The benefits of BOMA's RPA designation program

BOMI International's RPA designation program serves the educational needs of both third-party property managers and corporate property managers. By familiarizing candidates with the many aspects of operating a commercial building, the RPA designation program helps a manager integrate these issues into the broader task of property management. Candidates gain the insight and knowledge necessary to analyze a building in its entirety: building systems design, operation, and maintenance; commercial real estate law; investment and finance; risk management and insurance; leasing and marketing; asset management; environmental health and safety; and more. The RPA program teaches managers to maximize a building's net income while minimizing risks, thereby enhancing their standing in the industry and positioning them for long-term success. To earn an RPA designation, candidates must complete six mandatory courses plus the Ethics Is Good Business course and one elective course. The mandatory courses are Budgeting and Accounting, Real Estate Investment and Finance, Environmental Health and Safety Issues, Law and Risk Management, and The Design, Operation and Maintenance of Building Systems, Parts 1 and 2. A candidate can choose one elective among four options: Leasing and Marketing for Property Managers, Fundamentals of Real Property Administration, Asset Management, and Managing the Organization. Courses do not have to be taken in any specific order; however, anyone who is new to BOMI's curriculum, would be recommended to begin with subject matter they are already familiar with and save new material for later study. This will ensure immediate success in their professional development. Before an RPA designation is awarded, candidates are required to demonstrate three years of verifiable property management experience, performed for a portfolio or building 40,000 s/f or larger. Work-related experience must include responsibility in 18 of 25 categories of property management. In addition to requiring Ethics Is Good Business the institute has developed a Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct to increase the esteem of the designation and to promote honesty as an integral part of an RPA's reputation. As part of the RPA certifi cation, candidates are asked to abide by this code. The BOMA of Greater Rochester chapter has several individuals who hold the RPA designation, including Robert Tait, president of Broadstone Real Estate; Mariann Hooper, VP of RYCO Management; Carl Bensen, facilities manager for Elmer W. Davis; and Don Jones, director of operations for LeChase Facilities Management.