Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: What is NCHEC’s mission?
A: The mission of NCHEC is to work with industry partners
to train, certify and support homebuyer educators and housing
counselors nationwide. NCHEC will:
- Promote quality standards for homeownership education and
housing counseling;
- Provide expanded training and certification opportunities
for existing counselors;
- Support counselors with tools, information, and continuing
education;
- Build sustainable support for the homeownership education
and counseling industry.
Q: How will the training help?
A: NCHEC aims to increase the number of homeownership
counselors and educators trained and certified through the NeighborWorks
Training Institute from 700 to more than 2000 per year – indirectly ensuring the education and counseling of several million
individuals and families by 2007.
Q: Where is NCHEC training offered?
A: NCHEC training is offered at all NeighborWorks Training Institutes. Organizations that would like to sponsor the NCHEC training in their regions may be able to do so utilizing NeighborWorks America’s Place-Based Training Policy, or through a Partnership Agreement. For more information on this program, contact NeighborWorks Training Institute’s customer service staff at (800) 438-5547, or email us as nchec@nw.org.
Q: Will the certification I received from the American Homeowner
Education and Counseling Institute (AHECI) still be recognized
by lenders and other organizations like HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac, or will I have to obtain a new certification through NCHEC?
A: Certifications obtained from AHECI will continue to
be recognized by the mortgage lending community until their expiration
dates. NCHEC will be contacting all AHECI certificate holders
with detailed information on how to become recertified once their
current certifications have expired.
Q: Is the homebuyer certification training for the NCHEC certification
the same as it was for AHECI?
A: The NCHEC certification training is currently a five-day
course that supports the core curriculum standards endorsed by
AHECI. However, the NCHEC program also incorporates other important
topics like developing high quality presentation skills, marketing
strategies, and effective partnership building, to name a few.
NCHEC utilizes a “training for trainers” format and
is based on adult education methodology. It is very interactive
and participatory. Participants learn how to make home-ownership
an interesting and engaging experience for the customers they
will later teach.
Q. I’ve heard that NeighborWorks America and NCHEC received funding from HUD to conduct training. Where will this training be held?
A. HUD awarded NCHEC a 2-year training grant to provide expanded training opportunities to HUD-approved counseling agencies. A variety of homeownership and lending courses will be available and offered at each NeighborWorks Training Institute, and through partnership with HUD-approved intermediaries, and state and regional collaboratives. The HUD funding will provide some scholarships to defray or reduce tuition costs to training institutes. A portion of these scholarships will be available through agreements with partner organizations. For the latest information and training schedule, subscribe to the NCHEC e-newsletter (soon to be released) at this site. Choose the subscribe tab along the top of the screen.
Q. What courses are offered through NCHEC?
A. All courses offered under the Homeownership and Community Lending track at the NeighborWorks Training Institutes are now a part of NCHEC.
Q: What are the different types of certificates I can receive at a NeighborWorks Training Institute?
1. For all courses, individuals will receive a “Certificate of Completion” on the last day of each course.
2. Individuals completing “Homebuyer Education: Training the Trainer,” (HO229) “Homebuyer Education Methods: Training the Trainer,” (HO317) or “Postpurchase Education Methods”, (HO247) and passing the course exam will also receive a “Certificate of Professional Recognition” in Homebuyer Education Training or Postpurchase Education Methods, and be deemed “NCHEC Certified”, based on current policy.
3. A “Professional Certificate in Homeownership and Community Lending” will be awarded to individuals who successfully complete the seven required courses (preferably in the recommended order) and two elective courses, pass the test for each required course, if applicable, and the comprehensive exam at the end of all coursework within four years of application to the Program of Study. Learn more about the Homeownership and Community Lending Program of Study.
Q: What is a NeighborWorks Full-Cycle Lending certificate?
A: At this time, four certificates are offered and required for NeighborWorks Full-Cycle Lending, eligible only to NeighborWorks Organizations participating in the NeighborWorks® Campaign for Home Ownership. They are: Homebuyer Education, Mortgage Lending, Loan Portfolio Management and Post Purchase Systems. The NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership sends “Full-Cycle Lending Staff Training Certificates” to individuals who apply for and fulfill the requirements of Full-Cycle Lending Staff Training Certification. While completion of some of the same courses is required, this is a separate activity from Certifications obtained from NCHEC or the Training Division.
Q: How does an individual obtain recertification in Homebuyer Education?
A: If you received your original “Certificate of Professional Recognition in Homebuyer Education Training” by NeighborWorks America or certification from the American Homeowner Education and Counseling Institute (AHECI) on or before January 1, 2003, your certification will be renewed through December 31, 2006 with the completion and submission of all of the following:
- Registering on this Web Site (registration tab above)
- Mailing a copy of your certification (and/or letter from AHECI) to NCHEC, NeighborWorks America, 1325 G Street NW, Suite 800, Washington DC, 20005, or faxing it to (202) 376-2168.
- Completing the enclosed NCHEC Recertification/Continuing Education form with a list of all the professional development courses and workshops that you completed over the past 24 months, and mailing the form to NCHEC, NeighborWorks America, 1325 G Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, or faxing it to (202) 376-2168. Download Form [PDF]
Upon receipt of all of this information, NCHEC will issue a new “Certificate of Professional Recognition in Homebuyer Education Training” to you. Expanded continuing education for recertification purposes will begin sometime in 2005, and by January 1, 2007, an updated policy for recertification will be announced.
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