NEW STANDARDS IN FINANCIAL CAPABILITY & RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING!
APPROVED CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROVIDERS
In order for homeownership education and counseling agencies to adopt the National Industry Standards, there must be at least one counselor professionally certified at all times. The Standards Committee has approved nine certification training providers. Homeownership education and counseling agencies may draw on professional certifications from any of these providers. The list of approved providers is organized in the table below under the specific Standards their certifications support. For more information on their professional certification programs agencies may contact each individual training provider directly.
Standards
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Training Provider
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Approved Professional Certification
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Homeownership Education |
Minnesota Homeownership Center |
Homebuyer Education certification |
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC) |
Pre-Purchase Homeownership Education |
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC) |
Post-Purchase Homeownership Education |
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Pathways Home: A Native Homeownership Guide |
Housing Education certification |
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UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) |
Homeownership Education certification |
Homeownership Counseling |
Minnesota Homeownership Center |
Homebuyer Counseling certification |
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National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) |
Housing Counseling certification |
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC) |
Homeownership Counseling certification |
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North Carolina Housing Coalition – Association of Housing Counselors (TAHC) |
Housing Counseling certification |
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UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) |
Housing Counselor certification |
Financial Capability |
NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC) |
Financial Capability certification |
|
UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) |
Financial Capacity certification |
Foreclosure Intervention |
Minnesota Homeownership Center |
Foreclosure Counseling certification |
|
National Real Estate Training Institute (NREI) |
Foreclosure Counseling certification |
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC) |
Foreclosure Intervention & Default Counseling certification |
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North Carolina Housing Coalition – Association of Housing Counselors (TAHC) |
Foreclosure Counseling certification |
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UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) |
Foreclosure Counselor certification |
Rental Housing Counseling |
UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) |
Rental Counselor certification |
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION & COUNSELING SECOND CURRICULUM REVIEW
October 30, 2017
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the National Industry Standards curriculum review process.
Applications are now being accepted for the second review of professional certification providers seeking approval under the National Industry Standards.
The peer-directed, and independent third-party review process will provide analyses of select curricula from non-profit industry leaders providing professional certifications in the homeownership education and counseling industry.
This review will focus on curriculum submissions from both new and existing, or "grandfathered", certification training providers. This review allows training providers whose professional certifications are not currently approved to submit their curricula for the first time. Grandfathered training providers are those whose professional certifications were approved by the National Industry Standards Committee prior to September 2015. Training providers who curricula were approved following the 2015 review will not be required to re-submit at this time.
Once approved, certification providers will have access to the Standards logo and may cite their approval status in their certification course(s) and any applicable marketing materials. In turn, agencies whose staff hold certifications from these approved providers and wish to adopt the Standards may do so by providing the approved certification information in their Adoption application. All Approved Certification Providers will be listed on the National Industry Standards website at www.homeownershipstandards.org.
The application deadline is Friday, December 8, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For additional information and to apply, please download the documents below:
For all inquires and/or comments related to the curriculum review process:
email [email protected] with the subject line: National Industry Standards Review Inquiry
For general inquiries regarding the National Industry Standards:
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS ON THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY & RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING STANDARDS HAS BEEN EXTENDED!
June 14, 2017
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling Committee is extending the public comment period regarding the newly updated draft Financial Capability and Rental Housing Counseling Standards noted in the previous post. The new deadline is June 30, 2017.
The National Industry Standards are a baseline set of guidelines and should be reviewed as such. To guide you in your review, please view the existing Standards framework here. We encourage organizations to strive to exceed the Standards in their everyday business operations.
Click here for the Financial Capability Draft Standards
Click here for the Rental Housing Counseling Draft Standards
Submitting Comments: Comments should be submitted to the National Industry Standards Committee at [email protected].
New Deadline: Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on June 30, 2017.
Make sure your voice is heard!
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY & RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND WE NEED YOUR COMMENTS!
May 22, 2017
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling Committee is again seeking public comment on the newly updated draft Financial Capability and Rental Housing Counseling Standards. Once published, these draft Financial Capability and Rental Housing Counseling Standards will be additions to the existing Standards.
