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100+ Free AMS Practice Questions

Pass your Association Management Specialist (CAI AMS) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Life-safety inspections required at most community-association properties typically include:

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B
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D
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AMS Exam

$170

AMS Application Fee (manager member)

CAI 2026

2 courses

M-200 Courses Required

CAI

2 years

Minimum Experience

CAI

CMCA

Required Prerequisite Credential

CAMICB

6 options

M-200 Course Catalog (M-201 to M-206)

CAI

3 years

Renewal Cycle

CAI

AMS is the next CAI designation after CMCA. Requirements: hold CMCA, document 2+ years of community association management experience, complete two of the six 200-level M courses (M-201 through M-206) with end-of-course assessments, submit application with $170 (manager member) or $405 (non-member) fee, and adhere to the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics. The 2026 application fee is published by CAI and the M-200 series costs roughly $700-$1,000 per course.

Sample AMS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AMS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The CAI AMS designation requires which combination of prerequisites?
A.Bachelor's degree plus one M-200 course
B.CMCA credential, 2+ years of community association management experience, and at least two 200-level M courses (M-201 through M-206)
C.CMCA plus 10 years of experience
D.M-100 only
Explanation: CAI awards the AMS to candidates who hold CMCA, document at least two years of community association management experience (financial, administrative, and facilities responsibilities), complete two M-200 level courses, submit an application with fee, and comply with the Professional Manager Code of Ethics.
2Which of the following is NOT one of the six CAI M-200 level courses?
A.M-201 Facilities Management
B.M-202 Association Communications
C.M-207 Smart Community Technology
D.M-205 Risk Management
Explanation: CAI's six 200-level Master courses are M-201 (Facilities), M-202 (Communications), M-203 (Leadership), M-204 (Governance), M-205 (Risk Management), and M-206 (Financial Management). There is no M-207 in the current PMDP catalog.
3A community association's governing documents conflict on a maintenance responsibility. The correct hierarchy for resolving the conflict is:
A.Rules > Bylaws > Declaration > Federal/state law
B.Federal/state law > Declaration > Articles of Incorporation > Bylaws > Rules and Regulations
C.Bylaws > Declaration > Rules > Statute
D.Whatever the board decides at the next meeting
Explanation: The standard hierarchy is federal/state law at the top, then the declaration (CC&Rs), then the articles of incorporation, then the bylaws, then rules and regulations. Higher-ranking documents control when there is a conflict; this is foundational governance content tested across the M-200 series.
4A board considers adopting a new architectural guideline. To withstand legal challenge, the rule must MOST IMPORTANTLY be:
A.Quietly drafted by the chair alone
B.Reasonable, within declaration-granted authority, uniformly applied, and adopted with proper notice
C.Approved by the community attorney only
D.Posted only after enforcement begins
Explanation: Enforceable rules must be (1) reasonable, (2) within the scope of authority delegated in the declaration, (3) applied uniformly across owners, and (4) adopted with proper notice and process. Courts strike rules that fail any of these tests, especially under selective-enforcement and estoppel doctrines.
5In an HOA subject to the Fair Housing Act, refusing to allow a service animal because of a no-pets rule would MOST LIKELY be:
A.Permitted because no-pets rules are presumed valid
B.A reasonable-accommodation violation under the FHA
C.Permitted if the board votes unanimously
D.Permitted if a state statute is silent
Explanation: The Fair Housing Act requires associations to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, and services when necessary to afford a disabled person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. Refusing a verified service or assistance animal because of a no-pets rule is a textbook FHA reasonable-accommodation violation.
6Under open-meeting laws common in CAI's curriculum, executive session is appropriate for which of the following?
A.Approving the annual budget
B.Pending or threatened litigation, personnel matters, and contract negotiations
C.Reviewing the manager's monthly report
D.Adopting architectural guidelines
Explanation: Most state community-association statutes (Florida § 718.112, California Civ. Code § 4935, Virginia § 55.1-1949) permit executive session for narrow purposes: pending or threatened litigation, personnel matters, member discipline (often with notice), contract negotiations, and matters where privilege applies. Routine business and rulemaking must occur in open session.
7A homeowner requests records inspection. Most state statutes permit the association to:
A.Refuse without explanation
B.Charge reasonable copy costs, require advance notice, withhold privileged or third-party-private records, and require inspection on-site
C.Demand the requester's reason in writing as a precondition
D.Permit only inspection of board members' personal emails
Explanation: Records-inspection statutes typically permit reasonable cost recovery, advance-notice scheduling, on-site inspection in lieu of mass copying, and withholding of attorney-client-privileged materials, third-party financial information, personnel files, and certain litigation work product. Outright refusal is generally unlawful.
8Before imposing a fine on a homeowner, due process under most state community-association statutes requires:
A.Immediate fine without notice
B.Written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to be heard before a fining committee or board
C.Verbal warning only
D.Doubling the fine each occurrence
Explanation: Due-process requirements (e.g., California Civ. Code § 5855, Florida § 720.305, § 718.303) generally require written notice of the alleged violation, a description of the proposed sanction, and an opportunity for the owner to be heard before an independent committee or the board. Skipping process voids the fine.
9In parliamentary procedure (Robert's Rules), a motion to 'table' is intended to:
A.Permanently kill the motion
B.Temporarily set aside a motion to take up more urgent business
C.Refer the motion to a committee
D.Postpone to a specific time
Explanation: Under Robert's Rules of Order, a motion to 'lay on the table' temporarily sets aside the pending motion to take up more urgent business; it can be taken from the table later. Permanent disposal requires 'postpone indefinitely' or to defeat the main motion. Referral and postpone to a time certain are separate motions.
10Quorum requirements for an association membership meeting are typically established in:
A.Federal Fair Housing rules
B.The association's bylaws (sometimes the declaration), often expressed as a percentage of voting interests
C.The management contract
D.The manager's discretion
Explanation: Quorum percentages live in the bylaws (occasionally in the declaration) and are usually a fraction of total voting interests (e.g., 20% to 50%). Lower-quorum statutory defaults sometimes apply when bylaws produce repeated quorum failures.

