Tax Credit Specialist (TCS)

Tax Credit Specialist – the premier certification course of LIHTC professionals.

The most efficient way to become a Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credit professional

NCHM is setting the standard for training and certification in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) world with our Tax Credit Specialist (TCS) program.

Unlike programs offered by others, NCHM teaches, and it certifies! Don’t make the mistake of getting your training from one source and then having to take your certification exam from another!

Why put yourself through that?

TCS offers learners a thorough review of IRS regulations and guidance, including the IRS’s Guide for Completing Form 8823. The program also covers HUD Handbook 4350.3 guidance that pertains to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties.

If you are responsible for tax credit properties, whether you are a manager, compliance specialist, or other staff, TCS was designed to provide you with the best working knowledge of the tax credit program.

Please note: TCS is delivered entirely online. The TCS certification exam is also given online, and students have one week from the completion of the course to take the exam.

What you’ll learn:

  • An overview of the LIHTC program

Students will receive a thorough introduction to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program from background and history to a comprehensive review of a housing credit property’s life cycle, including the option of resyndication. Learn about the most current regulatory updates affecting the LIHTC program, such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization.

  • How to calculate assets and income

Compliance with occupancy requirements begins with the correct identification and calculation of income and assets. TCS reviews the guidelines set forth in HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 and includes numerous exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning and test proficiency in this critical area of property management.

  • How to determine eligibility

TCS goes in-depth on the other significant Section 42 eligibility requirements including such topics as the minimum set-aside and applicable fraction measurements; LIHTC income and rent limits; utility allowances; student eligibility; and leases. Housing Choice Voucher holders, non-citizens, and occupancy standards are also reviewed to provide a complete picture of household eligibility.

  • How to stay in compliance

Learn how to maintain eligibility through proper annual recertifications and constant vigilance concerning ongoing tenant eligibility and Fair Housing compliance. TCS reviews the nuts-and-bolts of the federal regulations layered with areas where the state agencies may choose to be more restrictive. It also offers practical tips and strategies for properly organizing tenant files, inspecting units, and successfully passing property audits without findings.

One Stop For Training and Certification

Everything you need to become a certified Tax Credit Specialist is in one spot – registration, training, testing, and certification. Getting trained, tested, and accredited as a Tax Credit Specialist (TCS) has never been easier when you work with NCHM.

For employers, your people will get the best training with the least amount of frustration – it’s business made simple. In this employment market, your candidates will get everything they need to get up to speed… and become valuable members of your team without training and testing bottlenecks.

It truly is “one and done”…done right.

You’ll get more with less:

  • Less time
  • Less hassle
  • Less confusion

All of NCHM’s courses are conducted live online. TCS is only 4 hours per day, Monday through Thursday*. The online exam needs to be completed within a week of the final day of class – you’ll get your results the Wednesday following the close of the exam window. That means that you’ll be trained, tested, and certified within fifteen days.

It is easier than ever to enroll, take the class, and get your questions answered – in real-time during the class.

This training is structured for optimal speed:

Only NCHM offers training with a course instructor and a teaching assistant on-hand to answer questions as you have them, during class, without interrupting the flow of the class.

When you have a question, you’ll get the answer – on the spot. No need to raise your hand… just send a message to the teaching assistant to get the answer in real-time. There is no learning gap at NCHM.

Speed is useless unless the process is done right – and nobody is better equipped to deliver the ultimate training experience than NCHM.

* To accommodate holidays, some sessions will have a start day of Tuesday.

Course Profile

wdt_IDFirst ColumnSecond Column
8Duration (Live Online)Four Days; 1PM-5PM Eastern Each Day
9Exam (Online)Includes online exam - one week to complete
10FormatLive Online Instruction from Lead Instructor and Teaching Assistant; Lecture, media presentation, group discussion
11PrerequisitesNone, Exposure to Sec. 42 LIHTC and HUD 4350.3 helpful
12AudienceLIHTC property managers, as well as others with an interest in, and need to know, LIHTC occupancy requirements.
13ProvidedCourse Materials Shipped Directly To You
14BringCalculator (required); pencil (required for in-class exam); highlighter, sticky notes (recommended)

Upcoming Courses

Looking to register 20 or more individuals?

Private Training by NCHM may be the answer.

For organizations looking to train 20+ employees at one time, NCHM offers Private Training administered by an NCHM expert instructor. These sessions can be delivered either online or in-person. Reach out today to see if Private Training is a good fit for your organization.