Frequently Asked Questions
BOMI Education Canada courses and credentials are considered best-in-class by property and facility management professionals for the RPA®, FMA®, SMA®, SMT® and BOMI-HP® designations, in addition to our certificate programs.
The following are some of the commonly asked questions we receive regarding the courses, exams, designations, and continuing education credits. While we have done our best at anticipating the questions that are commonly asked, each person has a set of unique circumstances and we may have options that you have not considered that might better fit your educational needs. As a result, you are encouraged to give us a call if you have any questions.
FAQs
- General FAQ
- Course Selection
- Fees
- Exams
- Continued Professional Development
BOMI is a non-profit educational institute that provides training for property and facility professionals in commercial real estate. BOMA is a non-profit association of property owners and managers. BOMA Locals can host BOMI courses as they deliver our courses in a classroom setting as a member benefit.
The distinction between the two programs is that the RPA is designed for those who manage properties for others/investors. For example: third- party property managers would work towards their RPA. The FMA is designed for those who manage a property for their own use. For example: an individual who works for an organization that owns its own building would work towards an FMA designation.
Learners tell us that it takes about a week per chapter to work through the material.
No, there is no order for the courses. However, our recommendation is that you start with a course containing material with which you have the most experience. This will allow you to get comfortable with the course format and exam style with content with which you are familiar, rather than take a course with material that is new to you. If you select courses that are applicable to a certificate, you can receive a certificate while you work towards the designation.
The only exception is the optional RPA Capstone Experience Prep Course and the FMA Capstone Experience Prep Course. If you choose to take these optional courses, you should register after completing your courses/course exams and prior to taking your Capstone Experience Exam.
There is no correct answer as you can take any one in any order. However, our recommendation is that you start with a course that you have the most experience. If you have a background in budgeting and accounting, for example, start with one of the finance courses. If your background is operations, start with one of the design courses. You may want to save the Fundamentals course until the end, as this course covers a bit of every course, and you will find it easier once you have taken all of the other courses.
This is a challenging question, as it all depends upon your background. However, learners tell us that Design, Operation, & Maintenance of Buildings Part 1 and Real Estate Investment & Finance are the most challenging. Ethics is the shortest course.
You can choose from any delivery method that is available to you. Once you select one method, you do not need to use this method for the remaining courses in the designation. You can mix the delivery options depending on your budget, availability, and needs. Some learners find the courses that challenge them the most are best taken via classroom and the courses that they have a great deal of experience in can be taken by self-study.
Yes, the courses taken for a certificate are the same as those taken for a designation. The difference is that there are fewer courses required to get your certificate. It requires three (3) for a certificate and eight (8) for a designation. Check the various program to see which courses are required for which certificate or designation. Certificates can be achieved as a stepping stone in your designation learning path.
Please note: Certificates may be earned until a Designation is awarded.
Learners must complete their certificate enrolment within a three-year period. Learners selecting not to complete their certificate enrolment within the term will be considered inactive.
Learners must complete their designation enrolment within a seven-year period. There is an option to request a one-year extension. Learners selecting not to complete their credential enrolment within the term will be considered inactive. All active designation learners will be given seven years from January 1, 2020 to complete their current designation program.
No, you pay for one course at a time. Once you register for a course you have 6 months in which to write the exam. The only other fee that can be paid up front with your first course is the enrolment fee for a designation or certificate. Once you pay the designation/certificate enrolment fee, there are no additional enrolment fees required when you register for future courses.
In addition to your course, you will receive access to your digital course book for six months, as well as six months’ eligibility in which to write your course exam. You have one opportunity to write the course exam within this time period. If you fail or are unable to write the course exam, for whatever reason, you will be required to pay an Exam Administration fee to be able to rewrite/write the course exam after your eligibility period expires.
The registration fee covers the six month digital course book access and one sitting of the course exam. If you fail the course exam, you will be required to pay an administrative fee in order to be able to write the exam again. You have six months from the registration date in which to write the course exam. If you miss this deadline or fail the course exam, you will be required to pay the Exam Administrative Fee in order to be able to write the exam.
Our eCommerce registration is a secure payment systems that allows you to pay by credit card. To pay by cheque, please mail to BOMI Education Canada, Dept 400147, PO Box 4375 Stn A, Toronto, ON M5W 0J3 with a completed Enrolment/Registration Form. Your course material will be sent once we receive and process the payment.
The other option is to pay by cheque. If you select this option, you will be sent your course material once we receive payment.
PO Box Address
BOMI EDUCATION CANADA
DEPT 400147
PO BOX 4375 STN A
TORONTO ON M5W 0J3
Street Address
BOMI EDUCATION CANADA
DEPT 400147
C/O PNC BANK
1270 CENTRAL PKWY W STE 100
MISSISSAUGA, ON L5C 4P4 CANADA
When you pay online, you will receive a transaction receipt from our eCommerce provider.
Course Exams
Course exams are offered through the BOMI Learning Portal.
RPA and FMA Capstone Exams
Exams are written at an authorized testing facility. BOMI has contracted with Pearson VUE to administer the exams in Canada. Once you register for a course, BOMI will send you an email outlining how you schedule an appointment to take your exam. Once you receive the email, Pearson VUE will have you confirmed in their system and you will be able to schedule a date to write the exam.
There is a $110 fee for the Capstone Exams. If you choose to take the RPA or FMA Capstone Exam Prep Course, the exam fee is included with the course fee.
Course Exams
In the BOMI Learning Portal, you will have two hours to complete your exams, with the exception of the Ethics is Good Business ShortCourse, where you will have 60 minutes. You are required to read and comply with the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct and NDA for each, so please read those prior to taking your course exam so you do not use valuable testing time.
RPA and FMA Capstone Exams
You will have 2 hours to complete the exam. The time block you have is 2.5 hours with a portion of the time taken up by administrative tasks before you start the exam. You are required to read and accept the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct and NDA for each, so please read those prior to taking your course exam so you do not use valuable testing time.
To pass the exam you must score a 70% or better. A 69% is a fail. If you fail, you cannot appeal to have your score changed to a pass.
Course Exams
Exams are multiple choice. Each chapter within your course material will have sample questions that can be used to prepare you for the type of questions that will appear on the exam.
RPA and FMA Capstone Exams
Exams are multiple choice, based on your three years of experience in the industry.
You have 6 months in which to write the exam. If you fail the exam or are unable to write the exam within six months, for whatever reason, you can pay an Exam Administration fee, which will give you a six-month eligibility period to either write the exam for the first time or re-write the exam after failing. Pay your Exam Administration Fee now.
Once you complete your last question of the exam, the system will indicate what your unofficial mark is. You will receive an official result approximately two weeks after you complete the exam.
The CPD program requires that RPA®, FMA®, and SMA® graduates earn 18 points of continuing education credit every three years in order to maintain their designation’s active status. The three-year renewal period begins on the date that graduates attain their first BOMI International designation. Graduates who hold more than one BOMI International designation are only required to earn 18 CPD points every three years. During each cycle, graduates will complete a verification form and submit it once they have all of their necessary CPD points.
You can get your CPD points in a number of ways. You can attend conferences, seminars, trade shows, or sit on Boards or Committees related to Building Operations (confirm your organization will be accepted prior to submitting your points). You can find out the various ways online by looking under Maintain Your Designation.
You are required to accumulate 18 CPD points over a three-year cycle. Once you have accumulated all 18 points, you then complete the verification form and submit that along with your documentation. You do not submit the points as you get them.