Certified Specialist of Inspection Uniform Physical Condition Standards (CSI-UPCS)
NAHRO’s Certified Specialist of Inspection Uniform Physical Condition Standards (CSI-UPCS) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for
- Understanding inspector’s roles and responsibilities.
- Inspecting public housing sites and dwelling units.
- Determining how proper inspection work skills can increase a housing agency’s capacity to meet its mission to provide safe housing.
- Identifing the relationship between UPCS, PASS, and PHAS and how they changed with the implementation of the Asset Management Model.
- Applying UPCS procedures.
- Completing inspection forms.
- Evaluating and improving their agency’s current inspection procedures, including indentifying
- strengths
- weaknesses
- growth potential
- goals
- problem solving
How do I get the NAHRO Certified Specialist of Inspection Uniform Physical Condition Standards (CSI-UPCS)?
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 & Experience | High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 6 months of experience OR Associates degree and above (without the 6 months of experience) |
| Specialist Training | Completion of NAHRO’s Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) Training |
| Ethics Training | Completion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals OR Ethics for Management Training |
| Exam | Passing score on NAHRO’s Uniform Physical Standards (UPCS) 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 the maintenance or inspection of public housing units at a government or nationally recognized agency (e.g., Property Manager, Inspector, Maintenance Supervisor) and demonstrated knowledge in all the following:
- Conducting annual inspection overviews (physical inspection timetable, contractors, preparing for the inspection and the inspection itself)
- Inspection skills and their overall impact on the agency mission
- Familiarity with the standard Inspection form and protocol
- Completion of 25 inspections (commercial real estate or residential), including but not limited to site, building exteriors, interiors, building systems, and inside individual dwellings
- The methodologies necessary to improve HA/AMP physical PHAS score
NOTE: Individuals waiving the specialist training still have the following requirements:
| Education & Experience | High School Diploma or Equivalent |
| Ethics Training | Completion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals OR Ethics for Management Training |
| Exam | Passing score on NAHRO’s Uniform Physical Standards (UPCS) Certification Exam |
| Application | Submission 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: