PM Certified is the new property management certification designed by Virginia REALTORS^®. The certification offers education specific to Virginia property managers. The goal of the program is to increase members’ confidence and knowledge of the VRLTA while offering exceptional service and support to their clients, landlords and tenants, etc. PM Certified will also provide a higher standard of business acumen and source of the source for property managers.

An attendee must be a REALTOR^® member. These courses are designed for Virginia REALTOR^® members with 1-3 years of property management experience. But all Virginia REALTOR^® members with an interest in property management are welcome to attend the courses.

Courses are currently being hosted virtually via Zoom.

We are excited to be able to bring the classes to you during these unprecedented times. It is a learning curve for us all, and to help you, we have put together the following information.

Q: What program is being used to offer virtual education?

A: Classes will be offered through the Zoom You may download Zoom software at here. We strongly recommend you download the Zoom app to your computer, laptop, or tablet.  We do not recommend using your mobile phone for virtual education.

Q: How do I register for the class AND THEN for Zoom?

A: Using the link provided, you will register and pay for the course through our Membership System in order to get an invite to the class. You will then be sent an email with a link, and you will need to register through Zoom to get a customized Zoom link for the class. Please log in early to ensure you are set up and ready when the class starts.

Q: Do you need an account to use Zoom?

A: A Zoom account is not required if you are strictly joining Zoom Meetings as a participant. If someone invites you to their meeting, you can join as a participant without creating an account. However, if the host has restricted joining meetings using authentication profiles, then the participant will need a Zoom account to access the meeting. Learn more about joining a Zoom meeting.

The Virginia REALTORS uses authentication profiles to restrict who can access our Zoom meetings.  Therefore, you must create a personal Zoom account in your name in order to participate.

Q: What happens when I log into the class?

A: You will be placed in a “waiting room” until the class begins. Virtual presence is required for credit with visual verification done throughout the class.

*NOTE: you must be on a device with a camera and a microphone, and not driving in your car or doing other business.

Once admitted into the class, you microphone will be muted. We ask that you keep it on mute unless the instructor asks you a question directly. Staff will monitor and mute students who have unmuted themselves.

Q: Will questions be allowed?

A: You will have the ability to ask questions to the instructor through the chat option in Zoom. The instructor will make every effort to answer questions during the session. You will see a drop-down menu in the chat option to select if you want to chat separately with the Proctor or the Help Desk for technical or CE-related questions.

Q: What are the recommended Zoom settings?

A: For the best viewing ability throughout the class, please make sure you are on “speaker view” and not “gallery view.” Do not use “full screen” or else the chat box might not appear correctly and you will not be able to view the presentation slides.

Q: What are the attendance requirements?

A: You DO have to be present and on camera during the entire class in order to get credit and receive your certificate of completion. Attendance will be monitored via visual verification on your camera and class participation through polls.

In some classes, we will randomly contact attendees via the chat feature to assure that we remain in compliance regarding participation and giving certificates of completion. Your microphones will be muted and managed by the host. Virginia REALTORS^® reserves the right to drop someone from the class if they fail to participate or are not in compliance with the online standards mentioned above.

Q: Do you have any recommended best practices?

• Earphones are a plus, for clarity.
• Keep your device plugged in so your battery doesn’t die and you don’t get knocked out of the class. If it does, you will be counted absent during the time you are not on camera. More than five minutes could result in your being locked out and not given credit. We do not want to “police” you, but we have been given strict guidelines.
• We must be able to see you through your camera in order to certify that you are present. Please ensure that there is enough light in the room and that you are clearly visible.
• Please be mindful of your on-camera appearance. We don’t judge, but you are on camera!
• When the class is over, be sure to select the option to “leave” the meeting.

Q: What if I have questions before class?

A: If you have questions, please reach out to MemberPrograms@VirginiaRealtors.org.

Q: I’ve never used Zoom before.  What do I do?

A: Visit the Zoom support page at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206175806.

There are 8 required courses in the certification totaling about 38 hours of content.

Yes, seven out of eight courses will be submitted to DPOR to be approved for continuing education credit.

A student can take the courses in any order, but we would encourage them to start with Residential Property Management 101 as it includes foundational knowledge for the rest of the coursework.

A student will need to complete all 8 classes within three years and certify that they have at least one year of property management experience or 10 management agreements. A student will fill out the PM Certified Graduation Application, pay a one-time $125 graduation fee, and submit to Virginia REALTORS^® for review and processing.

There are currently eight classes needed to obtain the PM Certification. It is $125 per class. There is a $125 graduation fee. 

VIRGINIA REALTORS^® CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY

Cancellation requests for Virginia REALTORS^® PM Certified classes will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. up to three business days preceding each class. All paid tuition with the exception of a $25 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit will be refunded. No refunds will be given for cancellations made after the close of business three business days prior to the class. Requests for special refund consideration due to extenuating circumstances must be received by Virginia REALTORS^® in writing within 7 business days after the class’s start date.

Please send all cancellation and/or refund requests to education@virginiarealtors.org.