Certified Occupancy Specialist

The Professional “Go-to” – It’s the most widely recognized certification for HUD occupancy

With changes coming virtually every year, keeping up with these HUD-mandated adjustments makes this course, and your certification, more valuable than ever. To be considered a true housing professional in this changing environment, NCHM’s Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) accreditation is a must.

Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) is a comprehensive study of HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing guidelines and regulations set forth in HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 and subsequent notices, including rent calculation, eligibility, verification, recertification, tenant screening, and Fair Housing.

Congress and HUD’s efforts to transform the affordable housing industry have resulted in a myriad of new rules, regulations, and standards.

NCHM’s COS, the most widely-sought HUD certification in the affordable housing industry, is the definitive training for compliance at properties subject to HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1.

Please note: COS is delivered entirely online. The COS 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:

• Core occupancy requirements, including eligibility and tenant selection; 504/Fair Housing; assets and income determination and calculation; deductions and adjusted income; verification methods including EIV; and requirements for annual and interim recertifications.
• How to navigate the HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1, Change 4, and applicable notices.

NCHM’s COS Course Manual includes a complete copy of the HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 and relevant additional notices and guidance already in effect but not yet integrated into the HUD Handbook.

One Stop For Training and Certification

Everything you need to become a Certified Occupancy Specialist is in one spot – registration, training, testing, and certification. Getting trained, tested, and accredited as a Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) 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. COS 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.

Upcoming Courses