  3. Make resident communication predictable.Agree on how requests are logged, routed and answered. Have counsel check procedures against statutory rights.
  4. Connect financial decisions to supporting records.Review reconciliations, payment approvals and documentation before referring delinquent accounts to counsel.
  5. Close the loop after meetings.Maintain an action list with the task, responsible person and next review date.

What to do at your first board meeting and afterward

At the first meeting
Identify education gaps and assign responsibility for recurring tasks.

Before the next meeting
Gather missing records, choose qualifying courses and confirm follow-up dates.

At each meeting afterward
Review open actions and record what changed.

Download the board-year action tracker ↓

The editable CSV includes task, responsible person, due date, status and follow-up fields. Add your community’s details in Excel or Google Sheets.

The goal is a board that can explain its decisions, produce the relevant records and identify the next step. Use your governing documents and current professional advice when adopting policies.

General educational information. Association counsel should address application to a particular community.

YOUR NEXT STEP WITH BHA

Stay connected. Keep learning.

BHA regularly hosts and shares educational webinars and programs to help condominium board members and property managers stay informed. We bring community leaders together with experienced professionals to explore governance, reserves, insurance, building projects and other association priorities.

Subscribe to BHA’s email list for upcoming programs, registration links and practical updates delivered to your inbox.

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Credit availability varies by course. Check each program’s approval and certificate details before relying on it for a board education requirement.

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