Eligibility – In order to be certified, an individual must both pass a standardized written examination covering six major topic areas and work for an agency approved to participate in HUD’s housing counseling program. In other words, you can take the certification exam without being employed at a HUD-approved agency; however, to become certified you must pass the exam and work for a HUD-approved agency.  

For steps to certification visit the HUD Exchange website and view the HUD Certified Housing Counselor Application Process.

Retakes – There is no limit on retakes for the Certification Exam. You can take the Certification Exam as many times as necessary to achieve a passing score.

During the exam, test takers must abide by industry-standard testing rules. Certain actions and items prohibited during testing. Read the following instructions and rules to ensure a successful exam experience.

DO

• Make sure the room is well lit, quiet, and free from distraction.
• Ensure your testing surface is clutter-free and contains only one computer, one monitor, one keyboard, and one mouse.
• Remove all items from your neck and wrist. Watches, bracelets, and necklaces are not permitted during testing.
• Log in to launch your exam on time. Kryterion will administer the exam only on the scheduled date and time. Please see cancellation and rescheduling guidelines if you are unable to take the exam as scheduled.

DO NOT

• Do not read the exam aloud.
• Do not interact with another individual during your test session.
• Do not leave your workstation or take a break for any reason. If you leave the workstation during the exam, Kryterion is obligated to inform your test sponsor and may suspend your exam.

Additional guidance about the exam:

• Books, papers, or other reference materials. Candidates are not allowed access to or use of paper or writing utensils during the exam. (Candidates will have access to an online calculator during the exam.)
• Electronic devices, including telephones, cameras, signaling devices, pagers, alarms, and recording/playback devices of any kind.
• No questions concerning the content of the exam may be asked during the examination period. Listen carefully to the directions and carefully read the directions shown on the computer monitor.
• No examination materials, documents, or memoranda of any type may leave the testing room.