If you are looking for a career change, reentering the workforce or exploring a professional path with room to grow, residential property management may be a strong fit. Leasing offers an entry point into the industry and an opportunity to build experience in sales, customer service, operations and resident relations.
Train for a new career in residential property management, for free.
Get the skills, confidence, and industry connections to pursue an entry-level leasing position and start a career in property management.
See How LIFT Works
A practical path to a career with room to grow.
Apartment communities need friendly, dependable people to help prospective residents find a home and support current residents.
LIFT prepares people with little or no industry experience to begin careers in residential property management through practical training, professional development and industry preparation.
You’ll build practical leasing skills, strengthen your communication and workplace skills, and prepare to interview for available opportunities.
By working with property management companies and community partners, LIFT helps build a bridge between emerging talent and career opportunities in the industry.
- Free training
- No degree required
- Employer connected
First class expected January 2027 in Greater Philadelphia
Program at a glance
- 20 training days
- Expected January 2027
- Greater Philadelphia
- No college degree required
- No previous experience required
- Free
What you’ll learn
Twenty days of hands-on instruction, from leasing foundations through preparation for the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) credential offered through the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI).
01Foundations
- Day 1: Leasing Foundations & Fair Housing
- Day 2: Call to Connect
- Day 3: The Science of Sales
- Day 4: Tour Through Their Eyes
- Day 5: Full Circle
02Applied Skills
- Day 6: Field Learning
- Day 7: Professional Presence & Shop Talk
- Day 8: Tools of the Trade & The Write Stuff
- Day 9: Application Essentials
- Day 10: CRM 101 & Follow-Up
- Day 11: Reputation & Social Media
- Day 12: Community Connections
- Day 13: Presence Matters
- Day 14: The Hired Mindset
- Day 15: Conflict to Connection
03CALP Preparation & Graduation
- Days 16–19: CALP Course Instruction
- Day 20: CALP Review & Final Preparation
- Feb 2: Final Presentations & Graduation
January–February 2027 Training Calendar
Tentative CALP Test: Monday, February 8, 2027
Week 1Jan 4–8Days 1–5
Leasing Foundations
- Fair Housing
- Leasing calls
- The science of sales
- Property tours
- Full role-play
Who LIFT Is For
LIFT is designed for people who are ready to build something stable and lasting, whether you’re changing careers, reentering the workforce, or simply looking for a new professional path. No previous residential property management experience is required.
LIFT may be a fit for you if you:
- Enjoy working in a fast-paced, people-focused environment
- Like sales, problem-solving and new challenges
- Value customer service and building relationships
- Are open to coaching, feedback and continuous learning
- Want to strengthen your communication and transferable skills
- Work well with others and adapt to changing priorities
- Are seeking a meaningful career with opportunities for growth
Adults interested in beginning a career in residential property management are encouraged to apply. Cohort-specific eligibility, location, scheduling and funding information will be provided during the application process.
How It Works
Apply
Complete the online application on our Apply page.
Train
Complete 20 training days of practical leasing, professional development, and career-readiness training.
Pursue opportunities
Prepare for interviews, meet property management professionals, and pursue available entry-level positions.
What you’ll gain
LIFT is about more than sitting in a classroom. You’ll learn practical skills that can help you feel ready to enter the workplace.
Leasing skillsLearn how apartment communities operate and what leasing professionals do each day.- People skillsPractice communicating with prospective residents, current residents, coworkers, and employers.
- Career preparationGet help with your résumé, interviews, workplace expectations, and professional confidence.
- A recognized credentialPrepares participants for the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) credential.
- Industry knowledgeLearn directly from property management professionals and explore different career paths.
- Employer connectionsSuccessful LIFT graduates may be introduced to LIFT Connects employers with available opportunities. Participants may have opportunities to connect with employers seeking new talent.
Employment is not guaranteed. LIFT prepares you to compete for available entry-level positions.
LIFT Eligibility Requirements
Is LIFT Right for You?
LIFT is designed for individuals who are ready to build the skills, confidence, and professional foundation needed to begin a career in residential property management.
