Certification & Training

Certified Specialist of Occupancy – Public Housing (CSO-PH)

NAHRO’s Certified Specialist of Occupancy – Public Housing (CSO-PH) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for:

  • Understanding the tasks and processes associated with the public housing occupancy cycle.
  • Effective interviewing and screening.
  • Maintaining waitlists.
  • Evaluating eligibility and income.
  • Calculating rents and utility allowances.
  • Understanding lease and grievance procedures.

How do I get the NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy – Public Housing (CSO-PH)?

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

Certification Requirements

Education & ExperienceHigh School Diploma or Equivalent AND 6 months of experience 
OR Associates degree and above (Six months of experience not required)
Specialist TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Public Housing Occupancy
OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training 
Ethics TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals
OR Ethics for Management Training 
ExamPassing score on NAHRO’s Public Housing Occupancy
OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income, and Rent Calculation Certification Exam 
APPLICATION  Submission 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 working in a public housing setting (e.g., Case/Asset/Property Managers) and demonstrated knowledge in all the following: 

  • Public Housing regulations, statutes, policies, and procedures relating to admissions and initial occupancy.
  • Rules and regulations relating to grievances and informal reviews, preferences, and the Violence Against Women Act.
  • An understanding of how PH occupancy rates affect agency funding and indicators of the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS).

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 Public Housing Occupancy
OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation 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 202-589-7211

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

Recertification: 

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

For further information regarding NAHRO Certification, contact:

professionaldevelopment@nahro.org