The Housing Academy are pleased to announce that we offer top-up units to provide an option for learners with partially compliant qualifications towards the Competence and Conduct Standard. The top-up units will enable these learners to complete accredited training to cover key skills and knowledge in areas that may be missing from previously achieved qualifications and bridge any knowledge or skills gaps. Learners must be able to identify these gaps before registering for any of the units.
How to identify your skills gaps
- Review your existing qualifications: If you have existing qualifications in related subjects, work with your employer to compare your current qualification(s) against the requirements of the Competence and Conduct Standard. This will help you identify if you have any missing content.
- Check your unit transcript: Your certificate should include a transcript listing the units you completed, giving an overview of your learning.
- Request further details if needed: The awarding organisation you studied with can provide the full qualification specification to help clarify the content if needed.
- Top up where necessary: If you and your employer identify that your qualification is partially compliant, you can register for one or more top-up units to address any gaps through accredited training.
- Refer to government guidance: More information about topping up and partially compliant qualifications can be found in the government policy document.
- Act within the timeframe: All top-up learning must be completed before the end of the government set transition period.
If you register for top-up units you will only gain unit certificates. You must register for the full qualification to gain the full certificate.
Top-up units cannot be accumulated to claim a full qualification certificate. If the learner needs to complete several top-up units, it may be more beneficial for them to work towards the full qualification.
When the units have been identified, learners can only register for a maximum of two units with the Housing Academy.
The Housing Academy are running a training course to support learners and organisations in exploring how to carry out skill scans and use templates for workforce development planning. Including support on how to evidence compliance to the regulator, not just through processes but also through outcomes.
Available top-up units
The developed top-up units cover key subjects where you may need to complete additional learning, including:
Level four
- Housing law and regulation
- Housing policy
- Customer focus in housing
- Law, policy and regulation for repairs and maintenance
- Professionalism in housing.
Level five
- Ethical practice in housing (available from February 2026)
- Leadership and management in housing
- Strategic and business planning for housing organisations
- Housing in context
- Managing partner relationships in housing
- Customer focused housing services and communication (available from February 2026).
What does this mean for you?
- Save time and money: If you already hold a qualification that meets some of the requirements, you won’t need to complete another housing qualification.
- Confidence in quality: The Housing Academy are an approved study centre offering qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual through the CIH Awarding Organisation, meaning all our units meet regulatory standards.
- Experienced delivery: Units are delivered by the Housing Academy as an approved CIH study centre with expertise in teaching and assessing at levels four and five.
- Recognition of achievement: Upon completion, you’ll receive a unit certificate to show your achievement and commitment to professional development.
Completion of one of these units could be used as accredited training to bridge learning gaps for housing professionals who are in scope of requiring a regulated qualification under the Regulator of Social Housing’s Competence and Conduct Standard and hold a partially compliant qualification.
For more information on partially compliant qualifications, and top-up learning during the transition period please see the Competence and Conduct Standard policy statement, particularly Section 3.6 and 4.1 - 4.2.
