Certification & Training

Certified Specialist of HCV Homeownership (CSHO)

NAHRO’s Certified Specialist of HCV Homeownership (CSHO) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for:

  • Effectively implementing a HCV Homeownership Program.
  • Accurately verifying income and expenses, determining eligibility, and calculating assistance.
  • Understanding best practices to integrate FSS and procedures.

How do I get the NAHRO Certified Specialist of HCV Homeownership (CSHO)?

NAHRO has two paths to becoming Certified! Please refer to the chart below to determine the path that works best for you. 

Your Path to Become NAHRO Certified Specialist of Home Ownership (CSHO) Flow Chart There are two paths to become NAHRO CSHO Certified. Path 1: If you do not have five or more years of experience working in a Housing Choice Voucher Program, you are required to take either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Training. This path also requires you to receive a passing score on either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam, take NAHRO Ethics for Housing Professionals or Ethics for Management Training, and Complete the CSEC-HCV Certification Application. Path 2: If you have five or more years of experience working in a Housing Choice Voucher Program, you may forgo the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training and the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Training. This path still requires you to receive a passing score on either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam, take NAHRO Ethics for Housing Professionals or Ethics for Management Training, and Complete the CSEC-HCV Certification Application.

Certification Requirements

Education & ExperienceHigh School Diploma or Equivalent AND 6 months of experience 
OR Associates degree and above (6 years of experience not required)
Specialist TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Training 
Ethics TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals
OR Ethics for Management Training 
ExamPassing score on NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Certification Exam  
ApplicationSubmission of Certification Application 

Requirement to waive the management training and sit for the exam:

To waive the specialist training requirement, participants must have five (5) or more years of experience with an HCV Program (e.g., as HCV program staff and or supervisor/manager) and demonstrated knowledge in all the following:

  • Planning/directing operations of a major low-income rental assistance housing program.
  • Experience performing analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of procedures used to ensure compliance with HUD rules and ordinances.
  • Basic budgetary and accounting methods as they relate to funding sources, allocation processes and grant development writing.

NOTE: Individuals waiving the specialist training still have the following requirements: 

Education & ExperienceHigh School Diploma or Equivalent
Ethics TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals
OR Ethics for Management Training
ExamPassing score on NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Certification Exam 
ApplicationSubmission of Certification Application 

If you are unsure if you are eligible to waive the specialist training requirement, please email professionaldevelopment@nahro.org or call 202-580-7211.

All applicants must understand the importance of, and agree to adhere to, NAHRO’s Professional Code of Conduct. 

certification APPLICATION

Recertification:

0.5 NAHRO CEUs (5 training hours) required every 3 years from date of certification.

RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION

For further information regarding NAHRO Certification, contact:

professionaldevelopment@nahro.org

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A LISTING OF PERSONS NAHRO CERTIFIED