NICHE or the National Institute of Continuing Housing Education is a training institute developed and managed by HTVN, and is available to all subscribers at no-charge. It allows any agency staff member and residents access to five professional development career tracks or modules, which they can complete at their own pace because there is no time limit. Each career module has a defined learning objective and like a college major, has required core classes, plus electives, that students must pass to earn their selected professional designation. Pre-registration is required for all NICHE classes

Module Certificates and CEUS

NICHE Module Certificates are awarded to students who have successfully completed and passed all requirements for their selected career module. In addition, students receive industry-recognized CEUs (Continuing Elective Credits) for each NICHE core and elective class they pass, which can be used as documentation of their learning activities for submission to organizations such as licensing boards, certification agencies, professional associations, schools/colleges, and other companies. Many of HTVN's programs can be used by residents to fulfill their Community Service and Self-sufficiency Requirement, or CSSR, a requirement that has been reinstated by HUD.

Grades and Transcripts

Students earn grades for each NICHE core and elective class they take--in fact, for most every program they participate in and pass through HTVN. Quizzes, which are given during or at the end of each class, require students to use a keypad for answers. These answers are then sent to HTVN electronically for scoring, and a passing grade is awarded. Student transcripts are sent to housing authorities twice a year, however students can request a report of all classes attended.

NICHE Series/Certifications

NICHE Series

In addition to earning a NICHE Module Certificate, students can also earn certificates for different NICHE Series, some of which are offered quarterly, twice a year, and/or on a one-time basis only.

Some of the quarterly NICHE Series are Business Writing Skills (BWS), Computer Skills Quarterly (CSQ), and Risk Hour Theater (RHT). The various NICHE Series, which are offered twice a year and have become a regular part of HTVN's yearly curriculum include: Public Housing Essentials (PHE), Section 8 Updates (S8U), Maintenance Marathon Series (MMI-through IV ), Human Resources Update (HRU), Housing Law Forum (HLF), Fundamentals of Section 8 (FS8), and Client Service for the Housing Industry (CSI). Some of the NICHE Series that have been offered once and from which students have earned a certificate are: Public Relations Techniques for PHAs, Understanding/Implementing GASB-GAAP, Inspection Series for Housing, Commissioner and Executive Director Series, Workplace Ethics, Interviewing and Fraud Detection, and Diversity in Workplace, just to name a few.

Certifications and Seminars

HTVN also offers industry-recognized certifications that usually include a paper-based exam and essay questions. Some of these certifications are: Public Housing Manager (PHM), Section 8 Eligibility (S8E), Advanced Inspector Certification (AIC), Voucher Housing Management (VHM) (which is now referred to as Section 8 Regulatory Management), Leadership Certification Seminar (LCS), Public Housing Occupancy (PHO), Supervisory Excellence Through Diversity (SED), Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), and the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course (DDC). In addition to certifications, in-depth seminars have been and will be offered on HTVN including: Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), OSHA Outreach, Housing Quality Standards (HQS), Lead-Based Paint Safe Work Practices (LBP), and Section 8/HCV Budgeting & Year-End Closing.

Semesters

Spring/Summer Semester: April 1 - September 30
Fall/Winter Semester: October 1 - March 31

NICHE Career Modules

There are five career modules available within NICHE and they are: Computer Application Specialist (CAS), Certified Housing Maintenance (CHM), Human Resource Specialist (HRS), Insurance & Risk Manager (IRM) and, Campus of Learners (COL) which is a designated career track specifically designed for residents.

Certification Programs

NICHE offers Certification Programs in the following subject areas:

Section 8 Administration
Campus of Learners (for residents)
Public Housing Management (for commissioners)
Maintenance
Leadership & Computer Skills
Insurance & Risk Management

Who Participates?

NICHE students participate from across the nation, from a variety of professions, to pursue professional development. The curriculum offered is of interest to the entire staff:

Classes are offered to prepare students for work or job advancement. Low income families in public housing may receive free classes at participating facilities. Check with HTVN for the nearest participating facility. Firms doing business with the housing industry (affordable housing/public housing/HUD) gain valuable legislative, regulatory and historical information and insight to better perform on their contracts.

Learn more about Niche:

• Module Descriptions
• Series Descriptions
• Registration Information

If you would like additional information about the opportunities offered through the NICHE program, click here.