Certified Mountain Area Specialist (CMAS) (revised 2019)

Specialized education for professionals serving Colorado's mountain and rural real estate markets.

The Certified Mountain Area Specialist (CMAS) designation is offered exclusively by the Mountain Metro Association of REALTORS® (MMAR).

CMAS provides specialized education for real estate professionals working with the unique considerations that come with buying, selling, and owning mountain and rural properties.

CMAS courses are approved for continuing education credit by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate.

MMAR promotes the CMAS designation to the REALTOR® community and educates consumers about the value of working with professionals who have completed specialized mountain-area education.

The CMAS designation is also available to MMAR Affiliate members whose professions support MMAR REALTOR® members and mountain-area real estate transactions.

Why CMAS?

Mountain and rural properties are different.

Transactions may involve considerations that aren't typically encountered in more urban real estate markets, including:

• Domestic and household wells
• Septic and onsite wastewater treatment systems
• Water rights and water quality
• Wildfire risk, mitigation, and defensible space
• Property insurance considerations
• Easements and access
• Surveys and property boundaries
• Land use, zoning, and building requirements
• Forest health
• Wildlife
• Mountain architecture and construction
• Other issues unique to foothills and mountain properties

The CMAS continuing education program gives real estate professionals specialized knowledge and resources to better understand these issues and more effectively assist clients with mountain and rural real estate transactions.

Earning the CMAS Designation

REALTOR® Requirements

To earn the Certified Mountain Area Specialist (CMAS) designation, REALTOR® applicants must:

Complete the program within 24 months.
All designation requirements must be completed within 24 months of the applicant's first completed CMAS course. Once all requirements have been met, the applicant must submit a completed CMAS application to MMAR.

Maintain REALTOR® membership.
Applicants must maintain active REALTOR® membership throughout the application period and while holding the CMAS designation.

Complete 8 CMAS courses.
The eight courses must include:

• At least 4 CMAS Core courses
• 4 additional CMAS courses, which may be Core and/or Elective courses

The same course cannot be repeated for additional designation credit.

Complete at least 2 qualifying transactions.
Applicants must have closed a minimum of two transactions, representing either the listing or selling side, involving properties in a foothills or mountain area.

For transactions outside the areas covered by our MLS, applicants must provide documentation demonstrating their involvement in the transaction. All submitted property sales are subject to review and approval by MMAR.

Do I have to be an MMAR member?

No. REALTOR® members of other Associations may earn the CMAS designation.

MMAR members and non-MMAR members may have different course registration pricing.

Maintaining Your CMAS Designation

Earning CMAS is only the beginning. The designation is intended to represent ongoing education in mountain and rural real estate.

To maintain an active CMAS designation:

Complete at least one CMAS course every calendar year.

The annual course may be either a CMAS Core or CMAS Elective course.

Designees must also maintain active REALTOR® membership to continue holding and using the CMAS designation.

CMAS for MMAR Affiliate Members

MMAR Affiliate members who support REALTORS® and the mountain real estate industry may also earn the CMAS Affiliate designation.

Affiliate Requirements

To earn the CMAS Affiliate designation, applicants must:

• Maintain active MMAR Affiliate membership throughout the application period and while holding the designation.
• Complete all designation requirements within 24 months of completing their first CMAS course.
• Complete 8 CMAS courses.
• Complete at least 4 CMAS Core courses.
• Complete 4 additional CMAS Core and/or Elective courses.
• Submit a completed CMAS Affiliate application to MMAR after satisfying all requirements.

Repeating the same course does not count toward additional designation credit.

Maintaining the CMAS Affiliate Designation

CMAS Affiliate designees must complete at least one CMAS Core or Elective course each calendar year and maintain active MMAR Affiliate membership.

List of Classes*:

*Classes are added/removed and sometimes class titles change. 

CMAS Core Classes

• CMAS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
• CMAS Wells, Water Quality, and Water Rights
• CMAS Mountain I Safety and Insurability (formerly Wildfire Safety and Mitigation)
• CMAS Wildfire II Home Assessment, Defensible Space, & Home Hardening
• CMAS Wildfire III Restoration and Preparation To The Inside of Your Home
• CMAS Relator's Guide: Forest Health and Real Estate in Colorado's Foothills (Wildfire IV)
• CMAS Basics of Building on Land in the Foothills
• CMAS Planning and Zoning - Jefferson County
• CMAS Planning and Zoning - Clear Creek County & Park County
• CMAS Advanced Title
• CMAS Mountain Survey
• CMAS Buying and Selling Land In the Foothills
• CMAS Managing Risk & Coverage in Mountain Transactions - Property, Contracts and Wildfire (Formerly) Insurance in the Foothills

CMAS Elective Classes

• CMAS Living with Wildlife and Colorado Law
• CMAS Mountain Inspections - The Things We See While Inspecting a Home
• CMAS Roofing in The Mountains
• CMAS Radon
• CMAS Appraisal Basics for Mountain Properties
• CMAS Noxious Weeds
• CMAS Mountain Real Estate Law
• CMAS Expert Panel - Avoiding and Solving Most Common Pitfalls in Foothills Transactions
• CMAS Conservation Easements
• CMAS Fireplaces
• CMAS Meth In the Mountains
• CMAS Mastering the Art of Mountain Architecture
• CMAS Advanced Understanding & Selling Mountain Land

CMAS courses are continually evaluated to ensure the program remains relevant to today's mountain real estate market. Courses may be added or retired, and course titles or content may change. Please refer to MMAR's current education calendar for upcoming CMAS offerings.

Already a CMAS Designee?

Remember: One CMAS course every calendar year is required to maintain your designation.

Keeping your CMAS education current helps ensure that the designation continues to represent specialized, up-to-date knowledge of Colorado mountain and rural real estate.

Ready to Become a Certified Mountain Area Specialist?

Whether you're new to mountain real estate or have worked in the foothills for years, CMAS provides education designed specifically for the properties, transactions, and challenges found in our mountain communities.

View Upcoming CMAS Classes | Download the CMAS Application | Contact MMAR with Questions