Foreclosure Counselor Certification
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development doesn't certify foreclosure counselors but it does approve housing counseling agencies that offer free foreclosure counseling, often as a condition of federal foreclosure assistance programs. Several national housing organizations do offer training programs and certification for experienced counselors.
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Certification Programs
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NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) and the National Council of La Raza Homeownership Network Learning Alliance (NHNLA) offer certification for foreclosure counselors, after applicants complete a training program. Most require previous experience in homeownership counseling. These programs have been developed in collaboration with HUD, lenders and other homeownership counseling organizations and some programs are only open to staff of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
Certification Training
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In order to be eligible for certification, NHNLA requires you to take a four-day course and pass the related exam with a score of at least 85. NCHEC certification requires you to take a five-day course and score at least 80 percent on the related exam, and then take a further elective two-day course. All courses address the mortgage market, counseling techniques and "crisis budgeting" strategies through discussions and case studies.
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Eligibility Requirements for Certification
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Both certification programs require a formal application; a signed commitment to uphold the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling; and significant housing counseling experience, though they differ in how to document this experience. NCHEC requires applicants to pass an online test with a score of at least 75 percent in order to register for the main required course. NHNLA requires a letter from a housing counseling agency manager or director certifying that the applicant has worked at the agency for at least six months or counseled at least 30 people in the last twelve months.
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References
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Counselors
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Talk to a Housing Counselor
- Making Home Affordable: Borrower Frequently Asked Questions
- NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling: Foreclosure Counseling Training
- NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling: NCHEC/HUD Homeownership Counseling Training
Resources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling
- Making Home Affordable
- NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling: Certification Details
- NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling: Foreclosure Counselor Certification Application
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