NCHEC Certification

The NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) offers nine certifications for homeownership and community development practitioners. All nine certifications align with the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.

Additionally, agencies may Adopt the Standards if they employ staff holding these nine NCHEC certifications: Pre-Purchase Homeownership Education, Post-Purchase Homeownership Education, Homeownership Counseling, Foreclosure Intervention & Default Counseling, Post-Purchase Homeownership Education in Native Communities, Financial Capability, Rental Housing Counseling, and Rental Eviction Intervention.

To apply, download the Application for NCHEC Certification. NCHEC certifications must be renewed every three years. Learn about our continuing education policy .

Financial capability

Ideal for financial coaches, financial and housing counselors, & program managers

Certification Requirements:

Complete HO208 Building Skills for Financial Confidence or HO208el Building Skills for Financial Confidence or HO208vc Building Skills for Financial Confidence and earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the accompanying exam
Complete HO209rq Delivering Effective Financial Education for Today's Consumer or HO209vc Delivering Effective Financial Capability Programs
Complete HO310 Financial Coaching: Helping Clients Reach Their Goals or HO310VC Financial Coaching: Helping Clients Reach Their Goals
Earn a score of 80 percent or higher on the comprehensive financial capability exam after completing these three courses
All three courses must be completed within a three-year period to qualify for certification

Pre-purchase homeownership education

Ideal for educators providing group training in a seminar or workshop format

Certification Requirement:

Complete HO229 Homebuyer Education Methods: Training the Trainer or HO229VC Homebuyer Education Methods: Training the Trainer and score a minimum of 80 percent on the accompanying exam

Post-purchase homeownership education

Ideal for counselors facilitating post-purchase seminars & workshops

Certification Requirement:

Complete the five-day course HO247 Post-Purchase Education Methods and score a minimum of 80 percent on the accompanying exam

Homeownership counseling

Ideal for professionals conducting one-on-one housing counseling

Certification Requirements:

Complete the five-day course HO250 Homeownership Counseling Principles, Practices and Techniques, Part I or HO250vc Homeownership Counseling Certification: Principles, Practices and Techniques, Part I and earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the accompanying exam
Complete the two-day course HO109 or HO109el (e-learning) Foreclosure Basics or HO109vc Foreclosure Basics for Homeownership Counselors
Both courses must be completed within a three-year period to qualify for certification

Foreclosure intervention and default counseling

Ideal for professionals with at least one year of foreclosure intervention counseling experience

Certification Requirements:

Complete HO345 Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling Certification, Part I or HO345vc Foreclosure Intervention and Default Counseling Certification, Part I. After taking the course, they must score a minimum of 80 percent on the accompanying exam.

Complete HO307 Advanced Foreclosure: Case Study Practicum or HO307vc Advanced Foreclosure: Case Study Practicum (in-person training or virtual classroom format).

Both courses must be completed within a three-year period to qualify for certification.

Homeownership counseling for program managers and executive directors

Ideal for professionals at the management level

Certification Requirement:

Complete the five-day course HO360 Homeownership Counseling Certification for Program Managers and Executive Directors and score a minimum of 80 percent on the accompanying exam

Rental housing counseling

Ideal for professionals counseling clients in rental housing

Certification Requirements:

Complete HO274 Rental Housing Counsel Certification, Part 1 or HO274vc Rental Housing Counseling Certification: Part 1 and earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the accompanying exam
Complete HO208 Building Skills for Financial Confidence or HO208el Building Skills for Financial Confidence or HO208vc Building Skills for Financial Confidence and earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the accompanying exam
Both courses must be completed within a three-year period to qualify for certification

Post-purchase homeownership education in native communities

Certification Requirement:

Complete the five-day course NA247 Post-Purchase Homeownership Education Methods in Native Communities or NA247vc Post-Purchase Homeownership Education Methods in Native Communities and score a minimum of 80 percent on the accompanying exam.

Rental eviction intervention

Ideal for professionals counseling clients in rental housing eviction

Certification Requirements:

Complete HO288 Rental Eviction Intervention Certification: Part 1 and earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the accompanying exam
Complete HO388 Rental Eviction Intervention Certification Part 2: Program Design and Delivery
Both courses must be completed within a three-year period to qualify for certification

Keep up with your training!

Learn more about our National Training Institutes and other in-person training opportunities.

In-Person Training