Become a HUD Certified Housing Counselor

Counseling Program Highlights

Provides housing counseling services to families and individuals
Provides administration and oversight of homeownership counseling and rental counseling
Administers the HUD approval process to become a HUD-approved housing counseling agency
Administers the approval process to become a certified HUD Housing Counselor

The HUD Housing Counseling Program supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. The primary objectives of the Program are to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing, and preserve homeownership.

To provide housing counseling services through HUD Programs, individuals must certify through HUD by:

Passing a new written examination—The HUD Housing  Counseling Certification Examination.
Verifying employment at a HUD approved Housing Counseling Agency.

Refer to the HUD Exchange for more information about the HUD Housing Counseling Program.

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Training Overview

Designed for individuals seeking to become HUD Certified Housing Counselors, this website offers free online training materials covering a broad range of topics, including responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy; avoidance of foreclosure and eviction; financial management; and fair housing. Offered to assist housing counselors in preparing for the upcoming, mandatory certification exam, the HUD Housing Counselors Training is available to anyone and it is not required for certification.

Free access to 15 training modules, 30-90 minutes each
Specialized content to prepare for the certification exam
Optional - not required for certification
Two formats available for study at your own pace - anytime, anywhere

HUD Counselors Course Syllabus

Housing counselors can use the training to obtain the broad level of knowledge required for certification to provide housing counseling services under HUD programs.

The fifteen training modules provide opportunities to learn, practice, and explore six areas of content.

Financial Management

Housing Affordability

Fair Housing

Homeownership

Avoiding Foreclosure

Tenancy

Knowledge Assessment

Knowledge Assessment - Quick Facts

Available since July 01, 2019
Optional
Free
Not limited to housing counselors
Results are designed to help counselors focus their studies
Completion of the Knowledge Assessment does not guarantee certification

To further assist counselors in preparing for the HUD Housing Counselor certification exam, the HUD Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) has launched a new, free HUD Certified Housing Counselor Knowledge Assessment.

The Knowledge Assessment does not replace or replicate the existing practice exam in style, format, or length, but does:

Provide candidates with more detailed feedback
Offer insight into the rationale behind correct and incorrect answers
Recommend topics for further study
Link questions to training content
Help candidates identify areas of strength and weakness for continued study

Unlike the HUD Housing Counselors Certification Exam, the Knowledge Assessment poses questions at three levels of difficulty. By reviewing the results of this type of test, learners can assess their knowledge and focus their studies where there may be knowledge gaps. Within each level of difficulty, performance on questions answered correctly determines the feedback provided.

There is no cost for the Knowledge Assessment, and you are not required to be a housing counselor or be employed by a housing counseling agency to take it.

HUD Counselor Certification Practice Exam

Practice Exam - Quick Facts

Available since July 5, 2017
Optional
Free
Not limited to housing counselors
Practice exam is not scored
Feedback includes recommendations for further study by topic
Completion of practice exam does not guarantee certification

In addition to the training materials, a practice exam is available to help prepare for and pass the HUD Housing Counselor Certification Exam. Developed to meet the same knowledge and skills proficiencies as the certification exam, the practice exam is offered in a format similar to the certification exam and poses similar questions, but does not replicate any questions from the certification exam.

There is no cost for the practice exam, and you are not required to be a housing counselor or be employed by a housing counseling agency to take it.

Feedback and Scoring

The practice exam is designed to give candidates a feeling for the format and style of test questions and the breadth of the subject matter in the test (90 questions that are not broken into smaller stand-alone sections). It is delivered in a similar format to the certification exam. The practice exam does not provide numeric scoring because performance on the practice exam does not guarantee passing results on the certification exam.

Upon completion, you will receive a summary page with feedback and recommendations for further study by topic. Please take note of the summary page, as you will not have repeat access to the results. The recommendations are based on how well candidates perform in each content area of the examination:

Areas in which candidates perform well receive feedback that some additional review is recommended for continued success;
Areas in which performance was marginal receive feedback that additional study is needed for moderate improvement; and
Areas in which performance was weak receive feedback that significant study is needed for considerable improvement.

HUD Counselor Certification Exam details

Background

HUD published the Final Rule for Housing Counseling Certification in the Federal Register on December 14, 2016, revising the regulations governing HUD's Housing Counseling Program, 24 C.F.R. Part 214. This rule implements statutory requirements that housing counseling required under or provided in connection with all HUD programs will be provided by HUD-Certified Housing Counselors.

Certification Exam - Quick Facts

Available since August 1, 2017
Not limited to housing counselors
Available online and at testing centers nationwide
Exam fee required
Consists of 90 questions with a two-hour time limit
Certification requires to both pass exam and work for an agency approved to participate in HUD's housing counseling program

To prepare for the Certification Exam, candidates can access training materials, choosing from study methods including an interactive online training course and a downloadable Study Guide, and take a practice exam. The testing methodology for the Certification Exam will include options to take the exam online or in person. Both options will be proctored.

HUD published the Final Rule for Housing Counseling Certification in the Federal Register on December 14, 2016, revising the regulations governing HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, 24 C.F.R. Part 214. This rule implements statutory requirements that housing counseling required under or provided in connection with all HUD programs will be provided by HUD-Certified Housing Counselors.

Read HUD's Press Release announcing the New Housing Counseling Certification Requirements or refer to the HUD Exchange for more information about the final rule and certification requirements.