New Application - Certified Specialist of Inspection – Housing Quality Standards (CSI-HQS)

Availability

Self-Report

Cost

$0.00

Credit Offered

Applications

HUD is currently in the process of phasing out HQS inspection protocols and implementing NSPIRE. NAHRO recommends that you pursue the Certified Specialist of Inspection – Voucher Operations (CSI-VO) instead, so you are prepared for the implementation of NSPIRE-V.

If you want to still attain the CSI-HQS certification, you will need to have previously completed HQS training or have the years of expeirence to waive training - NAHRO is no longer offering HQS inspection training. The HQS exam is still currently available, but will be phased out in the future.

NAHRO’s Certified Specialist of Inspection – Housing Quality Standards (CSI-HQS) designation demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for:

Inspecting housing choice voucher units.
Conducting pre-inspection and inspection preparations and procedures.
Negotiation and arbitration with landlords and residents.
Understanding the need for consistency and re-inspections.
Determining the impact inspection outcomes have on their agency’s SEMAP score.

Below are the requirements for this certification. These may be completed in any order, before the last step of submitting an application. Please be sure to submit a complete and accurate application.

Education & Experience	High school diploma or equivalent AND 6 months of experience OR associate's degree and above (6 months of experience not required)
NAHRO Specialist Training	Completion of NAHRO’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS) training Exception: If you have at least five years of experience working in maintenance or inspection of Housing Choice Voucher units at a government or nationally recognized agency, or took a non-NAHRO specialist training, you may be eligible to waive this training requirement. Click here to learn more.
Ethics Training	Completion of NAHRO's Ethics for Housers, Ethics for Housing Professionals, OR Ethics for Management training
Exam	Passing score on NAHRO's Housing Quality Standards exam
Application	Submission of CSI-HQS Certification Application

Please note that an issued certification is not permanent and will have an expiration date. Certifications expire at the end of the month three years from the approval date, and recertification requirements will need to be completed to keep the certification active.

Your application will be processed within 2-4 weeks. NAHRO may contact you via email if questions arise.

Please email professionaldevelopment@nahro.org or call (202) 580-7211 with any questions you may have.