Overview

The Affordable Housing Professionals Certification Program is a cooperative endeavor between the Center for Government Services (CGS) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and the Affordable Housing Professionals of New Jersey (AHPNJ). It is a professional development course of study for individuals who work toward the support and provision of affordable housing, covering federally-funded programs as well as the state regulatory program.

The mission of AHPNJ is:

  • to promote and enhance professionalism and knowledge in the field by supporting affordable housing through dialogue, ethical standards, education, advocacy and policy guidance;
  • to establish “best practices” for housing procedure and protocol in the interrelated fields of administrative agents, architects, developers, property managers, state and municipal employees, non-profit and for-profit corporations, human/social service providers, financial institutions, planners and attorneys;
  • to establish resources for professional assistance;
  • to promote competency and expertise in the affordable housing industry that is desirable to employers, peers, advocates and clients;
  • and to promote compassion in the agencies and individuals that support the provision of affordable housing.

Request Duplicate Certificate | Recertification Guidelines and Application

Certificate Requirements

To qualify for the Rutgers/AHPNJ certificate, participants must successfully complete 36 hours of classroom training. Successful completion is defined as 80% attendance of the class hours and a passing grade of 70% or higher on the final examination.

The four required courses total 27 hours. The remaining nine hours are accrued from electives approved by CGS and AHPNJ.

Required Courses

  • Introduction to Affordable Housing for NJ Municipalities
  • Determining Eligibility for Affordable Housing Programs
  • Fair Housing
  • Ethics for Affordable Housing Professionals

Approved Elective Courses

AHP Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of Affordable Housing Professional required and approved elective courses, a student may apply for an AHP Certificate of Completion, which must be renewed every (3) years, by clicking on the following link https://forms.office.com/r/pCUk8iL6rZ and completing the application form. Certificates of completion will be sent out in January and July for those that complete an application. You may also download the attached Course Tracker, on the website, to help track your courses as you complete each class.

 

Course Schedule

All registrations for online/distant learning and in-person courses must be received NO LATER than three business days before the class begins. Late registrations will NOT be accepted.

Please visit the Registration page for important information regarding online course expectations and registration.

Records Management

Course Code: HP-6005-SP23-1

Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

5/16

9am-12:30pm

Frank Piazza; Ilene Cutroneo

$130.00

Online:Canvas & Zoom

Register

Municipal Process

Course Code: HP-6006-SP23-1

Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

5/12

9am-4pm

Rick Fernandez

$205.00

Online:Canvas & Zoom

Register

Qualifying Households for Affordable Housing

Course Code: HP-6010-SP23-1

Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

6/7, 6/14

9am-12pm

Frank Piazza; Kathy Schulte

$238.00

Online:Canvas & Zoom

Register

Courses

This full-day course provides a basic understanding of the required steps necessary for determining “eligibility” to buy or rent an affordable housing unit. It reviews common components including determining household size, calculating income and assets, verifying information, comparing to posted limits, etc. The course also reviews key differences between programs or regulatory bodies including ramifications for errors made. It provides students with “tricks of the trade” and best practices. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

3 hours

This half-day session focuses on the nature of the public trust and the “rules” for ethical behavior that are relevant for affordable housing professionals. New Jersey law and HUD regulations are examined and applied to ethical issues using a case study approach. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

3 hours

This half-day session centers on discrimination in housing, including state and federal legislation. It discusses who can be penalized, how disabilities are defined, what are reasonable accommodations, and what policies and procedures should be established and followed. The Fair Housing complaint process is also reviewed, and a multitude of resources (written, audio, visual, etc.) are shared. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

15 hours

This two-day course defines affordable housing programs. Topics covered include the history of housing policy, the laws, regulations and court cases relative to affordable housing at both the federal and the state level, and their impact on housing availability. Students are familiarized with various programs, funding sources, regulatory entities, rules and regulations all related to the evolution of affordable housing. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

6 hours
Prerequisite: Introduction to Affordable Housing for New Jersey Municipalities (required)

This course will provide students with an understanding as to how affordable units are decided and placed in the community. Topics include how sites are determined; guidelines currently in effect to determine affordable housing obligations; roles of the planning board and governing body; working with developers; working with affordable housing commissions; and knowing how to read a site plan to find the affordable housing components. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

6 hours

Nontraditional development opportunities for housing authorities and redevelopment agencies are explored in this one-day course, including housing provided under the state’s Mount Laurel requirements. Strategies for developing housing within a wide range of are discussed, and the household income levels established by various federal and state programs are described. Specific attention is given to “how-to” tips for establishing and working with nonprofit corporations. 

6 hours

This full-day course teaches Administrative Agents what to know when qualifying applicants for affordable housing. From what to look for when starting a new project to requirements for qualification in the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls to hands on experience and thoughtful advice from seasoned Administrative Agents, this class will give an overview of the regulations and the step-by-step procedures for the qualification process. A final exam is administered in open-book format.

Note: This course is highly recommended as an elective for Administrative Agents.

3 hours

This half-day course examines the requirements for the use, retention and release of records kept by municipalities and their outsourced agencies providing affordable housing services in the course of the administration of affordable units. The course also reviews the Open Public Records Act requirements and compliance. 

Certificate and Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of Affordable Housing Professional required and approved elective courses, a student may apply for an AHP Certificate of Completion, which must be renewed every (3) years, by clicking on the following link (https://forms.office.com/r/pCUk8iL6rZ)and completing the application form. Certificates of completion will be sent out in January and July for those that complete an application. You may also download the attached Course Tracker, on the website, to help track your courses as you complete each class.

Continuing Education Information

20 hours

In order to maintain and renew the Affordable Housing Professional certificate, certificate holders must accrue twenty (20) hours of continuing education every three years.

It is the certificate holder's responsibility to keep track of their renewal credits and apply for renewal at the appropriate time. If a certificate is not renewed, it expires. Recertification guidelines and the application form are available above. 

Both the Center for Government Services and the Affordable Housing Professionals of New Jersey (AHPNJ) offer continuing education seminars that give certificate holders the opportunity to accrue the necessary hours. Rutgers also approves relevant seminars hosted by other organizations.  Host organizations seeking approval for their continuing education events may apply for credits by emailing lakea.nicholson@rutgers.edu