Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Public Housing (CSO-PH)
NAHRO’s Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Public Housing (CSO-PH) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for:
- Understanding the tasks and processes associated with the public housing occupancy cycle.
- Effective interviewing and screening.
- Maintaining waitlists.
- Evaluating eligibility and income.
- Calculating rents and utility allowances.
- Understanding lease and grievance procedures.
How do I get the NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Public Housing (CSO-PH)?
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 (Six months of experience not required) |
| Specialist Training | Completion of NAHRO’s Public Housing Occupancy OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training |
| Ethics Training | Completion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals OR Ethics for Management Training |
| Exam | Passing score on NAHRO’s Public Housing Occupancy OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income, and Rent Calculation 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 a public housing setting (e.g., Case/Asset/Property Managers) and demonstrated knowledge in all the following:
- Public Housing regulations, statutes, policies, and procedures relating to admissions and initial occupancy.
- Rules and regulations relating to grievances and informal reviews, preferences, and the Violence Against Women Act.
- An understanding of how PH occupancy rates affect agency funding and indicators of the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS).
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 Public Housing Occupancy OR Public Housing Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation 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: