Best qualifications for housing professionals

Alongside the Competence and Conduct Standard, housing qualifications are being talked about a lot at the moment. Stay up to date with the rest of the industry by studying a qualification that improves your knowledge, skills, and job capabilities. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’re at the top level of your profession, CIH has a qualification suitable for you.

New to the housing sector

We’ve got loads of great resources to help kick-start your housing career, so take a look at our Knowledge Hub and professional standards resources before doing anything else.

When you want to get more serious about beginning your housing education, the CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice is perfect for anyone who wants a solid overview of the sector. Useful for paid and voluntary workers, tenants, residents and board members — and just about anyone else interested in housing, this qualification is a great way to gain the base knowledge needed to get involved with the causes you care about. For those living in Scotland, the CIH Certificate in Housing Practice at SCQF Level 5 is the equivalent level of study.

For housing sector newcomers who have a more specific idea of where they want a qualification to take them, the CIH Level 2 Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property might be a better fit. This course is especially helpful for landlords or those who want to get into letting as it covers topics like tenancy law, property management and customer care: all brilliant bits of knowledge to have so you can properly take care of your tenants.

On the other end of the range, tenants looking for a suitable course to boost their housing knowledge would benefit from the CIH Level 2 Award in Involvement in Housing and Communities.

As with any level two qualifications, you might wish to become a standard CIH member on completion, furthering your commitment to the housing sector.

Housing officers and coordinators

You’ve got your foot in the door of the housing sector but you need to build your knowledge to take your career further. Sound familiar? Our level three qualifications give you the perfect opportunity to do this.

The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice and the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Services cover topics that relate to a range of roles and interests — suitable for most professionals working in a frontline capacity in housing. You don’t necessarily need a level two qualification to undertake these courses, but experience working in the sector may be helpful.

The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Letting and Managing Residential Property and its Scotland equivalent (the CIH Certificate in Letting and Managing Residential Property at SCQF Level 6) provide knowledge to help landlords and property or housing managers. Developing your skills is essential for someone in a frontline role and with this qualification covering subjects like property standards, ending tenancies, and professionalism, it’s not one that you want to pass up on.

If you’re looking for something more suited to those working in housing repairs, maintenance or compliance, the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Maintenance and Asset Management would be most useful. Its diverse range of optional units mean that you can choose the perfect learning pathways for you.

For professionals working in or aiming to work in homelessness support, the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Rough Sleeping Outreach Services or the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services are worth looking into. We know you care about providing person centred support to the people you work with and we want to support you to achieve this.

Team leaders, managers and senior managers in housing

Our level four qualifications will help you reach the next level in your career. All the CIH level four housing qualifications meet the requirements for the Competence and Conduct Standard, so there’s no better time than now to get going on your learning journey with us.

Anyone working in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role will benefit from the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing. It covers topics like housing law, policy, professional practice and customer focus in housing. On top of this, you’ll have your pick of a range of optional units so you can tailor your learning to your career needs. The CIH Level 4 Certificate in Managing Housing Maintenance also offers mandatory and optional units to make sure you cover the topics you need, but it is tailored to those working in the repairs and maintenance compliance areas of housing.

The CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing Management and Service Delivery is a shorter qualification, perfect for those with experience in the sector who need to comply with the Competence and Conduct Standard.

We know how important it is that you complete your job to the highest of standards and filling your knowledge gaps with one of our qualifications will help you to do this. For example, while the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing Management and Service Delivery is still in its pilot phase, it’s a brilliant opportunity to get involved with a new and exciting housing qualification.

Finally, anyone working in a senior role in the homelessness sector would gain important skills and knowledge from the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Homelessness Services Management. Developed in collaboration with Homeless Link and reviewed by people with lived experience of homelessness, this qualification will give you invaluable insight to help successfully support those who need it.

It's important to remember that we also offer level four top up units, designed for those who already hold a qualification that’s partially compliant with the Competence and Conduct Standard. View the full list of units on offer here.

Executive and strategic level

Although you’re at a top-level position in housing, there’s always room to grow and improve. In a sector that’s constantly changing, the CIH Level 5 Diploma in Housing will equip you with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in your career. For added peace of mind, it also meets the requirements of the Competence and Conduct Standard. On completion of this qualification, you’ll be eligible for chartered membership at CIH, a title that demonstrates your impressive commitment to the housing sector.

If you’re currently holding a qualification that’s partially compliant with the Competence and Conduct standard, we also offer level five top up units to fill any gaps. View the full list of units on offer here.

Taking on any qualification in housing is a chance to showcase your genuine commitment to the sector. It can improve your career prospects, open up new solutions to current problems you’re facing, and help you to be the best professional you can. See our full qualification listings page here.