(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall (1) hold himself or herself out to be a community association manager or a community association manager trainee, or (2) engage in providing association management services, without first obtaining a certificate of registration as provided in sections 20-450 to 20-462, inclusive.

(b) A community association manager trainee may, for a period not to exceed six months, engage in association management services, so long as: (1) The community association manager trainee is directly supervised by, and acts under the direction of, a community association manager who holds a valid certificate of registration and who shall be liable for the actions or inactions of the community association manager trainee; and (2) the community association manager trainee has no authority to collect, control or disburse funds of the association. A certificate of registration as a community association manager trainee shall not be renewable.

(c) A community association manager may employ or contract with support or administrative staff, not registered as a community association manager, to engage in the following activities: (1) Answer the telephone, take messages, and forward calls to the community association manager; (2) update files and forms maintained by the community association manager; (3) schedule and coordinate meetings, teleconferences, service calls and responses to maintenance and repair requests; (4) copy documents prepared by either the association or the community association manager and prepare mailings to the unit owners, vendors and other third parties, as authorized by the association or the community association manager; (5) attend meetings with and provide administrative support services to the community association manager, including taking notes as needed to maintain accurate records for the association; (6) assist the community association manager in maintaining the association’s financial information and records, including, but not limited to, responding to inquiries from unit owners regarding their accounts with the association and drafting checks for payments approved by the association or the community association manager, provided no unregistered support or administrative staff may have direct access to or control over association funds; and (7) implement the decisions and directions of the community association manager.

(d) The community association manager shall directly supervise, and assume liability for, work performed by any support or administrative staff member whether employee or contractor, who is not a registered community association manager or trainee, but who is providing services to an association. The community association manager shall ensure that such unlicensed person is: (1) Trained in the scope of work they are legally able to undertake in such role; and (2) operating in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.