About the AMS Exam

The Association Management Specialist (AMS) is the mid-tier CAI designation for community association managers, awarded after CMCA, 2+ years of management experience, and successful completion of at least two 200-level M courses (M-201 through M-206) with their end-of-course assessments. AMS designees demonstrate intermediate command of facilities, communications, governance, leadership, risk, and finance — the practice areas covered by the M-200 curriculum.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Varies by M-200 course (typically 60-90 minutes per course exam)

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced per M-200 course assessment

Exam Fee

$170 manager member / $405 non-member (AMS application) (Community Associations Institute (CAI))

AMS Exam Content Outline

18%

Facilities Management (M-201)

Preventive maintenance, life-cycle replacement, capital projects, life safety, NFPA codes, common-area asset management

14%

Association Communications (M-202)

Multi-channel strategy, newsletters, websites, owner engagement, crisis communications, technology

14%

Community Leadership (M-203)

Board-manager relationship, committees, volunteers, group dynamics, conflict management, coaching

18%

Community Governance (M-204)

Governing document hierarchy, enforcement, due process, meetings, architectural review, fair housing

14%

Risk Management (M-205)

Property/GL/D&O/fidelity/umbrella insurance, disaster planning, OSHA, certificates of insurance

14%

Financial Management (M-206)

Budgeting, reserve studies, fund accounting, audits/reviews/compilations, collections, internal controls

5%

Ethics & Professional Practice

CAI Code of Ethics, fiduciary duty, conflicts, confidentiality

3%

Credential Pathway & Maintenance

Prerequisites, application, renewal CE, CAI membership

How to Pass the AMS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Criterion-referenced per M-200 course assessment
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Varies by M-200 course (typically 60-90 minutes per course exam)
  • Exam fee: $170 manager member / $405 non-member (AMS application)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AMS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Pick two M-200 courses strategically: M-204 (Community Governance) and M-206 (Financial Management) align most directly with the heaviest CMCA domains and prepare you well for PCAM later.
2Each M-200 course exam is criterion-referenced; CAI publishes a content outline for each course. Review the outline before the course and align note-taking to it during the 2-3 day program.
3Document your 2+ years of community association management experience as you go — verifiable details (association size, budget, role responsibilities, board interactions) make the AMS application stronger.
4Insurance-program review (master policy, D&O, fidelity, umbrella) is the most heavily-tested risk-management content. Memorize endorsements (waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory, additional insured) and certificate-of-insurance requirements.
5Reserve-study mechanics carry across M-206 and back into CMCA: fully funded balance (FFB), percent funded, cash-flow funding, threshold funding. AMS candidates should be able to interpret a reserve study, not just summarize it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CAI AMS designation?

The AMS (Association Management Specialist) is CAI's mid-tier designation for community association managers, positioned between the CMCA (foundational credential) and the PCAM (capstone). It signals intermediate competence across facilities, communications, governance, leadership, risk, and financial management — the topic areas covered by CAI's M-200 series.

What are the AMS requirements?

Candidates must hold the CMCA credential, document at least two years of community association management experience (financial, administrative, and facilities responsibilities), complete at least two 200-level M courses (any two of M-201 through M-206) with their end-of-course assessments, submit the AMS application with fee, and adhere to the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics.

How much does the AMS cost?

The AMS application fee is $170 for manager members and $405 for non-members in 2026. M-200 courses typically run $700-$1,000 each, and two are required, so total path cost is approximately $1,600-$2,500. Compare to CMCA ($360 exam) and PCAM ($515-$615 case study plus M-200 series).

What are the six 200-level M courses?

M-201: Facilities Management; M-202: Association Communications; M-203: Community Leadership; M-204: Community Governance; M-205: Risk Management; M-206: Financial Management. AMS candidates pick any two; PCAM candidates must complete all six. Each course is typically a 2-3 day instructor-led program followed by an end-of-course assessment.

Is there a single AMS exam?

No. The AMS designation does not have a single proctored exam. Instead, candidates pass the end-of-course assessment for each of the two M-200 courses they complete. The AMS credential is awarded after CAI verifies CMCA, experience, two qualifying course completions, application, and ethics compliance.

Which two M-200 courses should I take first?

Most AMS candidates start with M-204 (Community Governance) and M-206 (Financial Management) because they reinforce the heaviest CMCA topics. Managers with significant maintenance responsibility often substitute M-201 (Facilities Management). Choose based on career direction and gaps surfaced in your CMCA preparation.

How do I maintain the AMS credential?

AMS designees must complete CAI continuing education on a triennial cycle, maintain CAI manager membership, comply with the CAI Professional Manager Code of Ethics, and pay renewal fees on schedule. CMCA renewal (administered by CAMICB on a 2-year cycle) continues alongside AMS maintenance because CMCA is a foundational prerequisite.