Housing Counselor Certification

Overview

In December 2016, HUD published the Housing Counseling New Certification Requirements Final Rule. The Final Rule implements statutory requirements that housing counseling required under or provided in connection with all HUD programs must be provided by HUD Certified Housing Counselors by August 1, 2020.

The standards will apply to all housing counseling programs required by HUD, or provided in connection with any program of HUD. Housing counselor certification is a statutory requirement that will:

• Improve the quality and increase the visibility of housing counseling so that it is no longer a “best kept secret”
• Create a body of knowledgeable housing counselors which will lead to better identification of housing issues, more knowledgeable referrals and resolution of barriers, and a greater ability to recognize and avoid scams and discrimination
• Reduce the fraud often seen in foreclosure prevention and real estate programs, such as scams and predatory lending

The pages below provide more information about HUD's housing counseling certification final rule, exam, covered programs, success stories, and best practices.