HECM Origination Counseling

Resources for HECM Counselors

HECM Counselor Eligibility Requirements

Only HECM counselors who meet the eligibility criteria listed below may apply. An eligible HECM Counselor must:

1. 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.
    
2. Have successfully completed at least one training course related to HECM counseling within the past two years
    
3. NOT be listed on the General Services Administration's Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), HUD's Limited Denial of Participation List (LDP), or HUD's Credit Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS)
    
4. 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.

Roster Application Overview

Please read these instructions in their entirety before taking any action.

1. Read the eligibility requirements.
    
2. Applications must be submitted online.
    
3. You must be able to fill-in and print the application from FHA Connection (FHAC), sign it, scan it and save it in PDF format. You must use a scanner that creates PDF files. Please be sure that you save all pages of the scanned and signed form into one file before uploading it. PDF is the only acceptable file format.
    
4. In addition to the application, you must submit proof to HUD that you successfully completed each education course listed on your application. Each certificate must be scanned to your computer and saved individually in separate PDF files.
    
5. You must include a valid email address in your application.
    
6. Now you may begin your application in FHA Connection.
    
7. Select HECM from the "Counselor Type" dropdown menu.
   
8. Enter your information.
    
9. Print the application.
    
10. Sign the printed application.
     
11. Scan all pages into one Portable Document Format (PDF) file.
     
12. Scan each HECM training certificate into separate PDF files.
     
13. Browse, select and attach certificate PDF files and application PDF file.
     
14. Click SEND.

NOTE: Faxed and/or mailed application will NOT be accepted.

How Applications are Processed

If your application clears all initial system edits:

1. A Success message will appear at the top of the Results page. The Accepted On field displays the date the application was accepted. You are not on the roster yet.
   
   Note: A counselor will not be officially placed on the Roster until:

   1. The application and credentials pass a full review by HUD staff.
       
   2. HUD staff approve the application to be on the roster.
       
   3. You inform the Application Coordinator at your agency that you have successfully submitted your application.
       
   4. The Application Coordinator successfully validates in the system – Please note: The Application Coordinator cannot validate your employment until HUD approve the application to be on the roster.
       
2. After the Application Coordinator has validated your employment, you may enter FHA Connection to establish a User ID.
    
3. You will receive an email when HUD completes its review of your application.
    
4. If you have not received an email from HUD regarding your application by 8:00 PM Eastern Time the following business day, send an email to housing.counseling@hud.gov with "Held Application for HECM Roster" in the subject line to inquire about the status of your application.

If your application does not clear all initial system edits:

1. A Warning message appears at the top of the Results page and the Application held for HUD review on field displays the date it was held.
    
2. You will receive an email when HUD completes its review of your application.
    
3. If after 7 days you have not received an email from HUD regarding your application, send an email to housing.counseling@hud.gov with "Held Application for HECM Roster" in the subject line to inquire about the status of your application.

Roster Application Coordinator Responsibilities

The purpose of the Application Coordinator is to certify the counselor's employment at the agency and to manage the data regarding the counselor's employment status in the future.

HUD-approved housing counseling agencies must designate at least one employee to act as Application Coordinator. This individual must be in a supervisory or management role at the agency. An agency can have a maximum of four Application Coordinators and at least two is recommended. The coordinator cannot be the same person in eLOCCS.

You must register in FHA Connection (FHAC) as the Application Coordinator for your agency. Upon completion of your registration, an email will be sent to the HCS Agency Contact Email Address by 8:00 PM the next business day.

The Registering to Use the FHA Connection page provides a link to the HECM Housing Counselor Registration form.

Certifying HECM Counselors' Employment

1. Go to FHA Connection.
    
2. Click:
   • Single Family FHA
   • Single Family Origination
   • HECM Counseling Functions
   • HECM Counselor Roster.
   Now you should see fields for name, state, roster status, and Validated by Agency.
    
3. Enter the counselor's last name and select NO under Validated by agency, then click the Send button. You don't need to change any of the other fields. You should now see the counselor's name or a list if there is more than one with that last name.
    
4. Click the counselor's name to see their record.
    
5. Down at the bottom is where you check a box to validate their employment. Click Send. That counselor's name will now appear on the HECM roster available to the public.

