Certification & Training

NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Housing Choice Vouchers (CSO-HCV)

NAHRO’s NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Housing Choice Vouchers (CSO-HCV) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for:

  • Understanding the housing choice voucher occupancy cycle.

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How do I become a NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy-Housing Choice Vouchers (CSO-HCV)?

NAHRO has two paths to becoming Certified! Please refer to the chart below to determine the path that works best for you. 

Your Path to Become NAHRO Certified Specialist of Eligibility and Calculation - Housing Choice Vouchers (CSEC-HCV) Flow Chart There are two paths to become NAHRO CSEC-HCV Certified. Path 1: If you do not have five or more years of experience working in a Housing Choice Voucher Program, you are required to take either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Training. This path also requires you to receive a passing score on either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam, take NAHRO Ethics for Housing Professionals or Ethics for Management Training, and Complete the CSEC-HCV Certification Application. Path 2: If you have five or more years of experience working in a Housing Choice Voucher Program, you may forgo the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training and the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Training. This path still requires you to receive a passing score on either the NAHRO Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam or the NAHRO Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam, take NAHRO Ethics for Housing Professionals or Ethics for Management Training, and Complete the CSEC-HCV Certification Application.

Certification Requirements

Education & ExperienceHigh School Diploma or Equivalent AND 6 months of experience 
OR Associates degree and above (6 months of experience not required) 
Specialist TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy OR Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Training 
Ethics TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals OR Ethics for Management Training  
ExamPassing score on NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy OR Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam 
ApplicationSubmission of Certification Application 

Requirement to waive the specialist training and sit for the exam: 

To waive the specialist training requirement, participants must have five (5) or more years of experience in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (or as a case manager or supervisor for waitlists) and demonstrated knowledge in all the following:  

  • Determining eligibility for occupancy or program admission utilizing income limits, requirements, and additional criteria.
  • Monitoring program participants or residents for continued compliance.
  • Processing recertification for continued eligibility for program participation or occupancy.
  • Processing or monitoring program exit or residency termination.

NOTE: Individuals waiving the management training still have the following requirements:

Education & ExperienceHigh School Diploma or Equivalent
Ethics TrainingCompletion of NAHRO’s Ethics for Housing Professionals OR Ethics for Management Training  
ExamPassing score on NAHRO’s Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy OR Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent Calculation Certification Exam 
ApplicationSubmission 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. 

DOWNLOAD CSo-hcv APPLICATION

Recertification:

0.5 NAHRO CEUs (5 training hours) are required every 3 years from date of certification.

DOWNLOAD RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION

For further information regarding NAHRO Certification, contact:

professionaldevelopment@nahro.org

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A LISTING OF PERSONS NAHRO CERTIFIED