CIC-BOS Foundations · Level 1
Board Member Essentials
The six-hour foundational certification for volunteer board members. Covers every governance topic a new director must understand to fulfill their fiduciary duty and govern with institutional credibility.
What's Included
- Seven sections of structured governance instruction
- 18 video lectures with written frameworks
- Six Quick Reference cards (one per core section)
- Practical application assignments
- Capstone integration plan exercise
- Final knowledge assessment (80% pass mark)
- CIC-BOS Foundations credential (6.0 CE)
- CICSC public credential registry listing
- Certificate of completion
- Lifetime access to course materials
Founders' Cohort — no cost at this time. Lifetime access to course materials.
What You'll Be Able to Do
Board Member Essentials is built on practical governance competency, not passive reading. On completion, you will be able to operate as a credentialed director in every core governance context.
- Recognize the elements of fiduciary duty and the general frameworks boards use to apply them in routine decisions
- Navigate your governing documents and know when to call counsel
- Read monthly financial statements and ask the five questions that matter
- Evaluate your association's reserve fund against the CICSC benchmark
- Chair or participate in a properly noticed, quorum-valid board meeting
- Review vendor contracts against the five key provisions
About the Credential
CIC-BOS Foundations
The CIC-BOS Foundations credential documents that you have completed structured governance education covering the full foundational curriculum. It is suitable for association records, director portfolios, and management company training programs.
Course Curriculum
Seven sections. Six Quick Reference cards. One capstone integration exercise. Authored by Ian Knight (MBA, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®) and built on the Fundamentals of Association Management framework.
Section 01 — What You Just Signed Up For
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: What Every New Director Should Know in the First 30 Days
Section 02 — Reading the Rule Book
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: Governance Hierarchy and Document Navigation
Section 03 — Money on the Books
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: Five Financial Questions Every Board Member Should Ask Monthly
Section 04 — Insurance Without the Jargon
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: Insurance Renewal Checklist and Coverage Verification
Section 05 — Running a Real Meeting
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: Board Chair Meeting Checklist and Annual Meeting Script
Section 06 — Managing the Manager and the Vendors
1.0 CEIncludes: Quick Reference: Vendor Vetting Checklist and Contract Review Framework
Section 07 — Capstone: Your First 90 Days
Final AssessmentIncludes: Quick Reference: First 90 Days Governance Onboarding Plan
Enrollment Options
Individual enrollment for volunteer directors. Group pricing for boards enrolling together. Annual licensing for management company training programs.
Individual Enrollment
Full six-section program with all Quick Reference cards, final assessment, and CIC-BOS Foundations credential — no cost during the Founders' Cohort.
Association Group
Enroll your full board together during the Founders' Cohort. Charter group pilots include a published case study agreement and shared association dashboard.
Management Company
Portfolio-wide partnership for management companies. Bespoke deployment, reporting dashboard, and partnership terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to complete?
Board Member Essentials is designed for six hours of instruction across seven sections. Most participants complete the program over two to four weeks, working through one section per session.
What is the final assessment?
The capstone section includes a final assessment covering all six core sections. A passing score of 80% is required to earn the CIC-BOS Foundations credential. You may retake the assessment up to three times.
Who authored the course?
Board Member Essentials is authored by Ian Knight (MBA, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®) and built on the Fundamentals of Association Management framework. The content reflects current Texas statute, CICSC governance standards, and professional management practice.
What do I receive when I complete the program?
You earn the CIC-BOS Foundations credential (6.0 CE credits), a certificate of completion, and a listing in the CICSC public credential registry. Your credential is verifiable at cic-sc.org/verify.
How long is my access to the course materials?
Your enrollment includes lifetime access to the course materials, including all six Quick Reference cards and any future content updates to the program.
Does this count for continuing education credit?
Board Member Essentials awards 6.0 continuing education credits recognized within CICSC's independent credentialing program. CICSC is not affiliated with CAI or CAMICB; this credential is a CICSC professional development certificate and does not constitute CAI or CAMICB credit unless separately accepted by those organizations.
Earn Your CIC-BOS Foundations Credential
Six hours of structured governance education built for volunteer board members.
Individual enrollment · Free during the Founders' Cohort (list $249) · Lifetime access
Enroll Free — Reserve Your SeatQuestions? Contact us or schedule a consultation.
Recommended companion reading
Foundations stands on its own. Two volumes from the FOAM Series extend it — one for your own seat as a volunteer director, one for the professional manager you partner with. Sold separately. Pair them with the credential at your discretion.
The Volunteer Board Member
The Seat You Didn't Train For
For your own seat — the volunteer director's guide to the fiduciary duty, money, and meetings the credential trains you for.
See the book →
The Career Association Manager
The Working Manual for Community Association Managers
For the professional you partner with — how a career community-association manager runs the day-to-day work alongside the board.
See the book →
Offering Disclaimer: CICSC educational programs, credentials, and advisory products are designed to help volunteer board members and association management professionals access tools, training, and resources for governance and management. They do not constitute legal, tax, accounting, insurance, engineering, or investment advice and are not a substitute for consultation with qualified professionals retained by your association. Completion of a CICSC credential is an educational designation and does not by itself satisfy any director's fiduciary or legal duty.