The National Industry Standards are a baseline set of guidelines and should be reviewed as such. To guide you in your review, please view the existing Standards framework here. We encourage organizations to strive to exceed the Standards in their everyday business operations.
Click here for the Financial Capability Draft Standards
Click here for the Rental Housing Counseling Draft Standards
Submitting Comments: Comments should be submitted to the National Industry Standards Committee at [email protected].
Deadline: Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on June 16, 2017.
All Comments received will be compiled and reviewed by the National Industry Standards Committee. Changes will be made to the draft Standards and finalized as recommended by the Committee.
APPROVED CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROVIDERS
In order for homeownership education and counseling agencies to adopt the National Industry Standards, there must be at least one counselor professionally certified at all times. The Standards Committee has approved nine certification training providers. Homeownership education and counseling agencies may draw on professional certifications from any of these providers. The list of approved providers is organized in the table below under the specific Standards their certifications support. For more information on their professional certification programs agencies may contact each individual training provider directly.
Homeownership Counseling
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Homeownership Education
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Foreclosure Intervention
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Minnesota Homeownership Center
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Michigan State Housing Development Authority (Network only)
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Minnesota Homeownership Center
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National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
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Minnesota Homeownership Center
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Minnesota Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Association
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National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
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National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
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National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC)
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC)
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National Real Estate Training Institute (NREI)
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North Carolina Housing Coalition – Association of Housing Counselors (TAHC)
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Pathways Home: A Native Homeownership Guide
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling (NCHEC)
|
|
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North Carolina Housing Coalition – Association of Housing Counselors (TAHC)
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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
September 8, 2016
"The National Industry Standards provides the highest regard for excellence, both in terms of expectations of the counselor and of quality of service for the client. That is why our agency chose to adopt the Standards. It provides the same level of service no matter what counselor is assigned to a client or what client comes into our agency. It has held us up to a higher level of service that we provide to our clients. The National Industry Standards is a concise list of expectations that sets high goals in our agency and within the industry. Adoption encourages continued education for us as educators and integrity in our professional field."
Ragan Cudney
Community Services Director
Human Development Commission
Visit them at www.hdc-caro.org
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION & COUNSELING CURRICULUM REVIEW
October 7, 2015
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the National Industry Standards curriculum review process.
Applications are now being accepted for the review of professional certification providers seeking approval under the National Industry Standards.
The biennial, peer-directed, and independent third-party review process will provide analyses of select curricula from non-profit industry leaders providing professional certifications in the homeownership education and counseling industry.
Once approved, certification providers will have access to the Standards logo and may cite their approval status in their certification course(s) and any applicable marketing materials. In turn, agencies whose staff hold certifications from these approved providers and wish to adopt the Standards may do so by providing the approved certification information in their Adoption application. All Approved Certification Providers will be listed on the National Industry Standards website at www.homeownershipstandards.org.
The application deadline is Friday, November 20, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For additional information and to apply, please download the documents below:
For all inquires and/or comments related to the curriculum review process:
email [email protected] with the subject line: National Industry Standards Review Inquiry
For general inquiries regarding the National Industry Standards:
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY & RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND WE NEED YOUR COMMENTS!
May 5, 2015
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling Committee is seeking public comment on the newly drafted Financial Capability and Rental Housing Counseling Standards. The newly developed Financial Capability and Rental Housing Counseling Standards will be additions to the existing Standards.
The National Industry Standards are a baseline set of guidelines and should be reviewed as such. To guide you in your review, please view the existing Standards framework here. We encourage organizations to strive to exceed the Standards in their everyday business operations.
Click here for the Financial Capability Draft Standards
Click here for the Rental Housing Counseling Draft Standards
Submitting Comments: Comments should be submitted to the National Industry Standards Committee at [email protected].
Deadline: Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on June 12, 2015.
All Comments received will be compiled and reviewed by the National Industry Standards Committee. Changes will be made to the draft Standards and finalized as recommended by the Committee.
BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS COMMITTEE
November 6, 2013
The purpose of the Committee is to provide input, advice and counsel on the nature, content and requirements of the Standards on behalf of the homeownership education and counseling industry. Click here to read more about the membership process and committee responsibilities.
