Subject: Inquiry: Certification Process for HUD Housing Counseling Agency in PA
Dear HUD Housing Counselors Support Team,
I hope this message finds you well.
I am reaching out on behalf of my non-profit organization, and we are interested in becoming a HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—more specifically, in the City of Philadelphia and the four surrounding counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery).
We would greatly appreciate any guidance or resources you can provide regarding the certification process, eligibility requirements, and timelines. Additionally, if there are any upcoming informational sessions, technical assistance opportunities, or contacts specific to our region, we would welcome that information as well.
Thank you in advance for your time and support. I look forward to your response and the opportunity to serve our communities more effectively through HUD's housing counseling programs.
Warm regards,
Mickel L. Mercer Sr.
Chief Operating Officer
Vism Empowerment Alliance
email
Mickell@vismfc.com
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HUD's Office of Housing Counseling
Comments
Dear Mickel, In order to…
Dear Mickel,
In order to become a HUD certified housing counselor, an individual must have passed the HUD Housing Counselor Certification Examination and work for a HUD Housing Counseling Program Participating Agency. An individual is not considered certified until they are employed by an agency. As an individual you can seek employment from the agency of your choice. A list of HUD participating agencies can be found here. You can search by the state or zip code you are located in.
To access the exam registration, you must be signed into your account on HUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov.
Select Begin Exam Registration in the Countdown to your Exam! section of your User Profile Dashboard. Follow the steps to register for the exam and complete the form at the bottom of the page.
If you are attempting to register using your mobile phone or tablet, you may not be able to complete your transaction. Please use a computer to register.
Please note, the links listed in the instructions are for informational purposes only. If you click on a link, it will open a separate page that is not part of the registration process. You must return to the registration page to continue.
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.
Compliance
See Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements Final Rule on the HUD Exchange for more information. On August 5, 2020, HUD published an Interim Final Rule on the Federal Register website to announce a delay in the deadline for housing counselors to become HUD certified. The new final compliance date was August 1, 2021.
Review Managing Certification After the Final Compliance Date and HUD Exchange FAQs related to compliance for more information.
Retakes
There is no limit on retakes for the Certification Exam. However, each retake must be purchased at the stated exam fee. You can take the Certification Exam as many times as necessary to achieve a passing score. If you receive a notice about maximum attempts, please call 210-489-1461. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time Monday–Friday except Federal holidays.
Sincerely,
The HUDhousingcounselors.hud.gov Support Team