To be eligible for the LIFT program, applicants must:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Be authorized to work in the United States
- Have a valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation to training and potential employment locations
- Be able to commit to the full LIFT training schedule
- Be willing to undergo a criminal background screening
- Be able to navigate apartment communities and participate in property tours, including walking and climbing up to four flights of stairs, with or without reasonable accommodation
- Have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in residential property management
- Be prepared to pursue employment opportunities upon successful completion of the program
No property management experience? That's okay.
LIFT is designed to help you build the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to take the next step. We're not looking for industry experience. We're looking for people who are ready to learn, grow, and begin a career.
Your experience already counts.
You don’t need a perfect résumé to take the next step.
Experience in customer service, retail, hospitality, sales, administration, or caring for others may have already helped you develop valuable skills for a leasing career.
LIFT welcomes people who are
- Changing careers
- Returning to the workforce
- Looking for a stable career
- Interested in working with people
No college degree or previous leasing experience required.
Mission
The Leasing Industry Foundations & Training (LIFT) Program empowers individuals through accessible, high-quality workforce training that builds confidence, develops professional skills, and opens doors to careers in residential property management. By partnering with employers, we connect emerging talent with meaningful opportunities while helping organizations build stronger, more diverse, and future-ready teams.
Vision
We envision a future where career potential is never limited by access to opportunity. Through education, innovation, and strategic partnerships, the LIFT Program will expand access to rewarding careers in residential property management while strengthening the workforce, supporting employers, and creating lasting impact in the communities we serve.
What matters most is your willingness to learn, participate, and move forward.
LIFT Connects
Training is only the beginning.
LIFT Connects brings participants and employers together, giving trained, motivated candidates opportunities to engage with multifamily property management companies looking for new talent.
Through our employer partnerships, participants can build professional connections, gain industry exposure and learn about potential career opportunities.
Industry professionals can get involved through training, mentorship, mock interviews and other opportunities to engage with emerging talent.
Employer partners can strengthen their recruiting pipeline while helping shape the next generation of residential property management professionals.
Why Hire from LIFT
LIFT graduates are trained in the fundamentals of leasing and prepared with the communication, professionalism and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in a customer-facing role. LIFT Connects employers have opportunities to engage with the program, see the training firsthand, meet emerging talent and connect with graduates who are ready to begin their careers in residential property management.
Our LIFT Connects Employers
Interested in becoming a partner?
We welcome apartment owners, management companies, industry associations, and community organizations that want to help prepare the next generation of residential property management professionals.
Partner With LIFTFrequentlyAskedQuestions
Apply NowIs the LIFT Program really free?
Yes. There is no tuition for accepted participants.
Do I need a college degree?
No. A college degree is not required. Applicants do need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Do I need previous leasing experience?
No. LIFT is designed for people who are new to residential property management.
When will the first class begin?
The first LIFT class is expected to begin Monday, January 4, 2027, in Greater Philadelphia.
Where will training take place?
Training for the first class will take place at 8040 Rowland Ave. Philadelphia PA 19136.
How long is the program?
LIFT includes 20 training days, running from January 4 through February 1, 2027. There is no class on Monday, January 18 (MLK Day). Final Presentations and Graduation will take place on Tuesday, February 2. Participants will also have the opportunity to take the CALP exam approximately one week after graduation, tentatively scheduled for February 8, 2027. Applicants should plan for the overall LIFT schedule, including training, graduation and the anticipated CALP testing date, to span approximately five weeks.
Will LIFT help me find a job?
LIFT will help participants prepare for employment through career training, industry exposure, interview preparation, and connections with LIFT Connects employers.
Employment cannot be guaranteed.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be 18 years or older and meet the LIFT Eligibility Requirements listed above, including a high school diploma or equivalent, authorization to work in the United States, reliable transportation, and the ability to commit to the full 20-day schedule.
What do I need to apply?
You can apply online through our Apply page. The application asks for basic contact and background information and an upload of a government-issued ID. Applicants should also review the LIFT Eligibility Requirements to make sure LIFT is the right fit.
Creating pathways
to lasting careers.
Pinnacle Training Group created LIFT to expand access to careers in multifamily property management through practical training, professional development, and employer partnerships.
Apply NowQuestions? Contact us at 732-730-1272, ext. 535 or info@pinntraininggroup.com.
Our promise
LIFT doesn’t just prepare people for jobs. We prepare them for lasting careers.