Note: the application period for new members is currently closed. You may email us at [email protected] if you would be interested in applying in the future.
PROPOSED REGULATIONS FOR HUD HOUSING COUNSELING
September 13, 2013
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act amended the housing counseling statute to improve the effectiveness of the program by, among other things, requiring that the entities and individual counselors be certified by HUD as competent to provide such services, and prohibiting distribution of grant funds to agencies found in violation of Federal election laws or who have employees found in violation of Federal election laws, and requiring the reimbursement of grant funds for misuse of funds.
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The proposed rule mandates that both individual counselors and organizations will be required to be HUD certified. To become HUD certified, ALL individuals, working with a participating, must demonstrate competency by passing a standardized written examination covering six major areas of housing counseling. These areas include: (1) financial management; (2) property maintenance; (3) responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy; (4) fair housing laws and requirements; (5) housing affordability; and (6) avoidance of, and responses to, rental and mortgage delinquency and avoidance of eviction and mortgage default. Agencies and counselors must be in compliance with the certification requirements no later than one year after the effective date of the final rule.
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HUD ANNOUNCES OFFICE OF HOUSING COUNSELING
September 2012
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Report and Consumer Protection act ("Dodd-Frank Act") is a federal statute that was singed into law in 2010. The Act was passed as a response to the recent financial crisis and implements comprehensive and expansive financial regulatory reform.
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is mandated to establish the Office of Housing Counseling (OHC). As such, in September 2012, HUD soft launched the OHC, selecting managers and staff for the new office.
The OHC, a separate entity within HUD, will manage counseling activities previously administered through the Office of Single Family Program Development and is divided into areas such as the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building and Office of Oversight and Accountability.
For more information about the development and implementation of the HUD Office of Housing Counseling, please visit www.hud.gov/housingcounseling
A NEW AND IMPROVED NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS WEBSITE!
August 2012
We''re pleased to announce the redesign of the National Industry Standards website! As you browse the new and improved site, you''ll notice some exciting changes including the addition of this page which will, among other things, highlight updates to the National Industry Standards, upcoming training opportunities and spotlight current Adopters. We''ll be updating the content on this page frequently so check back again soon!
If your organization has already adopted the National Industry Standards, you''ll notice, upon logging in to your profile, that we''ve enhanced and streamlined the website so you can easily:
• Adopt additional sets of Standards as your counselors receive qualified professional certification
• Complete the National Industry Standards assessment online and receive immediate results
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• View the adoption status of each set of Standards your organization applies to adopt
• Maintain your approved adopter status by tracking your counselors'' certification expiration dates and providing updates as necessary
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• Add up to three points of contact for your organization''s record
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• Maintain and update your organization''s adoption record including contact information
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• Change your profile password
If you haven’t yet adopted the Standards but are interested in doing so, simply click on the “Sign Up” button on the top right hand corner of this website to get started! Remember, an Executive Director or a representative from your organization who has the authority to adopt standards of practices must sign up on behalf of your organization.
If you have any questions regarding the new website, your existing Adopter profile or how to become an Adopter, please e-mail us via the ”Contact Us” link at the bottom of any page on this website or call 866-472-9477.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ADOPTER OF THE STANDARDS?
August 2012
Housing counseling agencies choose to adopt the standards by completing a simple application online and agreeing to implement the Standards guidelines in their daily business activities. The Standards are designed to help homeownership counseling agencies guide staff training and professionalism, provide high quality services, promote sustainable homeownership, and showcase themselves to potential funders and partners. Adopters are listed in the searchable Adopters database so that potential clients or partners find them easily by location or set of Standards adopted.
As an added value, Adopters have access to seal of approval logos, press release templates, a PowerPoint presentation and other free marketing tools to promote their adoption of the Standards. Additionally, Adopters receive a Welcome Kit that includes their certificate of adoption. Hang this certificate in your agency’s lobby to promote your commitment to consistent and reliable services!
If you are an Adopter and have not yet received your Welcome Kit, please e-mail us via the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of any page on this website or call 866-472-9477. Not sure if you’re an adopter? Search for your organization here.
PREVIOUSLY SPOTLIGHTED ADOPTERS
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