Other Application Coordinator Functions

1. Maintaining the employment records of counselors employed by the agency
    
2. Maintaining the FHA Connection user IDs of counselors and other Application Coordinators employed by the agency
    
3. Viewing Certificates of HECM Counseling, form HUD-92902 produced by counselors employed by the agency.

FHAC User ID

All HECM Roster Counselors must establish an FHA Connection (FHAC) User ID.

If applying only as a counselor, complete the Roster application first and be accepted by HUD and then apply for a User ID after your application has been approved by HUD.

If applying only as a coordinator, just apply for FHAC User ID.

If applying to be both a coordinator and counselor, you must complete the Roster application first and be accepted by HUD.

After submitting your application, you can request an FHAC User ID:

1. Go to the FHA Connection: https://entp.hud.gov/clas/.
    
2. In the Getting Started section, click Registering a New User.
    
3. Under Type of User find FHA HECM Housing Counselors and Counseling Agency Application Coordinators, click on FHA HECM Housing Counseling.
    
4. Fill out the HECM Housing Counselor Registration page.
    
5. If you are registering (1) only as counselor or(2) as a coordinator and counselor, click "Are you registering as a member of the FHA HECM Counslor Roster."
    
6. If you are registering (3) only as agency coordinator, click "Are you registering as an FHA Connection Application Coordinator for the HECM housing counseling agency that employs you?" and enter HCS ID fo that agency.
    
7. Click SEND.
    
8. Remember your password, you will need it to sign in on the FHA Connection.

If your email address in your record is correct, the HCS Agency Contact Email Address will be sent an email by 8:00 PM Eastern Time the following business day.

Keep you login information in a safe place because you will need your User ID and Password each time you access the FHAC to update your own roster information as well as to recertify in the future and to enter proof of your continuing education. You will need your ID and password to access the FHAC to produce HECM certificates for your clients and to input basic session information FHA requires that your password be changed every 90 days.

Updating and Maintaining Counselor Information

Update and Maintain Information

Active status counselors on the HECM Counselor Roster maintain their own information on the FHA Connection, including the addition of a completed HECM training course.

1. Log on to the FHA Connection and select the HECM Counselor Roster option on the HECM Counseling Functions menu. The HECM Counselor Roster Update/Renewal page is displayed with the counselor's information.

2. Update and add information on the HECM Counselor Update/Renewal page. Information is required in every field except Middle Initial, Suffix, Business Name, and Fax Number. Information must be reentered in the following two fields each time the HECM Counselor Update/Renewal page is processed: Confirm E-mail, to confirm the counselor's email address and I agree and certify to these terms, to agree to the terms of the HECM Counselor Certification.

3. Up to three HECM training courses, completed within the past two years, can be entered in the Training Information section of the HECM Counselor Update/Renewal page (Training #1, Training #2, and Training #3). Information on the newly completed course is entered in the Training #2 or #3 box. If there are already entries for Training #1, #2, and #3, Adding new training is selected from the drop-down list in the Reason for change field in the Training #1 box. Then, the information in the Training #1 box is replaced. The original information in the Training #1 box is retained and can be viewed through a View training history link that is displayed the next time HECM Counselor Roster Update/Renewal is accessed.

4. The training certificate for the completed HECM course being added must be scanned into a PDF file and subsequently uploaded.

5. To update information on a completed HECM training course, the counselor selects Updating existing training from the drop-down list in the Reason for change field for Training #1, Training #2, and/or Training #3. Then, the necessary changes are made.

6. When the HECM Counselor Roster Update/Renewal page is completed, the same system edits when applying for the roster are done. The counselor is automatically checked for a record in CAIVRS, LDP, and EPLS.

   • If a record is found in CAIVRS, the counselor is automatically terminated.

   • If a possible record is found in LDP or EPLS, the update/renewal is held for HUD review.

Note: If the counselor is also an Application Coordinator, the HECM Counselor Roster Coordinator Maintenance page is displayed rather than HECM Counselor Roster Update/Renewal page. The HECM Counselor Roster Coordinator Maintenance page allows data entry for the Application Coordinator's own record.

End the Employment of a Counselor on the Roster

The Application Coordinator signs into FHAC to end a counselor’s employment with their agency.

