About the Professional Certificate Program
Proficiency in Affordable Housing
Earning a Professional Certificate
Program Courses
Download Enrollment Form [PDF]
Download
Brochure [PDF]
Earn Graduate
Credits
Healthy communities include housing options that meet the range
of incomes and assets of its residents and workers. All too
often, affordable housing is not available or deteriorates from
disinvestment and neglect. The shortage of safe, sustainable
affordable housing has been a national issue for many decades
with the problem reaching all-time highs in the 1990s as wages
lagged well behind the costs of housing. Today, the challenge
for quality, affordable housing continues.
This challenge requires confident analysis in building where
the market has been unable to meet the demand. It also requires
knowing how to use public and private resources. The affordable
housing dilemma in America demands skill sets in development,
finance and project funding.
NeighborWorks America's training division
has designed a curriculum to teach these skills in a focused,
practical manner and is offered as part of the Professional Certificate Program. Participants
who successfully earn the professional certificate will have
gained a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in the complexities
of affordable housing.
About the Professional Certificate Program
Education with Results
The Professional Certificate Program for Affordable Housing consists of a series
of courses that provide quality education in areas fundamentally
associated with the affordable housing industry, including housing
development, finance, and project financing. This content area will enable participants to:
-
Understand the development process for single
family and multifamily project;
-
Structure effective project financing; and
-
Obtain public and private funds to meet project
needs.
-
The curriculum lays the foundation for understanding
affordable housing development and utilizing affordable housing
strategies. The content area employs a hands-on approach,
combining lectures with case studies, site visits, small-group
exercises and other participatory learning methods. Each course
will convey a distinct piece of the larger picture of the
affordable housing field.
Candidates
The program courses are designed to educate individuals seeking a basic comprehensive overview of the major components that affect affordable housing. This program would be particularly appropriate for:
- Nonprofit affordable housing developers; For-profit affordable housing developers;
- Local and federal government housing representatives;
- Representatives of community development organizations, community-based organizations, and community housing development organizations; and
- Persons engaged in the creation, funding, development, and preservation of affordable housing throughout the country.
To enroll in the Professional Certificate Program for Affordable Housing, complete and submit an enrollment form. For questions, please call (800) 438-5547 or (202) 220-2454 or e-mail nti@nw.org.
Proficiency in Affordable Housing
Participants earning their professional certificate will take
a combination of required and elective courses leading to:
-
Comprehensive understanding of the importance
of affordable housing and its role in the successful development
of sustainable communities;
-
Application of current theory and best practices
in the affordable housing industry;
-
Project planning including an analysis of
financial feasibility;
-
Familiarity with public and private resources
available to assist affordable housing; and
-
Knowledge of real estate finance and how to
structure deals.
back
to top
Earning a Professional Certificate
Professional Certificates in Affordable Housing will be awarded
to individuals who successfully complete the required and 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 Professional Certificate Program. It
is possible to complete all program requirements
in as few as three institutes and, with prior approval by training
division staff, candidates may receive credit for relevant courses
taken no more than two years prior to enrollment in the program.
Program courses are open to all training institute
participants, but in order to be eligible for the professional
certificate, candidates must formally enroll in the Professional Certificate Program by submitting an enrollment
form.
Program participants have the option of taking required
course tests online rather than on paper. Learn
more about online testing for Professional Certificate Program courses.
back
to top
Professional Certificate Program Courses
Listed below are the required and elective courses for earning
a professional certificate in Affordable Housing.
Required Courses:
Financing and Developing Real Estate Projects
Choose at least five days of courses from the following
two categories:
Sources of Funds for Real Estate Development:
Understanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
(LIHTC) Program:
Elective Courses: Four elective courses
are required; please select from the following list and categories
(exclude courses successfully completed as a Required Course
listed above and repeated below).
Financing and Developing Real Estate Projects:
Sources of Funds for Real Estate Development:
Understanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Program:
back to
top
