STR Certification Self-Study and Seminar Hybrid Course

Learn STR laws and best practices for investing in and managing vacation homes/STR properties to create profitable short-term guest stays.

STR Certification Self-Study and Seminar Hybrid Course

Learn STR laws and best practices for investing in and managing vacation homes/STR properties to create profitable short-term guest stays.
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About the Class

The STR Certification Course has been the leading and most trusted STR education for more than a decade, offered in several versions to accommodate students' different learning styles.

This hybrid combination of self-study (using an acclaimed textbook) and a shorter lecture (live online) offers flexibility and instruction. Students can ask questions and learn essential STR management best practices from an experienced STR owner and university professor. 

The STR Certification Course, Hybrid Self-Study and Live Online Lecture, is the most popular online version of the course. It requires discipline and commitment to learn the course content normally presented in the 2-Day Live In-Person STR Certification Course or the four-seminar online STR lecture series.

Students who register for the hybrid course are given flexibility to study textbook content at their own pace and schedule, and then benefit from a more detailed explanation of core concepts from an industry leader. You can select the date and time for attending the online STR Hybrid Course Lecture via Zoom.

After you register, you will receive a complimentary copy of the e-textbook, Vacation Rental Management 411, for your personal self-study. Much of the time-honored best practices officials want students to learn is in the textbook, and you will be expected to review it before the online lecture.

|t isn't a simple blog or webinar. This is a university-level course approved by higher education divisions and institutions, real estate divisions, industry trade associations, and government officials, and it is the required STR education for STR/VH business license applicants and local managers to complete, understand, and apply to their STR hosting in a growing number of cities.

Renting an entire home or a room to guests for short stays can be profitable—or it can result in losses and liability. Understanding and applying vacation home and lodging industry "best practices" can benefit you, your business, and your guests. STR (short-term rental management or vacation home management) is an emerging industry amid social change, so staying current with trends while following tried-and-true management protocols protects the business owner, local STR manager, and guests.

People who list their STRs on popular reservation platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb soon learn that this emerging industry can be confusing, increasingly competitive, and requires more knowledge and work than initially expected. Students often enter the class thinking they already know enough about STR management, but soon discover there is more to running a code-compliant, neighborhood-friendly, 5-star-reviewed, and profitable STR than they originally thought.

We share time-honored practices, strategies, knowledge, and tips, along with innovations and tools, to make hosting guests more profitable, enjoyable, and successful. Thousands of STR Certification Course graduates have rated the content and instruction as Excellent and highly recommend it for other STR professionals.

This internationally respected certification course is a comprehensive overview of proven short-term rental (STR) management best practices, including:

  • How to determine if a real estate property can become a successful and profitable STR unit,
  • Significant legal and management differences between long-term rentals (LTRs) and vacation homes/short-term rentals (STRs),
  • Where to find STR-specific laws, regulations, and legal information for hosting guests in different cities, states, and countries,
  • How to apply laws and standards to STR management best practices,
  • Examples of the regulation elements, zoning allowances, and hosting opportunities in diverse cities,
  • Why being code-compliant (obeying STR laws and standards) can be beneficial and profitable for STR investors and managers,
  • STR business licenses, permits, registrations, inspections, and code enforcement procedures and tips,
  • What types of units are allowed for STR in different areas,
  • Marketing, promoting, pricing, and accepting desirable reservations from multiple sources for each unique STR (beyond popular reservation platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, or Tripadvisor),
  • Managing reservations through platforms, agents, social media, promotional campaigns, and direct bookings,
  • Creating Reservation Agreements (contracts), House Rules, and hosting policies,
  • Guest communication and responding to complaints (from guests or about guest behavior),
  • Earning 5-Star reviews (from guests, hosting platforms, review experts, neighbors, your staff, and government officials),
  • Financial protocols, systems, tools, record-keeping, and accounting best practices,
  • Transient Lodging Tax collection, reporting, and remittance to the proper government entities,
  • Using independent contractors, employees, and external team members,
  • Team building, host burn-out remedies, proven policies and procedures, and business management resources,
  • Housekeeping, safety, security, and maintenance practices, routines, and tips,
  • STR design, furnishing, amenities, tips, and how to incorporate experiences and other extras for guests,
  • Roles and expectations for STR property owners, investors, property managers, local contacts, vendors, and team members,
  • Essential STR-related terminology and definitions,
  • STR insurance and how to prevent having to use it,
  • How to avoid or avert potential liabilities, scams, tragedies, and legal actions,
  • STR governance best practices, advocacy, community involvement, and neighbor relations,
  • Why an industry that has been around for centuries is now in disruption (and how to stabilize it),
  • Dealing with STR industry misconceptions that create confusion, contention, and frustration about STR,
  • Tools for managing one or multiple STR properties,
  • How to run a small business (or a large STR management company),
  • What realtors, RE property managers, government officials, vendors, hoteliers, and STR hosts need to know about STR,
  • Technology systems, apps, service-providers, guest-friendly monitoring devices, and other management support tools,
  • and more!

