Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation

Your community is calling.

Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation

Whether you are looking for a career that makes a difference or turning your passion for co-op housing into a profession, the CHMA program opens new doors for you.

Find a new career path

Consider a more fulfilling and rewarding employment opportunity that fits your personal values. Become accredited to work as a co-op housing staff person or manager.

Turn passion into profession

For those who are familiar with co-op housing and perhaps already working as a co-op housing staff person or manager, the CHMA program can elevate your passion into a profession.

About

The Co-op Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA) is the first-ever national co-operative housing professional accreditation program.

As a joint venture of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and the Institute of Housing Management, this program aims to bring legitimacy and standardization to the co-op housing management profession.

We are Here to Support Your Vocation as a Co-op Housing Professional

The Program

To become an accredited Co-op Housing Manager and earn your CHMA designation, you must complete the four core program courses and two electives.

The core courses cover the following four topics:

Property and Building Administration

Strategic and Financial Planning

Human Relations

Building Maintenance

Each core course will range between 30-38 hours depending on the delivery format.

Our elective courses will focus on a variety of topics with new courses added regularly — check back often for details.

There are currently two levels of certification, the:

Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA): 4 core courses, 2 electives

Professional Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (PCHMA): 4 core courses, 2 electives, minimum 2 years working for a housing co-operative

In order to maintain your accreditation in good standing, it must be renewed every year through joint membership in CHF Canada and IHM, along with 10 hours of professional development. Complimentary membership (in both IHM and CHF Canada) is provided while studying and registered, afterwards a discounted joint membership is available.

Course Delivery Formats

Self-Directed: On demand learning through the use of an electronic manual that allows you to progress at your own pace.
Online Hybrid: A mix of self-directed on demand learning using the electronic manual and four two (2) hour live online sessions.
In-Person: Attended courses offered through the CHF Canada Annual Meeting Co-op Management Conference (CMC).
In-Person Hybrid: A mix of in-person at the CHF Canada Co-op Management Conference (CMC) and two (2) hour live online sessions.

The full program can be completed within a 12 to 24-month timeframe, depending on the delivery option you choose. The accreditation will be maintained through ongoing professional development training.

See Course Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

I have my Institute for Housing Management (IHM) accreditation. Can it be transferred or count toward the Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA)?

If you are interested in the Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA), and currently have the IHM accreditation, we are discussing the process to apply this learning toward achieving the CHMA.

CHMA is a joint partnership between CHF Canada and IHM. We are determining a process to allow for prior IHM accreditations and/or courses to be applied toward the new CHMA. This will entail some additional learning and material but we are working on a way to make it as accessible and efficient as possible. If you are interested in this option, the additional learning should be available in late 2025/early 2026 and with minimal additional costs.

I am partially through my IHM accreditation. Can I continue with CHMA? Will my IHM courses count?

For the IHM courses taken to date and whether these can be considered/transferred to achieve the Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA), we are currently determining the process for this. This will entail some additional learning and material, but we are working on a way to make it as accessible and efficient as possible. This will provide the additional learning that is co-operative housing focused to be gained from the IHM courses you have already taken.

To obtain the CHMA, you would still need to complete the other missing core courses and elective.

How long will it take me to complete the CHMA?

The course can be completed within 12 to 18 months based on your available time. The core courses will all be available to be taken through distance learning as well as hybrid (distance learning and live virtual classes). Distance learning is at your own pace. However, there is a current requirement to have the accreditation completed within no more than 5 years.

How much will it cost to get my CHMA?

CHMA requires the successful completion of four core courses and two electives. The core courses are $750 plus tax* per course for hybrid learning, and $500 plus tax* for self-directed. We anticipate the electives to be in this range as well. However, some elective options may be delivered by other third-party educational institutions that set their own fees.

*Note: this is the 2024/2025 fee

Is CHMA a government-recognized professional accreditation?

No, not at this time. We are looking into this option for the future. However, the requirements and process are extensive and limiting. They also add substantial costs to the program.

Are courses offered by other educational institutions and relevant to property management (e.g. project management course from George Brown College) eligible for the required electives?

The current elective options are being developed as targeted and tailored co-operative housing sector courses.

At this time, we have not yet identified other elective course options offered by other educational institutions for the CHMA. This will be considered and explored.

What is involved in maintaining my CHMA? Is ongoing professional development required?

Yes, ongoing professional development is required to maintain the accreditation.

We plan to identify the required number of learning hours per year but will be flexible. For example, the workshops offered at co-operative housing federation education events (either virtual or in person), along with others outside the co-operative housing sector, such as plain language or project management course(s).

Please note: the final decision on this has not been made at this time.

Co-operative Housing Management Accreditation (CHMA)