Property Management

Certificate 6 months

Property Management Certificate

If you're looking to expand your understanding of property management or take the next step towards your career goals, our online Property Management Certificate Program can help you understand laws, policies, and skills to succeed as a property manager. Through flexible classes, you can learn business and property essentials with online training at your own pace, from home.

Geared toward students who are working in a similar role or those who are looking to expand their property knowledge for professional enrichment purposes.
Classes cover foundational knowledge in tenant relations, financial accounting and property valuations, real estate law, and risk management and fair housing.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

Cost of Program

$499

$589 Save $90

$50/month, Start for as low as $29

Request Info Enroll Now

1-800-275-4410 (10AM - 6:30PM ET)

property manager handing keys to new tenants.

What You Will Learn

How to establish and maintain successful relationships with tenants through communication and understanding of tenant needs.
How to recognize effective management strategies for commercial, multifamily, and single family rentals, including how to advertise, evaluate credit reports, and schedule turnovers to minimize downtime between tenants.
How to determine if a property needs a risk-management audit and how to shift risk liability to a third party using insurance and other methods.
How to understand and comply with fair-housing laws and regulations.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Property Management Career Outcomes

AVG SALARY*

$62,850/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

467,100

JOB GROWTH*

Our accredited online Certificate in Property Management can help prepare students who are working in real estate or property management to expand their knowledge in the field, or offer professional enrichment for those who want a better understanding of property management. The completion of a certificate-level program does not typically qualify a student for employment. However, completion of this program may assist students who have previous academic or work-related experience improve their chances for promotion or entry-level employment.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Please review your state board requirements that are applicable to your field of study. State boards may impose a variety of different requirements.

Property Management Courses

9 courses
57.6 continuing education units (CEUs)

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 6 months
Average time = 13 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In your online property management courses, you'll build fundamental knowledge and skills relevant to business and managing property. While the certificate alone doesn't qualify you for a job as a property manager, your classes can help prepare you to strengthen your resume and improve your professional reputation if you work in the field already. Your online property management courses include:

Managing Building Maintenance and Tenant Relations
Financial Accounting and Property Valuation
Real Estate Law
Risk Management and Fair Housing

Show Full Curriculum

Property Management Student Stories

Penn Foster’s Property Management Certificate program can help prepare you to better understand real estate and property management best practices. This program has helped recent graduates learn at their own pace and expand their current knowledge. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.

View Student Success Stories

Kim M.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“A great way to gain certification and education while working and providing for my family.”

Looking for training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Property Management Certificate Tuition

Take the steps necessary to learn property management skills with our online Property Management Certificate Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program¹

$499

$589 Save $90

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program¹

$589

Pay $50 per month
Start for $29 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program¹

$589

Pay $50 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Our Proven Property Management Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Start anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Simulations and videos

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Learning Resource Center
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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Property Management Certificate FAQs

What does a property manager do?

A property manager can work for themselves or contract with a property management company. They are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of residential and commercial rental properties for the owner. While they often work in an office setting, property managers will also work onsite or travel from property to property during the work day. Common tasks for property managers include showing properties to prospective renters, understanding and explaining the leasing terms of each property, keeping rental records for the properties they oversee, settling disputes or violations with tenants, and oversee the maintenance of properties.

What is the average salary of a property manager?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, property managers can earn an average yearly salary of $62,850 or $30.22 per hour.* However, how much you can make as a property manager can vary based on experience, education, the state you live in, or the company you work for.

How do I start a career in property management?

To become a property manager, you generally need to first have a degree in a relevant field like real estate or business management. Real estate and business courses, however, don't necessarily cover all the elements that are essential to managing a property so students interested in pursuing this career often supplement their education and experience with a certificate program in property management. Earning a certificate alone doesn't qualify students for property management jobs, so it's important to have a background in real estate or business. Further, most states have regulations regarding who can become property managers and require licensing or certification to work in the field.

What are the top qualities of a good residential property manager?

A good property manager is detail-oriented and organized, with strong leadership and communication skills. As they are often responsible for managing their own day-to-day tasks, they should have excellent time management skills as well. Property managers should also have an understanding of fair housing laws, property valuation, and real estate law, all of which you can build in our Property Management Certificate Program.

Sources:

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed November 13, 2024.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

The completion of a certificate-level program does not typically qualify a student for employment. Completion of this program may assist students who have previous academic or work-related experience improve their chances for promotion or entry-level employment.

Disclaimers:

¹ Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.