About the Professional Certificate Program
Proficiency in Affordable Housing
Earning a Professional Certificate
Certificate Program Courses
- Housing Development Manager Certificate
- Tax Credit Specialist Certificate
Download Enrollment Form [PDF]
Earn Graduate
Credits
Healthy communities include housing options that meet the range
of incomes and assets of its residents and workers. All too
often, affordable housing is not available or deteriorates from
disinvestment and neglect. The shortage of safe, sustainable
affordable housing has been a national issue for many decades
with the problem reaching all-time highs in the 1990s as wages
lagged well behind the costs of housing. Today, the challenge
for quality, affordable housing continues.
This challenge requires confident analysis in building where
the market has been unable to meet the demand. It also requires
knowing how to use public and private resources. The affordable
housing dilemma in America demands skill sets in development,
finance and project funding.
NeighborWorks America's training division
has designed a curriculum to teach these skills in a focused,
practical manner and is offered as part of the Professional Certificate Program. Participants
who successfully earn the professional certificate will have
gained a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in the complexities
of affordable housing.
About the Professional Certificate Program
Education with Results
The NeighborWorks Training Institute is proud to present two new certificate offerings in Affordable Housing. These new certificates are designed to parallel existing jobs in the non-profit housing development industry.
Provides Candidates with Job Specific Certificate Opportunities
If you are an experienced housing developer or tax credit specialist you can now obtain a certificate that will reflect your skills while at the same time adding to your knowledge of your profession. If you are new to the industry, or just want to expand your skills into a new area of construction, the required certificate courses can help you gain the essential knowledge to enter that trade.
These certificate programs were developed, along with certificate courses, by the faculty of the NeighborWorks Training Institute; instructors with expertise in the various fields of project feasibility analysis, financing, tax credit equity and development.
As a result of this development process, the faculty thought it would be best to establish two new certificates within and under the Affordable Housing Professional Certificate Program umbrella:
- Housing Development Manager
- Tax Credit Specialist
Both of the certificates include a series of required courses designated for a certificate in that discipline. These individual certificates are all under the Affordable Housing Professional Certificate Program, assuring ongoing quality in content and instruction.
There will continue to be a certificate opportunity for a general certificate in Affordable Housing for those who want a more general focus in this area of study. Participants can also petition to design their own general certification study in consultation with the staff of the Affordable Housing Professional Certificate Program.
Candidates
The program courses are designed to educate individuals seeking a basic comprehensive overview of the major components that affect affordable housing. This program would be particularly appropriate for:
- Nonprofit affordable housing developers; For-profit affordable housing developers;
- Local and federal government housing representatives;
- Representatives of community development organizations, community-based organizations, and community housing development organizations; and
- Persons engaged in the creation, funding, development, and preservation of affordable housing throughout the country.
To enroll in the Professional Certificate Program for Affordable Housing, complete and submit an enrollment form. For questions, please call (800) 438-5547 or (202) 220-2454 or e-mail nti@nw.org.
Proficiency in Affordable Housing
Participants earning their professional certificate will take
a combination of required and elective courses leading to:
-
Comprehensive understanding of the importance
of affordable housing and its role in the successful development
of sustainable communities;
-
Application of current theory and best practices
in the affordable housing industry;
-
Project planning including an analysis of
financial feasibility;
-
Familiarity with public and private resources
available to assist affordable housing; and
-
Knowledge of real estate finance and how to
structure deals.
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Earning a Professional Certificate
Professional Certificates in Affordable Housing will be awarded
to individuals who successfully complete the required and elective
courses, pass the test for each required course, if applicable,
and the comprehensive exam at the end of all coursework
within four years of application to the Professional Certificate Program. It
is possible to complete all program requirements
in as few as three institutes and, with prior approval by training
division staff, candidates may receive credit for relevant courses
taken no more than two years prior to enrollment in the program.
Program courses are open to all training institute
participants, but in order to be eligible for the professional
certificate, candidates must formally enroll in the Professional Certificate Program by submitting an enrollment
form.
Program participants have the option of taking required
course tests online rather than on paper. Learn
more about online testing for Professional Certificate Program courses.
Housing Development Manager Certificate:
It is recommended that courses be taken in the prescribed order, however this is not required. Once the above courses have been successfully completed, the final step toward completion of the certificate requirements is a comprehensive final examination.
Tax Credit Specialist Certificate:
It is recommended that courses be taken in the prescribed order, however this is not required. Once the above courses have been successfully completed, the final step toward completion of the certificate requirements is a comprehensive final examination.
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