National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling?
- What documents are included in the National Industry Standards?
- Why are the National Industry Standards important?
- What do the National Industry Standards accomplish?
- How were the National Industry Standards and Code of Ethics and Conduct developed?
- What kind of information is included in the National Industry Standards?
- How are the National Industry Standards used?
- Why should my organization adopt the National Industry Standards?
- What is the difference between endorsement and adoption?
- How do I adopt the National Industry Standards for my organization?
- If I leave my current organization, is my adoption of the Standards and Code of Ethics still valid?
- Do I have to renew or reapply for the Standards or Code of Ethics once I sign up?
- Who developed the National Industry Standards?
Q: What are the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling? top
The National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling provide a baseline for what constitutes quality homeownership education and counseling. Organizations and homeownership professionals can use the National Industry Standards to ensure that quality homeownership education and housing counseling services are delivered to clients. These standards create a level of consistency in the industry and add to the continued professional delivery of specialized services by counselors and educators nationwide.
Q: What documents are included in the National Industry Standards? top
The National Industry Standards consist of the following documents:
- National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling
- National Industry Code of Ethics and Conduct for Homeownership Professionals
- National Industry Code of Ethics and Conduct For Homeownership Professionals form
Q: Why are the National Industry Standards important? top
The National Industry Standards guide conduct and decision-making in the homeownership education and counseling field and encourage an elevated level of professionalism that inspires consumer confidence. Organizations that adopt the Standards demonstrate that all clients will receive consistent, high quality and ethical service.
Q: What do the National Industry Standards accomplish? top
The Standards:
- Guide professional conduct and decision-making in the field
- Encourage all organizations and practitioners to perform at the highest level of professionalism
- Create consistencies in content and elevate the industry reputation for quality service delivery
- Ensure clients are receiving correct and consistent information
- Allow consumers to identify organizations that adopt the standards to ensure they are receiving high quality, ethical service
- Raise awareness for the homeownership counseling/education field, its practitioners and the agencies employing them
- Assist in the retention of the quality talent in the industry
- Promote sustainability for organizations that adopt the standards by reassuring funders and fee-paying clients of the quality and consistency of their services
Q: How were the National Industry Standards and Code of Ethics and Conduct developed? top
The National Industry Standards for homeownership education and counseling were developed by a broad-based National Advisory Council (see list of National Advisory Council members below). The standards were developed with:
- Research of and input from numerous organizations, including AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling Planning Education), AICCCA (Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies), HPN (Housing Partnership Network), HUD (US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development), NAHCA (National Association of Housing Counseling Agencies), NCLC (National Consumer Law Center), NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling), NeighborWorks® America, and many community development organizations that offer education and/or counseling services and have formalized written standards.
- A questionnaire presented to various focus groups of homeownership practitioners, executive directors, and homeownership program managers to obtain feedback on the proposed industry standards
- Review of best practices and research in the homeownership field
- Direct feedback from Industry partners including all HUD Housing Counseling Intermediaries
Q: What kind of information is included in the National Industry Standards? top
The documents provide recommended benchmarks for homeownership education and counseling in the following areas:
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Q: How are the National Industry Standards used? top
Organizations providing homeownership education and counseling are encouraged to adopt the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling on an organizational level and direct their educators and/or counselors to sign and adhere to the Code of Ethics and Conduct outlined in the Standards. To fully abide by the Standards, organizations will ensure that their educators and counselors implement the recommended benchmarks in their everyday business operations. Organizations and individual educators and counselors are encouraged to strive to exceed the benchmarks.
Q: Why should my organization adopt the National Industry Standards? top
By adopting the National Industry Standards, organizations and counselors/educators will:
- Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism in the field
- Ensure clients receive a consistent level of quality and ethical service
- Increase organization visibility
- Reassure funders that the organization is providing the kind of counseling and education services that deserve sustained support
Q: What is the difference between endorsement and adoption? top
Adoption demonstrates an organization's commitment to implement the National Industry Standards in everyday business operations. Organizations are encouraged to strive to exceed the benchmarks.
Endorsement demonstrates an organization's support for the National Industry Standards, thus making a visible dedication to heightened professionalism in the field of homeownership education and counseling. Endorsers may incorporate the Standards into their business requirements.
Q: How do I adopt the National Industry Standards for my organization? top
A representative from your organization who has authority to adopt standards of practices (e.g., the executive director, board chair, homeownership center director) can adopt the National Industry Standards for the organization by visiting the National Industry Standards website.
To begin the process of adopting the Standards, go to http://www.homeownershipstandards.com/organizations/new. Documents can be obtained and viewed here.
After entering information about your organization and each counselor and/or educator on staff, National Industry Standards staff will review and confirm the information. You will be notified of any further information needed, and will be notified when adoption is confirmed.
Full National Industry Standards adoption occurs when the recommended benchmarks for homeownership education and counseling are implemented into the organization's business operations. The executive director, board and staff should commit to implementing the National Industry Standards into everyday business operations.
Q: If I leave my current organization, is my adoption of the Standards and Code of Ethics still valid? top
If a counselor/educator leaves an organization, he/she should encourage the new employer organization to adopt the National Industry Standards. The Code of Ethics and Conduct is transferable.
Q: Do I have to renew or reapply for the Standards or Code of Ethics once I sign up? top
At present, there is no expiration date for the National Industry Standards and Code of Ethics and Conduct. The National Industry Standards adoption is non-transferable and becomes invalid only when employment ceases with an organization that adopts the National Industry Standards. The Code of Ethics is transferable and you do not have to reapply upon starting new employment.
Q: Who developed the National Industry Standards? top
The Standards were created by the Advisory Council for the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling. Members of this group include the following:
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The Advisory Council for the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling was convened by the NeighborWorks® Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC).
Mike Haley, Minnesota Housing, Chairman
Cora Fulmore, Mortgage & Credit Center, Vice-Chair
Jayna Bower, NCHEC, Director