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Housing Counseling Process Evaluation and Design of ... - HUD User

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Exhibit 4-6.<br />

National Certifications for <strong>Housing</strong> Counselors <strong>and</strong> Educators<br />

Certifying Organization<br />

NeighborWorks® Center for<br />

Homeownership Education<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>Counseling</strong> (NCHEC)<br />

Association for Financial<br />

<strong>Counseling</strong> <strong>and</strong> Planning<br />

Education (AFCPE)<br />

National Foundation for<br />

Credit <strong>Counseling</strong> (NFCC)<br />

National Association <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Housing</strong> Counselors <strong>and</strong><br />

Agencies (NAHCA)<br />

National Federation <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Housing</strong> Counselors<br />

Certification(s)<br />

• Certificate in Homeownership Education<br />

• Certificate in Homeownership <strong>Counseling</strong><br />

• Certificate in Post-purchase Homeownership Education<br />

• Certificate in Foreclosure Intervention <strong>Counseling</strong><br />

• Accredited Financial Counselor<br />

• Certified <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor<br />

• Accredited Credit Counselor<br />

• Certified Consumer Credit Counselor<br />

• Certified Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Comprehensive <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor<br />

• Certified Pr<strong>of</strong>essional <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor Specializing in<br />

Tenancy<br />

• Certified Pr<strong>of</strong>essional <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor Specializing in Home<br />

Ownership<br />

• Certified <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor Administrator<br />

• Certified <strong>Housing</strong> Counselor<br />

<strong>HUD</strong>/AARP Foundation • HECM Counselor Exam<br />

Source: Compiled by Abt Associates research team.<br />

Almost all <strong>HUD</strong>-funded intermediaries <strong>and</strong> SHFAs interviewed report that they <strong>of</strong>fer some type <strong>of</strong><br />

training to their housing counseling affiliates. Many organizations <strong>of</strong>fer the training in-house, but it is<br />

also common to pay for affiliated counselors to attend training provided by NeighborWorks®<br />

America. Training opportunities through intermediaries <strong>and</strong> SHFAs are usually annual <strong>and</strong> provided<br />

to affiliates free or charge, although some intermediaries <strong>and</strong> SHFAs only <strong>of</strong>fer training for new<br />

affiliates or new counselors.<br />

In addition to training, most <strong>of</strong> the intermediaries <strong>and</strong> SHFAs interviewed report that they provide<br />

technical assistance to affiliates as needed. Most <strong>of</strong>ten, this assistance relates to data tracking <strong>and</strong><br />

reporting or compliance with the terms <strong>of</strong> the grant, but some organizations also provide technical<br />

assistance on goal-setting, performance measurement, <strong>and</strong> in response to unusual circumstances, such<br />

as Hurricane Katrina. Technical assistance related to data tracking <strong>and</strong> reporting <strong>of</strong>ten focuses on the<br />

implementation <strong>of</strong> client management systems, a recent requirement for <strong>HUD</strong> housing counseling<br />

grantees discussed in Chapter 7.<br />

Service St<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> Curriculum<br />

About three-quarters <strong>of</strong> the agencies surveyed report that they follow the service st<strong>and</strong>ards or<br />

curriculum <strong>of</strong> an affiliated organization. As shown in Exhibit 4-7, 39 percent <strong>of</strong> agencies follow<br />

NeighborWorks® service st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> curriculum, 41 percent follow the service st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong><br />

curriculum <strong>of</strong> other housing counseling intermediaries, 37 percent follow st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> curriculum<br />

Chapter 4. Intermediaries <strong>and</strong> State <strong>Housing</strong> Finance Agencies 53

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