Certification & Education

THE HOUSING COUNSELING PROFESSION

Housing Counseling is a process to provide objective information, education, advice and guidance to all housing consumers for obtaining, maintaining and retaining appropriate housing. It is also the process of educating, collaborating and negotiating with housing providers to address the needs of all housing consumers.

NEW CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The certification program offered by the National Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies, Inc. has been revised to ensure that the competencies and qualifications of certified housing counselors meet a professional level that enhances the credibility of the profession and the organization. Five (5) levels of housing counseling certification are available: Certified Professional Comprehensive Housing Counselor, Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Tenancy, Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Homeownership, Certified Housing Counseling Agency and Certified Housing Counselor Administrator. Counselors who are already certified by NAHCA will retain their certification status. However, it may be a professional advantage to upgrade their certification to comply with the new requirements.

NAHCA encourages agencies as well as counselors to strive for comprehensive housing counseling certification, which will enable them to leverage the greatest information base on behalf of their clients.

A. Certified Professional Comprehensive Housing Counselor

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a member of NAHCA and the state chapter (if state chapter available);
• Must hold a BS or BA Degree or have a minimum of six (6) years professional work experience. Combination of education and work experience to equal six (6) years (one and one-half years professional work experience is equivalent to one year of formal education);
• Must have a minimum of one (1) year’s work experience or an internship as a housing counselor or in a related field;
• Submit a resume and three (3) letters of recommendation
  • Two (2) professional references
  • One (1) previous employer or community leader;
• Must take the NAHCA Housing Counselor's Training Course;
• Satisfactory completion (80%) of three (3) sections of the NAHCA's National Certification
  Examination:
      a. General
      b. Tenancy
      c. Homeownership;
• Must meet re-certification requirements every three (3) years to include 36 CEUs;
• A Certified Professional Comprehensive Housing Counselor should have a working knowledge of:
  a. Regulations pertaining to tenancy/rental housing in public/private markets;
  b. Regulations pertaining to Homeownership;
  c. National Fair Housing Laws;
  d. Governmental and private housing finance resources and their relationship to the mortgage lending industry;
  e. A specialty area, which requires specific knowledge in rental occupancy, programs both public and private, or homeownership programs utilizing public and private financing resources.

B. Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Tenancy

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a member of NAHCA and the state chapter (if state chapter available);
• Must hold an Associate Degree from a two (2) year college or have three (3) years’ professional work experience;
• Must have a minimum of one (1) year work experience or an internship as a housing counselor or in a related field;
• Submit a resume and three (3) letters of recommendation
  • Two (2) professional references
  • One (1) previous employer or community leader;
• Must take the NAHCA Housing Counselor's Training Course;
• Satisfactory completion (80%) of two (2) sections of the NAHCA's National Certification Examination
      a. General
      b. Tenancy;
• Must meet re-certification requirements every three (3) years to include 36 CEUs;
• A Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Tenancy should have a working knowledge of:

a. Regulations pertaining to tenancy/rental housing in public/private markets;
b. National Fair Housing Laws;
c. Specific housing programs as they relate to geographic populations and cultures in both public and private housing markets;
d. General training courses.

C. Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Homeownership

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a member of NAHCA and the state chapter (if state chapter available);
• Must hold an Associate Degree from a two (2) year college or have three (3) years’ professional work experience;
• Must have a minimum of one (1) year work experience as a housing counselor or in a related field;
• Submit a resume and three (3) letters of recommendation
  • Two (2) professional references
  • One (1) previous employer or community leader;
• Must take the NAHCA Housing Counselor's Training Course;
• Satisfactory completion (80%) of two (2) sections of the NAHCA's National Certification Examination
      a. General
      b. Homeownership Counseling;
• Must meet re-certification requirements every three (3) years to include 36 CEU's;
• Certified Professional Housing Counselor Specializing in Homeownership should have a working knowledge of:
  a. Basic counseling techniques and procedures;
  b. Specific housing programs as they relate to geographic populations and cultures in both public and private housing markets;
  c. National Fair Housing Laws;
  d. General training courses.
  

D. Certified Housing Counselor Administrator
Under revision

E. Certified Housing Counseling Agency Certification

Minimum Requirements:

• Must obtain NAHCA Agency membership;
• Agency must meet minimum agency standards (see nearest state chapter);
• Agency standards will be approved by site visit by a NAHCA representative;
• Minimum number and category of employees for conducting a housing counseling program;
• Agency Staff with minimum training and certification.

Implementing New Requirements

The new requirements are effective as of August 14, 2006 .

Cost of Resource Guide

All housing counselors obtaining certification must purchase a housing resource guide.

Members - $75.00 + $12.00 S/H
Non-Members - $125.00 + $12.00 S/H

Prices subject to change without notice.

Certification Renewal Criteria

To renew Certification, a person must demonstrate professional growth through continuing education activities including attending workshops and training exercises. These continuing education activities will be documented with a standard form that must be signed and dated by the sponsor of the continuing education activity. An approved list of workshops and training exercises are available from NAHCA. A minimum total of 36 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) must be earned per renewal period. Applicants for renewal must attend at least one National Conference during the three year certification period. Applicants for renewal must be in good standing with their State Chapter if one exist in your state, applicants must maintain their annual national membership dues.

Frequency of Certification Renewal: Every three (3) years

Certification Application
Certification Renewal Application