This instruction costs thousands of dollars when offered through coaching programs, association education, and boot camps. Why is the tuition price so low for this hybrid course? Cities mandating STR education for license/permit applicants asked the instructors to offer this comprehensive education at a discounted price for their constituents. The instructors provide this course version as part of their community service (otherwise, we could not allow such a remarkable discount).

In 2016, city officials asked the lead instructor to write and teach a course that would help their STR license holders understand how to be code-compliant and the benefits of doing so. Once other cities learned about the STR education course's effectiveness, affordability, and popularity, they asked if it could be offered in their areas (and it has gone global, offered in many cities and countries). Some key STR industry standards, terms, and best practices were developed in this course and then adopted by industry leaders. 

Join other professionals who have earned STR Certification by registering for this course.

More details are in the Requirements section below and on the www.strcertification.com website. Groups can request other dates/times (please contact the instructor at strcertification@gmail.com). Space and dates for online and live classes are limited, so please register as soon as possible.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites to register for this hybrid STR course. The course version allows for self-study and a live online lecture via Zoom that is shorter than other course versions.

This isn't a simple blog or webinar. It is a university-level course. You will be expected to learn the course content from the textbook (self-study) and attend the mandatory lecture session (which can last up to 5 hours, depending upon questions and class discussions). There is a final exam that students must pass with a score of at least 80%, followed by a review of course participation by a Certification Board. The course is pass/fail. 

When registering, select a date and time on the registration calendar to attend the online lecture via Zoom. We recommend that you give yourself enough time to complete the self-study reading in the textbook, so you are ready for the more detailed instruction and discussions in the lecture session.

Thousands of students have successfully completed this course. Some students who did not complete the self-study reading on key course concepts failed the final exam. The course is designed to help students succeed (in the course and in their STR businesses), but students must do their part to understand vital information that STR owners and managers need to know.

This is a one-time course, so graduates are not required to complete continuing education to retain the certificate. 

To receive the STR Certificate using this course version, a student must:

  • Register for this course. Create a free LearnDesk student account. Click the BOOK CLASS button for this class and view the calendar. Select the date/time you will attend the mandatory lecture (live, online via Zoom). Submit registration information and your payment.
  • Review the confirmation emails and follow the study plan. You will also receive a complimentary copy of the e-textbook, Vacation Rental Management 411, for your personal use to review before, during, and after you complete the STR Certification Course.
  • Complete the textbook reading assignments. 
  • Attend the scheduled live online lecture using the Zoom link provided in the email.
  • You will need to share a copy of your government-issued ID with the instructor to verify your name and identity (before the lecture date).
  • Throughout the course, students must conduct themselves in accordance with course rules and the universal code of student conduct. (For more details, refer to www.strcertification.com/str-course-dates.)
  • Attend the scheduled live online lecture using the Zoom link provided in the email.
    • Log in at least five minutes before the class session begins. 
    • Be present and participate when called upon or within discussions during the Zoom session for the entire duration of the class.
    • Students must use a computer with an active camera, microphone, and Zoom capability.
    • This lecture usually lasts less than five hours, depending upon questions and discussions. (We still cover a lot of details, but much less than the 2-day or 4-part seminar course versions, which require lectures for 8-14 hours. Students in this course learn much of the course content through textbook self-study.) 
  • There is an optional practice quiz you can access before taking the final exam. If you do not receive a score of at least 88%, it may indicate that you need to review the course content again before taking the longer and more intensive final exam.
  • Complete the final exam, according to course rules, and receive a final score of at least 80%. The final score is determined by exam results and a review of student coursework by the Certification Board.

To be fair to all potential students, we cannot allow for no-shows, partial class attendance, or cancellation refunds. There will be a $75 processing fee for qualifying changes to the registration. If a student fails the final exam and wishes to retake it, they may be able to do so by registering for the exam a second or third time, or by re-registering for the course and starting over (exam and registration fees apply).

Teacher

Julie Davies

Author, Educator, and Longtime Lodging Industry Professional
Julie Davies opened her family's first STR in 1986 and most recent unit in 2024, while managing and consulting for hotels and long-term care facilities, and teaching university courses. In 2015, city officials noticed Julie's excellent STR management, happy neighbors, and 5-star reviews. They asked her to write and teach a course about STR laws...

Location

Phone Meeting
Web conference
One-time Fee
$600
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CHF 472.51
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ARS$838,233.60
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COP$2,224,335.72
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L15,841.76
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$U24,453.53
zł2,211.34

Additional Details

Language: English
Level: Beginner
Skills: Understand VH/STR, Multi-Unit Management, STR Versus LTR, Airbnb Vrbo Platforms, Reservations and Pricing, Laws and Regulations, Permits and Contracts, Housekeeping and Maintenance, Design and Security, Limiting Liability, Increasing Profits, Policies and Procedures, Team Building, Neighbor Relations
Age groups: All ages
Duration: 4 hours

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