Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS)

Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) is the most widely-sought certification in the HUD affordable housing industry and has been the gold standard since 1981. The COS training 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. The training program prepares students for the certification exam, which is administered immediately after the instruction when comprehension is the highest. Beginning in 2020, COS will be available online as well as in the classroom.