Taking a CIH housing qualification is a fantastic way of establishing yourself as a professional in the housing sector; ensuring you have the theoretical knowledge, essential skills and learning to perform at the highest level in your role.
The CIH Housing Academy is the largest provider of housing qualifications in the UK, and we're here to help develop your career in the sector with our range of qualifications. We’ll support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.
Our qualifications
We offer qualifications ranging from level two for anyone new to the housing sector, through to level five for those in strategic management roles. We also offer top-up units to provide an option for learners with partially compliant qualifications of the competence and conduct requirements.
If after reading through the below you are unsure which qualification would suit you, the CIH team offer a review service to help with this. Just email a copy of your CV through to customer@cih.org and they'll be able to support you to decide which qualification you would like to study.
Level two
Level two qualifications are designed to provide an introduction to the subject and are suitable for residents, assistants and administrators. Choose from:
- Certificate in Housing Practice, to give yourself a basic understanding of housing and introduce you to some of the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in housing related activities.
- Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property, which provides a general introduction to letting and managing residential property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Level three
Level three qualifications are designed to provide practitioners already working in the sector with contextual and specialised knowledge. To register for one of these qualifications you must have completed a relevant level two qualification or higher and/or have been working in the sector for at least six months. Choose from:
- Certificate in Housing Practice, for a knowledge and understanding of a range of key areas in delivering housing services.
- Certificate in Letting and Managing Residential Property, which provides the knowledge required to work in a frontline role in letting and managing residential property in England and Wales.
- Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services, a practice-based qualification providing the knowledge and understanding required to support homeless people at an operational level.
Level four
Level four qualifications are designed to explore in greater depth the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing professional and are perfect anyone in, or aspiring to, a supervisory or management role. To register for one of these qualifications you must have completed a relevant level three qualification or higher and/or have been working in the sector for at least six months.
On completion of a qualification at this level you can become a CIH certified practitioner member. Both options meet the requirements for the competence and conduct requirements. Choose from:
- Certificate in Housing, explores areas of housing policy, law, finance, and professional practice, and is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing sector work.
- Certificate in Managing Housing Maintenance, a one-year vocational qualification at the same level of learning as the first year of an undergraduate degree. Providing the knowledge required to manage a housing maintenance service.
Level five
Our level five qualification is designed to explore the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing manager. To register you must have completed a relevant level 4 qualification or higher and have been working in the sector for at least two years at a supervisory level.
On completion of a qualification at this level you can become a CIH chartered member. This qualification meets the requirements for the competence and conduct.
- Diploma in Housing, explores areas of ethical practice, leadership and management, strategic business planning, housing in context, managing relationships and developing professional practice skills for housing.
Top-up units
Top-up units are designed to support housing professionals prepare for the competence and conduct requirements, we’re pleased to offer top-up units providing an option for learners with partially compliant qualifications.
Why choose the CIH Housing Academy?
Here at the Housing Academy we have a proven track record of helping our learners excel in their studies. We offer flexible study routes with our online and online plus options:
- Our online study option gives you access to all your online learning tools to allow you to study when it suits you. This includes all study materials, resources, links to resources and forums where you can share your thoughts and ideas with other learners.
- Our online plus option combines all the benefits of online study with the addition of dedicated tutor support via virtual sessions. These virtual sessions offer the opportunity to interact and share knowledge with other learners and tutors but still benefit from fitting study time around work and life commitments.
On top of your course materials and support, the Housing Academy also hosts study skills workshops for learners on topics like critical thinking, referencing, time management and how to write assignments. For more information visit our existing learners page.
But, don't just take our word for it, our numbers and learners speak for themselves:
pass rate
different programmes
learner satisfaction
Daniel James Roebuck | Regional development manager
This qualification will be hugely beneficial to the development of my career. I have had interviews for a HSG funded role within the RHSCG, I am also applying for a senior level housing options manager role (covering homeless prevention and crisis).
CIH membership included for eligible learners
CIH offer a concessionary learner membership that can be purchased by learners undertaking a CIH qualification*. This discounted rate provides access to all standard member benefits.
If you choose to study with the CIH Housing Academy eligible learners will receive a year’s learner membership worth £82, when studying a full qualification at levels two to four. Eligible learners undertaking a level five qualification with us will be provided this for up to two years (worth £164).
When you register with the Housing Academy, we will automatically transfer your details to the CIH membership team who will confirm if you are eligible to receive this special offer and will be in touch with how to access the membership package.
Although not an essential requirement to complete your qualification, CIH membership provides a wealth of resources, services and networking opportunities that will enhance your learning experience and benefit your professional development long into the future.
*Eligibility criteria apply.
Multiple learner options
We welcome organisations who want to work with the CIH Housing Academy to provide learning to their workforce. If you'd like to know more about possible discounts for multiple learners, please contact us on 024 7685 1700 or email partnerships@cih.org.
Learner journey
Ever wondered what your time with CIH Housing Academy would look like?
Submit your application
Explore our site to find the right qualification for you. Choose from a range of start dates and our online or online plus methods of learning to suit your lifestyle. When decided, use our online portal to complete your application.
Approval process
Once you've submitted your application the team at CIH Housing Academy will begin your identification and eligibility checks with the support of CIH's awarding organisation and membership teams.
Familiarisation
Access is provided to MyHA our online learning environment. Available 24/7 online and via an app, allowing flexible study with all information needed. Learners are allocated a tutor and can attend a live webinar by way of an induction.
Learning experience
Each unit is designed to provide you with all of the information you need to succeed. Learn in your own time with your dedicated study skills area. Online-plus learners also have virtually taught sessions with tutors for a chance for interactive learning.
Support and wellbeing
Lunchtime support workshops are available throughout your studies to support a variety of study skills areas. Learners will also receive support direct from their tutor.
Assignment based
Most of our assessments are assignment based, there are no exams, these are designed and supported by our experienced team of authors and the qualification development team. Tutors give detailed feedback to learners on each assignment.
Graduate and progress
Once you've received your certificate it's not the end. Take your learning further with the opportunity to continue ongoing continuous professional development as a member of CIH.
Learn more about our learning platform - MyHA
Yasmin Hussain | Scheme manager
I recommend the CIH Housing Academy and highly rate their approach to supporting people to learn and achieve.
