Housing counseling required under or provided in connection with HUD programs must be provided only by certified housing counselors who work for organizations approved to participate in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. 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.
The fee charged each time an individual takes the certification examination is based on the cost of administering the examination. As announced in the Federal Register Notice dated May 31, 2017, an online proctored exam costs $60 and an in-person proctored exam costs $100. Any changes in pricing will be published in advance in the Federal Register.
Only HECM counselors who meet the eligibility criteria listed below may apply. An eligible HECM Counselor must:
Have passed HUD's HECM Counseling Exam. Register for HUD's HECM Counseling Exam. HECM Housing Counselors will also be required to successfully pass the HUD Certification Exam upon publication of the Final Rule.
Have successfully completed at least one training course related to HECM counseling within the past two years
Be employed by a HUD-approved housing counseling agency
If you are a new applicant, you must apply online by uploading the application and proof of your successful completion of the HECM training course(s) listed on your application in PDF format.
HUD's Office of Housing Counseling
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Certification Requirement…
Certification Requirement
Housing counseling required under or provided in connection with HUD programs must be provided only by certified housing counselors who work for organizations approved to participate in HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. 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.
Please visit the HUD Exchange to learn how to become a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency. For steps to certification visit the HUD Exchange website and view the HUD Certified Housing Counselor Application Process.
The fee charged each time an individual takes the certification examination is based on the cost of administering the examination. As announced in the Federal Register Notice dated May 31, 2017, an online proctored exam costs $60 and an in-person proctored exam costs $100. Any changes in pricing will be published in advance in the Federal Register.
Only HECM counselors who meet the eligibility criteria listed below may apply. An eligible HECM Counselor must:
If you are a new applicant, you must apply online by uploading the application and proof of your successful completion of the HECM training course(s) listed on your application in PDF format.
Sincerely,
TheHUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov Support Team