NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC)

NCHEC Certification

Serving the needs of aspiring and existing homeowners is an ongoing challenge. NCHEC Certification helps you to meet that challenge and demonstrates your commitment to excellence in the field. NCHEC offers five certifications for homeownership practitioners and each meets the requirements of the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.

Pre-Purchase Homeownership Education
This certification is recommended for educators who deliver a comprehensive homebuyer education training in a group seminar or workshop format.

• Certification is achieved by completing course HO229 Homebuyer Education Methods: Training the Trainer and scoring a minimum of 80% on the accompanying exam.

Post-Purchase Homeownership Education
This certification is recommended for counselors who facilitate post-purchase seminars and workshops.

• Certification is achieved by completing the five-day course HO247 Post-Purchase Education Methods and scoring a minimum of 80% on the accompanying exam.

Homeownership Counseling
This is a certification in one-on-one housing counseling. There are two training course requirements for this certification.

• Part I requires at least one year of one-on-one counseling experience, completion of the five-day course HO250 Homeownership Counseling Principles, Practices and Techniques, Part I and a minimum score of 80% on the accompanying exam.
• Part II entails completing the two-day course HO109 or HO109el (e-learning) Foreclosure Basics.

Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling
This is an advanced level certification designed for professionals with at least one year of specific foreclosure intervention counseling experience. There are two training course requirements for this certification.

• Part I requires passing the online prerequisite exam before enrolling in the course HO345 Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling Certification, Part I. After taking the course, a score of 80% or higher is required on the accompanying exam.

• Part II requires completion of course HO307 Advanced Foreclosure: Case Study Practicum or HO320 Developing and implementing an Effective Foreclosure Program.

Homeownership Counseling for Program Managers and Executive Directors
Recommended for professionals at the management level, this certification attests to one’s ability to effectively manage the day-to-day operations of a housing counseling program. Certification is achieved by completing the five-day course HO360 Homeownership Counseling Certification for Program Managers and Executive Directors and scoring a minimum of 80% on the accompanying exam.

How to Obtain NCHEC Certification
Upon completion of required training and successfully passing the accompanying exams with a minimum score of 80 percent, download the Application for NCHEC Certification.  Return the completed and signed application to NCHEC.

NCHEC Certification meets the requirements under the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. As part of the application process, you must sign and return the Code of Ethics and Conduct contained within the National Industry Standards documentation. To learn more about the National Industry Standards, go to www.homeownershipstandards.org.  The Code of Ethics and Conduct is attached to the certification application.

Upon review and verification that you have met all training requirements, an NCHEC proof of certification will be issued. Certification is valid for three years from date of issuance and can be renewed.

NCHEC Certification Renewal

NCHEC Certification must be renewed every three years.  To maintain a valid NCHEC Certification, practitioners must:

• Complete within three years from date of issuance a minimum of 30 hours (i.e., an average of 10 hours per year) of continuing education on homeownership topics such as pre- or post-purchase homeownership education, counseling, foreclosure prevention, real estate mortgage lending.  See more details on the continuing education requirement.

• Submit the completed Application to Renew NCHEC Certification, which includes the National Industry Standards Code of Ethics and Conduct and NCHEC Continuing Education Verification Form.

Upon review and verification that you have met all of the requirements, an NCHEC proof of certification will be issued. Certification is valid for three years from date of issuance.