Florida community association education. Reviewed November 4, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Education is part of taking office
Florida section 718.112 requires residential condominium directors to complete both a written certification and an educational-certificate requirement. The written statement concerns reading the governing documents and policies, upholding them, and discharging fiduciary responsibility. It does not replace the approved educational course.
For Northwest Florida condominium associations, this is best managed as an onboarding process rather than a reminder sent shortly before a deadline. The secretary should know the election or appointment date, the date of each certificate and whether the director's service has been continuous.
Understand the initial and annual requirements
The required educational curriculum is at least four hours and must be administered by DBPR's division or a division-approved condominium education provider. Its subjects include milestone inspections, SIRS, elections, recordkeeping, financial literacy, fines, and notice and meeting requirements. A general leadership seminar should not be treated as equivalent without confirming provider approval and course qualification.
A newly elected or appointed director must submit the required written certification and educational certificate within the statutory window: within one year before election or appointment or within 90 days afterward. Directors elected or appointed before July 1, 2024 had a June 30, 2025 compliance deadline. That transition date is past, not a new grace period available to current directors.
The certification and educational certificate are valid for seven years under the statute's continuity provisions. There is a specific rule for developer-appointed directors that should be checked separately. One year after submission of the most recent documents, and annually thereafter, a residential condominium director must submit a certificate for at least one hour of qualifying continuing education concerning recent legal and rule changes.
Keep evidence and act on missing certificates
A director who does not timely file the required initial certification and educational certificate is suspended from board service until compliance. The board may temporarily fill the vacancy. The statute also explains that a missing certificate does not invalidate board action, so the response should be to correct the compliance issue rather than automatically declare every prior vote void.
The secretary must retain the certification documents for seven years after election or for the duration of uninterrupted tenure, whichever is longer. An attendance email, course invoice and certificate are different records. Confirm that the actual completion certificate is on file and available for lawful member inspection.
Board checklist
Create a roster with appointment dates, written-certification dates, course completion dates and continuing-education anniversaries. Verify the provider before registration. Give new directors the current declaration, articles, bylaws and policies. Calendar reminders early enough to find an approved course. Review missing-document issues with counsel before the director participates in another decision. Keep this condominium system separate from Chapter 720 HOA education rules, which have their own requirements.