IREM has eight membership types including four credentialing programs.

Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) Designation – for individual real estate and asset managers working with large portfolios of all property types – residential, commercial, retail and industrial. Currently, CPM, in the United States alone, Members manage approximately 8.4 million residential units and 8.4 billion net square feet of commercial space, exceeding $1.5 trillion in real estate assets. Requirements to earn the designation are:

• Education – though IREM courses, through other organizations, through academic achievement
• Experience – minimum of 36 months of qualifying real estate management experience
• Ethics – promise to uphold the IREM Code of Professional Ethics and pass the IREM ethics course
• Examination – show competency in all aspects of real estate management by passing a certification exam.  In addition, demonstrate the practical application of all that has been learned on the job and in the classroom through a written management plan.

Accredited Residential Manager^® (ARM^®) Certification – for managers of residential portfolios, including conventional apartments, federally assisted housing, public housing, condominiums, university housing, homeowners’ associations and manufactured home communities. The average portfolio size for an ARM Member is 270 residential units. Requirements to earn the certification are:

• Education – through IREM courses, through other organizations, through academic achievement
• Experience – at least one year of residential property management experience
• Ethics – promise to uphold the IREM Code of Professional Ethics
• Examination – show competency in key areas of residential real estate management by passing a certification exam.

Accredited Commercial Manager Certification – for commercial site managers of mid-size portfolio of office buildings, retail properties, industrial and other commercial properties.  Requirements to earn the certification are:

• Education – through IREM courses, through other organizations, through academic achievement
• Experience – at least one year of commercial property management experience
• Ethics – promise to uphold the IREM Code of Professional Ethics
• Examination – show competency in key areas of commercial real estate management by passing a certification exam

Accredited Management Organization^® (AMO^®) Accreditation – recognizes excellence among real estate management firms.  AMO firms manage approximately 2.6 million residential units and more than 1 billion net square feet of commercial space, the total value of which exceeds upwards of $289 billion.  Requirements to earn accreditation are:

• Maintain appropriate insurance coverage – to ensure financial stability and to protect property under management
• Pass an independent financial review
• Have a CPM Member in an executive position to supervise management operations
• Promise to uphold the AMO Minimum Standards and Code of Ethics of the Accredited Management Organization

IREM also offers four forms of non-credentialed membership:

• CPM Candidate Membership:  open to real estate professionals pursuing the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation
• Associate Membership: open to real estate professionals who are involved in virtually any area of real estate management.
• Student Membership: for full time undergraduate and graduate students attending an accredited college or university.
• Academic Membership: for individuals teaching full- or part-time at a college, community college or university.

back to top