1. Click on Single Family FHA button.
2. Click on Single Family Origination on screen titled "Single Family Business Areas."
3. Click on HECM Counselor Functions on screen titled "Single Family Origination."
4. Hit HECM Counselor Roster link on screen titled "HECM Counselor Functions."
5. Enter person's name on HECM Counselor Roster screen, hit send.
6. Click on person's name on HECM Counselor List screen.
7. Counselor's profile comes up on HECM Counselor Roster Maintenance screen.
8. The next page is HECM Counselor Roster Coordinator Maintenance. Scroll down to the bottom to the block titled "HECM Counselor Information". Insert counselor's termination date in the blocks titled "End Date".
9. Hit send and the person’s employment will be ended on the roster.

Issue HECM Certificate

To issue a HECM Certificate in FHA Connection:

1. Click Single Family FHA.
    
2. Click Single Family Origination.
    
3. Click HECM Counseling Functions.
    
4. Click HECM Counseling Certificate.
    
5. Enter name of client and click Send. The system is set up to check to see if there is an existing certificate for the client issued by your agency. If there is already a certificate, then the certificate data entry page will pop up.
    
6. If no certificate has been issued yet for that client, an error message pops up. Below the error message are the same search fields. Look below that and scroll down to where it says "Click to Establish Certificate". Click on "Establish Certificate."
    
7. Fill in the client's information. At the end of the page click Send.
    
8. The next page will show the client's info that you entered. If everything looks right, then at the bottom of that page, click the button labeled "Generate Certificate." This will create the actual PDF of the certificate that you will print and issue to the client.

HECM Counselor Biennial Continuing Education Requirements

HECM Roster Counselors

In order to remain active on the HECM Counselor Roster, counselors must successfully complete HECM-related continuing education units (CEUs) every two years and provide proof to HUD by following the instructions at Updating and Maintaining Counselor Information. Additionally, as of the final compliance date of the Housing Counseling New Certification Requirements Final Rule, all HECM roster counselors must have passed the HUD Housing Counselor Certification exam and met all requirements to be HUD certified housing counselors in order to remain active on the HECM Counselor Roster.

HECM counselors seeking to meet this continuing education requirement may utilize any of the HUD-approved courses listed in the HECM Continuing Education Course List below. Counselors may also use HECM-related courses provided by one of the Office of Housing Counseling’s training partners, even if not listed below. Counselors are permitted to re-take an already successfully completed course in a later two-year period in order to meet the continuing education requirement for that period.

HECM counselors are responsible for contacting the course provider directly for availability, registration, and fees.

HECM counselors who want to use courses not on the HECM Continuing Education Course List toward their CEU requirement should work with the course providers to ensure these courses are approved by HUD prior to submitting their renewal applications. HUD may reject HECM Roster renewal applications from counselors who include courses that are not approved by HUD.

Course Providers

If a housing counseling agency or other entity wishes to provide HECM training to assist counselors in meeting their CEU requirements, the course provider must submit the course to HUD for review and inclusion in the HECM Continuing Education Course List.

The course must cover material directly related to HECM counseling, HECM origination, or HECM servicing and loss mitigation.

Course providers must submit the following to the Office of Housing Counseling at housing.counseling@hud.gov with the subject line “HECM CEU Course Review Request”

• Name of provider
• Course outline and curriculum, clearly demonstrating how the course is related to HECMs
• Resume of course instructor
• Method of course delivery: in-person, online (self-guided), interactive webinar, or another format
• All course material prospective students will be using
• Methodology for confirming attendance for the entire course
• Knowledge checks and testing
• Sample course completion certificate that includes a line for the instructor’s signature
• Fee structure and if scholarships are available

HECM Continuing Education Course List

Courses provided by one of the Office of Housing Counseling’s training partners, even if not listed below, may be acceptable for meeting the HECM continuing education requirement. However, all providers should note that courses must still be submitted to and approved by OHC.

