Compliance training
National Center for Housing Management
The National Center for Housing Management is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains and certifies housing professionals. It was founded in 1972 by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under an Executive Order, to provide objective, independent national leadership in housing management education and professional standards.
Its certifications cover the main federal programs and the main site roles: Certified Occupancy Specialist and its public housing and voucher versions, EIV Specialist, HOME Compliance Specialist, MOR Specialist, Rural Housing Specialist, Blended Occupancy Specialist, Tax Credit Specialist, Certified Manager of Maintenance, Certified Manager of Housing, Certified Financial Specialist, Fair Housing Specialist, and Emergency Management for Housing Professionals. The Certified Occupancy Specialist course is a study of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 and subsequent notices; Tax Credit Specialist reviews IRS regulations and guidance including the Guide for Completing Form 8823.
Courses are taught live online by NCHM instructors on published dates, and employers can host in-person sessions. Some certifications, including Certified Manager of Maintenance and Certified Manager of Housing, are delivered entirely online with an online exam that must be taken within a week of finishing the course. Certification is kept active through annual continuing education, and certificate holders get the eHotline, a technical assistance service whose experts answer questions in about 48 hours on average.
NCHM also sells pre-employment aptitude testing used to screen candidates for maintenance, administrative and property management roles, taken through an online testing center with access keycodes. Courses are audited and graded within about two weeks of completion, and venues for in-person programs are confirmed no less than two weeks before the start date.
Best for
Owners and managers of HUD-assisted, LIHTC or public housing who need site staff certified in occupancy, compliance, maintenance or management. Market-rate operators use the same courses, but the material is regulation-driven.
What they do
- Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) training
- Tax Credit Specialist (TCS) certification
- Public housing and voucher occupancy certifications
- Fair Housing Specialist certification
- Maintenance and housing manager certifications
- Emergency management training for housing professionals
- Certification renewal and continuing education
- eHotline technical assistance for certificate holders
- Pre-employment aptitude testing
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 |
| Ownership | Nonprofit |
| Other offices | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
What stands out
- Founded in 1972 by the Secretary of HUD under an Executive Order of the President.
- Reports that more than 8,000 housing professionals a year take part in its online training programs.
- Reports that over 125,000 housing professionals have been certified since its inception.
- Offers fifteen distinct certifications covering different roles and regulatory frameworks.
- eHotline questions are answered by NCHM experts within 48 hours on average.
Common questions
- How long does it take to get a course grade?
- NCHM aims to audit and grade courses within two weeks of completion, though holidays can delay that. Results are emailed once they have been added to and verified in the system, and registrations, grades and certifications are visible in the Learning Center.
- How is an NCHM certification kept active?
- Certificate holders must complete annual continuing education to maintain certification and stay current with industry standards. Anyone whose certification has lapsed is directed to the certification renewal page.
- Who can use the eHotline?
- eHotline is a technical assistance service available only to people holding at least one active NCHM certification. Questions are submitted through a form and forwarded to NCHM experts, who answer within 48 hours on average.