Designations - E&A Team

E&A Team Designations

Designations are a great way to show others in the housing industry that you are an expert in your field as you continue your personal growth and training endeavors. By obtaining the E&A Team designations, you will be nationally recognized for understanding the covered housing program in which you are awarded our designation.

Currently, we offer the opportunity to attain four designations, which include:

Basic LIHTC Compliance Specialist Certification (BTCS) -- Click to view requirements

To achieve this designation, applicants must attend 10 hours of E&A Team's Fundamental Tax Credit Training which includes training on the following topics:

Topics to be reviewed during the training will include, but are not limited to:

Applications & Eligibility (including Fair Housing Basics and VAWA)
Student Eligibility
An Overview of Determining Annual Income
An Overview of Determining Asset Income
Leasing & Certification Requirements
Ongoing Compliance (including Next Available Unit Rule, Vacant Unit Rule & Handling Transfers)

Applicants must also complete the online BTCS exam within 10 days of the training and score 65% or better.

Rural Development Housing Compliance Specialist Certification (RHCS) - Click to view requirements

To achieve the RHCS designation, applicants must attend 12 hours of E&A Team's Rural Development Housing Compliance Training.

Topics to be reviewed during the training will include, but are not limited to:

Introduction to the Rural Development Program
Waiting Lists & Income Limits
Applications & Eligibility
Student Eligibility
An Overview of Determining Annual Income
An Overview of Determining Asset Income
An Overview of Adjusted Income
Leasing & Certification Requirements
RD Compliance Monitoring
An Overview of Maintenance Standards
Ineligible Households
Tenant Terminations & Grievances

Applicants must also complete the online RHCS exam and score 65% or better.

HUD Housing Compliance Specialist Certification (HHCS) - Click to view requirements

To achieve the HHCS designation, applicants must attend 16 hours of E&A Team's HUD Housing Compliance Training.

Topics to be reviewed during the training will include, but are not limited to:

Introduction of the HUD Program
HUD Program Eligibility Requirements
HUD Income & Rent Limits
Student Eligibility
Applications & Eligibility
An Overview of the AFHMP
Waiting List & Tenant Selection Requirements
Methods of Verifications
An Overview of Determining Annual Income
An Overview of Determining Asset Income
An Overview of Adjusted Income
Calculating Rent and TTP
An Overview of HUD Form 50559
Lease Requirements & Applicable Documents
Certifications, Transfers & Gross Rent Changes
Handling Over-Income Households
Addressing Areas of Non-compliances
An Overview of the Two Types of Termination
An Overview of Enterprise Income Verification (EIV)
Compliance Monitoring
Record Retention
An Overview of Fair Housing and VAWA

Applicants must also complete the online HHCS exam and score 65% or beter.

HOME Funds Compliance Specialist Certification (HFCS) - Click to view requirements

To achieve the HFCS Designation, applicants must complete 10 hours of E&A Team's HOME Funds Compliance Specialist Training.

Topics to be reviewed during the training will include, but are not limited to:

Introduction of the HOME Program
HOME Compliance Monitoring
HOME Income & Rent Limits
Fixed & Floating Units
Record Retention
Applications & Eligibility
Methods of Verifications
Student Eligibility
An Overview of Determining Annual Income
An Overview of Determining Asset Income
An Overview of Adjusted Income
Leasing & Certification Requirements
Handling Over-Income Households
Addressing Areas of Non-compliances

In addition, applicants must take the online exam and score 65% or better.

In addition to required training, to obtain a designation, participants will have two hours to complete an online exam specifically designed to test their knowledge of the housing program. The exam consists of 75 questions, and the participant will have to score 65% or better to be awarded the designation.

The training topics we instruct for our designations can also help provide Continuing Education (CE) hours for your current housing designations. However, you will need to check with the entity awarding those designations to ensure compliance with their requirements.

For more information on the specific topics trained for each designation, please refer to the specific designation's description.

View the recipients of these E&A Team Designations:

Home Funds Compliance Specialist

Rural Development Housing Compliance Specialist