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 Housing
Credit Certified Professional
The HCCP credential is the only nationally
endorsed program for Low-Income Tax Credit professionals.
PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION
Housing
Credit Certification is a professional certification program
that sets professional competency standards for housing
credit professionals involved in developing, investing
in, allocating and managing housing credit properties.
The Credential is awarded by the Board of
Governors of the Housing Credit Certification Board under
the auspices of the National
Association of Home Builders-Multifamily (NAHB), and
the National Affordable Housing Management Association
(NAHMA).
Housing
Credit Certification provides a benchmark for industry
professionalism. The HCCP designation says to peers and
employers and allocating agencies that you are a qualified
individual who is committed to a high level of competency,
knowledge and professionalism in low-income housing tax
credit compliance.
The
HCCP professional designation is for everyone involved
in the housing credit industry that meets the certification
and experience requirements.
CERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
To
earn your HCCP credential you must meet the high standards
of education, experience, and ethics established by the Housing
Credit Certification Board of Governors. Requirements include:
- A
passing score on the HCCP Exam
- Submission
of the Professional Profile/Application for Certification
- Minimum
of 2 years of experience working with the housing credit
program (at least 50% of the time)
- 10
hours of Housing Credit Training
- Commitment
to Professional Ethics
- Continuing
Education
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HOUSING
CREDIT EXPERIENCE
To become
certified you must pass the Exam, and you must also have
a minimum of two years housing credit experience. At least
50% of your time must be devoted to working with, or supervising
those, who are directly involved with housing credit rules
and regulations in connection with developing or operating
Housing Credit properties. Your present employer/supervisor,
if any, must sign your current work description submission
as part of the HCCP Application.
Management
of conventional or other subsidized properties is not a
substitute for the two-year housing credit experience requirement.
If work history does not fit one of the categories cited,
Candidates may submit other examples of housing credit program
work experience for consideration by the Housing Credit
Certification Board.
Candidates
who have not yet achieved two years of work experience with
the housing credit program, but have passed the Exam, are
considered "Passing Candidates". Once the experience requirement
is fulfilled, a Passing Candidate may request designation
as a HCCP without retaking the Exam.
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CODE
OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Each
Candidate for the HCCP designation must agree to and sign
the HCCP Code of Ethics, as part of the Application. The Code
of Ethics sets a high standard of conduct for the industry.
No additional references are required.
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
To
maintain your credential each Housing Credit Certified Professional
is required to attend and report to the Board at least 4 hours
of industry related education each year. This requirement
may be met by attendance at programs offered by any professional
trainer, trade association, or state housing agency.
2005
CEU Tracking Form
MAINTAINING
YOUR HCCP CREDENTIAL
In
the fall of each year (including the year you are certified)
you will receive a notice to renew your Certification prior
to the end of the Calendar Year. In order to maintain your
HCCP status and be listed in the Directory (and on the web)
for the coming year, you must;
- Provide
evidence that you have satisfied the Continuing Education
requirement; and
-
Pay an annual renewal fee (currently $175.)
2005
HCCP Renewal
EXAM
ADMINISTRATION
The
Exam is offered in one of three ways:
Exam
Only Pre-Scheduled -- For the latest schedule of dates
and locations please consult the Exam Schedule or call the
NAHB/HCCP at 1-800-368-5242, ext. 8387. All NAHMA affiliates
offer exam only opportunities consistent with the above outline
or other advertised dates.
Exam
Only Upon Request -- You have the option of requesting
that the exam be administered for you at a date and time of
your choice in your State. We will arrange a location and
proctor for you for an exam fee of $175. We can provide a
list of training materials for you if you choose to challenge
the examination. We highly recommend a training or review
package that offers the HCCP examination (see below), as 10
hours of training are required for certification. Contact
the HCCP Program Administrator for more information at 1-800-368-5242,
ext. 8387. All NAHMA affiliates will facilitate exam only
options: contact (703) 683-8630.
Training
and Exam Package -- Training packages are offered by several
commercial trainers under contract with the HCCP. The cost
of the training package and exam varies depending on the company
offering the package. Dates and locations for open registration
training/exam packages are listed in the Exam Schedule. For
additional public training locations or to arrange for a private
training/exam package for your group of 10 or more, you may
contact one of the organizations below directly:
A.J.
Johnson Consulting Services, Inc.
Contact: A.J. or Betty Johnson
Phone: (757) 599-3964
Fax: (757) 599-3963
E-mail:
ajjcs@zisi.net
Compliance
Solutions
Contact:
Narty Waters
Phone: (757) 428-3260
Housing
Credit Productions
Contact:
Gianna Solari
Phone: (866) 427-2329
Kay-Kay
Realty
Contact:
Michale Koitn
Phone: (480) 941-6141
National
Affordable Housing Management Association
(Exam
Administration by Arrangement)
Contact:
Leigh-Ann Farmer, Education Programs & Special Projects
Phone: (703) 683-8630 ext 17
Fax: (703) 683-8634
E-mail:leigh-ann.farmer@nahma.org
National
Association of Home Builders-Multifamily
(Exam Administration Only)
Contact:
Carmel McGuire
Phone:
(800) 368-5242 ext.8387; (202) 266-8387
Fax: (202) 266-8191
E-mail: cmcquire@nahb.org
New
Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority
Contact: Dawn Davis
Phone: (505) 767-2221
The
Gill Companies
Contact: Pamela Evans
Phone: (573) 624-6614
Theopro
Compliance and Consulting, Inc.
Contact: Ruth Theobald
Phone:
1-877-783-1133, ext. 222
Fax: (262) 783-1134
Website: www.icomply42.com
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EXAM
PREPARATION
The
Exam is designed for current practitioners. The Exam itself
covers development, compliance and management issues and is
quite comprehensive. The Exam is an SAT-type multiple choice
exam with a "best-answer" format. You must score at least
70% to pass.
The
training offered prior to an Exam administration is not necessarily
sufficient, nor is it guaranteed, to prepare you to pass the
Exam. Experience, coupled with the review that is inherent
in a training course, however, should help you prepare for
the Exam. A list of testable subject areas may be obtained
elsewhere on this site or by calling 1-800-368-5242, ext.
8435.
STEPS
TO OBTAIN YOUR HCCP CREDENTIAL
- Contact
HCCP or an organization offering the Exam in the location
and at the time that you wish to take the Exam
- Take
the Exam (and training or review if desired)
- After
you pass the Exam:
- Submit
your completed Professional Profile and the application
fee of $175 to the Board within two years of taking the
Exam
- Passing
Candidates have up to two years to meet the necessary experience
and training awarded the HCCP credential.
- Receive
your HCCP Certificate and gold lapel pin and start using
your professional designation for all your professional
activities
- Each
year following your certification, take 4 hours of continuing
education and submit your CE verification forms and renewal
fee (currently $175) to maintain your HCCP credential
For
more information about the HCCP Credential, contact Carmel
McGuire at cmcquire@nahb.com
or
Leigh-Ann Farmer at leigh-ann.farmer@nahma.org.
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