Vendor	Course Name	Delivery Method
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)	8 Hour SAFE Course	Online
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)	HECM & Ethics	Online
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)	HECM Regulatory Updates	Online
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)	HECM for Purchase	Online
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)	HECM Math	Online
NeighborWorks	HO111 Home Equity Conversion Mortgages	Online
NeighborWorks	HO209b-rq Delivering Effective Financial Education for Today's Consumers	Online
NeighborWorks	HO270 Senior Services for Housing Counselors	Online
NeighborWorks	HO275 Intermediate HECM Counseling: Skills and Tools	Online
NeighborWorks	HO310 Financial Coaching: Helping Clients Reach Their Goals	Online
NeighborWorks	HO365vc Advanced Topics in HECM Counseling	Online
NeighborWorks	HO102el Mortgage Lending Fundamentals for Homeownership Professionals	Online
NeighborWorks	HO104el HECM: Counseling Basics Overview	Online
NeighborWorks	HO130el Understanding Credit Reports and Credit Scoring	Online
NeighborWorks	HO180el Engaging Older Adults in Financial Capability Programs	Online
NeighborWorks	HO009WT HECM and the Non-Borrower Spouse: What Counselors Need to Know	Online
NeighborWorks	HO011WT Maximizing the Effectiveness of Telephone Counseling with HECM Clients	Online
NeighborWorks	HO013WT Explaining the Basics of the Financial Assessment to Your HECM Clients	Online
NeighborWorks	HO014WT HECM to HECM Refinance Counseling	Online
NeighborWorks	HO016WT HECM Default and Foreclosure	Online
NeighborWorks	HO022WT Introduction to HUD's HECM Counseling Procedures and Roster	Online
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)	Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Default Counseling Overview	Online
UnidosUS	HECM Counseling	Online

View NRMLA’s list of other Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP) courses from Allegiant Reverse Services, Finance of America Reverse, Liberty Home Equity Solutions, Premier Reverse Closings, and Reverse Mortgage Funding.

Reverse Mortgage Cautions

HUD Office Inspector General Bulletin: Reverse Mortgage Financing – November 30, 2015

HUD Office Inspector General Bulletin: How Housing Counselors Can Help Fight Loan Modification Scams – June 27, 2013

HUD Office Inspector General Bulletin: Reverse Mortgage Schemes - April 10, 2013

Improvement to Reverse Mortgage Analyst Software: 10 Question Tracking Feature 12/03/15

HECM Counseling Fees 06/02/15

HECM Counseling Certificate HUD-92902 - May 7, 2014

Use of Electronic Signatures for Counseling Certificates - February 28, 2014

Counseling of Potential Reverse Mortgage Counseling Clients' Non-Borrower Spouse - September 9, 2013

FHA-Approved Reverse Mortgage Lenders and Conflicts-of-Interest Behavior with HUD-Approved HECM Counseling Agencies and Other Related Concerns - February 4, 2013

HECM Counseling Protocol Compliance - January 29, 2013

California: Face-to-Face Counseling

Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Information

Counseling: Avoid Reverse Mortgage Missteps

HUD Intermediaries Providing HECM Origination Counseling Nationwide

Increasing demand for HUD's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) product by senior citizens has put pressure on the counseling industry to meet the demand for the required counseling. To make sufficient quality HECM counseling available, HECM counselors from the below agencies are permitted to provide face-to-face and telephone counseling nationally. Please contact them to obtain HECM origination counseling.

Agency Name and Website	Telephone
ClearPoint Financial Solutions	(800) 251-2227
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland (CCCSMD)	(800) 642-2227
Credit.org	(800) 947-3752
Greenpath	(888) 860-4167
Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (HOPE)	(844) 432-6467
Money Management International	(877) 908-2227
National Foundation for Credit Counseling	(866) 698-6322
Navicore Solutions	(866) 855-7736

HUD Intermediaries Providing HECM Default Counseling Nationwide

In some instances, clients have defaulted on their HECM mortgage. Counselors from the below agencies are permitted to provide HECM default counseling. Please contact them to obtain HECM default counseling. The agencies listed below provide HECM default counseling on a nationwide basis, but, there may be other HUD participating Local Housing Counseling Agencies (LHCAs) not listed providing the same services. Clients should inquire directly with their local LHCA to determine if they provide this type of counseling.

Agency Name and Website	Telephone
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland (CCCSMD)	(800) 642-2227
Greenpath	(888) 860-4167
Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (HOPE)	(844) 432-6467
Money Management International	(877) 908-2227
National Foundation for Credit Counseling	(866) 698-6322