When was the last time you invested in your professional future?
The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) offers several ways to help you improve your leadership skills or become an invaluable team member.
“Professional development is important to me because it helps me stay current with industry regulations, strengthen my skills, and provide better service to residents and communities,” Gabriela Chavez, NAHP-e, SHCM, BCD, FHC, chief of staff for Solari Enterprises Inc., said. “I see NAHMA’s credentialing programs as an investment in both personal and professional growth. They help develop future leaders, promote industry best practices, and support the ongoing success of affordable housing professionals and the communities we serve.”
Earn a Credential
NAHMA offers seven credentials and one industry-wide certification. Even if you have already earned the Certified Professional of Occupancy (CPO) or Fair Housing Compliance (FHC) credential, or Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM) certification, you can take your education further with the National Affordable Housing Professional (NAHP) and the National Affordable Housing Professional Executive (NAHP-e).
The NAHP and the NAHP-e are the only professional credential programs with stringent requirements dedicated solely to recognizing and promoting achievement of the highest possible standards in affordable housing management.
“The NAHP and NAHP-e credentials are more than just professional designations; they are opportunities to grow as leaders in our industry. They provide practical knowledge that can be applied to our daily work while also helping us better understand the bigger picture of affordable housing. For me, these credentials reinforce a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and serving our residents and communities at the highest level. They also connect professionals with a network of peers who share the same passion for affordable housing and making a difference in people’s lives,” Chavez said.
The NAHP is geared for site/community managers, assistant site managers, occupancy/compliance specialists, compliance officers, directors of compliance, training specialists, social service coordinators and site administrators, to name a few.
Candidates for the NAHP must complete coursework in the following areas: occupancy, fair housing and basic apartment management. NAHMA’s CPO or SHCM plus FHC fulfill the coursework requirement.
Additionally, candidates must meet either a nationally recognized management designation with a minimum of 40 hours of training, such as the National Association of Home Builders’ Registered in Apartment Management, the Institute of Real Estate Management’s Certified Property Manager or Accredited Residential Manager, the National Apartment Association Education Institute’s Certified Apartment Manager, or a minimum of 20 hours of alternative apartment management training.
All candidates must accumulate a minimum of two years of experience in affordable housing functioning as a site manager, assistant manager, occupancy specialist, leasing consultant, or equivalent position(s).
Finally, they must be actively engaged in the industry, in good standing with and recommended by a local/state/regional Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) and adhere to the NAHP Code of Professional Conduct.
The NAHP-e is for senior-level professionals, including owners and principals, CEOs and executive directors, managing agents, asset managers, and regional/district/portfolio managers.
Candidates for the NAHP-e must have at least five years of experience in the affordable housing industry, and a minimum of three years in an executive leadership role.
As with the NAHP, the NAHP-e candidate must be actively engaged in the industry, in good standing with and recommended by a local/state/regional AHMA and adhere to the NAHP Code of Professional Conduct.
“The NAHP-e designation has helped me expand my industry knowledge, strengthen my leadership abilities, and build credibility with peers, clients, and industry partners. It has also given me opportunities to network and learn from other housing professionals across the country,” Chavez said.
Both credentials represent the pinnacle of success in affordable housing management. They signal experience, integrity and excellence. Additionally, they validate the holder’s operations and oversight expertise; build credibility with peers, partners and stakeholders; and strengthen leadership standing and peer networks.
The NAHP and NAHP-e are just examples of the educational opportunities NAHMA offers.
“I currently hold the FHC, BCD [Blended Compliance Designation], SHCM, and NAHP-e credentials from NAHMA. I pursued these designations because I believe in continuing my professional development and expanding my knowledge of affordable housing. Each credential has helped me strengthen my skills, stay current with industry standards, and provide the best possible service to residents and communities. They also reflect my commitment to excellence, leadership, and lifelong learning in the affordable housing field,” Chavez said.
Learn to Lead
The affordable housing industry needs leaders who can navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive organizational results. The NAHMA Emerging Leaders Learning Series (NELLS) executive-level course can provide industry trailblazers with the tools they need to succeed and generate positive outcomes. Sessions begin Aug. 6, 2026. NELLSExecutive was designed exclusively for senior organizational leaders, in conjunction with affordable housing property management professionals, to accelerate the professional growth of industry leaders.
NELLSExecutive focuses on three dimensions: leading yourself, leading teams, and providing business leadership. Through group sessions and individual coaching, each participant will learn how to best enhance their personal leadership competencies by developing the professional habits and skills necessary to achieve desired outcomes. The topics covered in the executive-level course include management vs. leadership, adaptive leadership, authority vs. influence, growth mindset, effective delegation, navigating uncertainty, and preparing for disruption.
The virtual course is a blended program that combines the benefits of cohort learning with executive coaching. In addition to three group sessions, each participant will have two one-on-one coaching sessions to tailor program content to their specific requirements. All sessions are conducted via Zoom videoconferencing.
The registration deadline for NELLSExecutive is July 13. Class size is limited to five to 15 participants, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
NELLSManager, created for property-level and frontline affordable housing management professionals, will take place in early 2027.
To find out about all of NAHMA’s educational opportunities, visit https://www.nahma.org/education-events/credentials-certification/.
Jennifer Jones is the senior director of communications and public relations for NAHMA.