Our qualification offer
CIH qualifications are a fantastic way of establishing yourself as a professional in the housing sector and ensuring you have the theoretical knowledge, essential skills, and learning to perform at the highest level in your day job.
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 housing sector.
We will support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.
Please note as our qualifications are regulated by the CIH Awarding Organisation you will be required to provide ID evidence before you start your course.
Eligible learners can receive a year’s CIH learner concessionary membership when studying a full qualification. Learn more about this offer.
Find the qualification for you
Whether you’re starting out in the housing sector or are an experienced professional, we have qualifications suited to you. We offer qualifications ranging from level two for anyone new to the housing sector, through to level five for those in strategic management roles.
Select the level for you to find the right qualification to suit your experience and ambitions.
Level two qualifications
Level two qualifications are designed to provide you with an introduction to the subject and are suitable for residents, assistants and administrators.
Who are these qualifications for?
- Anyone new to the housing sector
- Anyone wishing to pursue a career in the housing sector
The CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice will give you a basic understanding of housing and introduce you to some of the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in housing related activities.
Suitable for:
- Anyone new to housing or working in a frontline position who want to improve their general awareness of housing
- Anyone working in housing who wish to gain an initial qualification
- Anyone not currently working in housing but considering a frontline housing position as a career option
- Tenants, residents and board members wishing to enhance their personal involvement and understanding of housing.
Duration:
- Approximately 16 weeks, with an average of six-eight hours study a week.
The CIH Level 2 Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property provides a general introduction to letting and managing residential property.
This qualification focuses on the housing industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Suitable for:
- Individual landlords, letting one or a small portfolio of residential properties
- Letting and managing agents
- Housing association staff letting and/or managing market-rented properties
- Housing advice workers
- People not currently working in housing but considering a frontline housing position as a career option.
Duration:
- Approximately 12 weeks, with an average of eight hours of study a week.
Level three qualifications
Level three qualifications are designed to provide you with contextual and specialised knowledge to support you in your role and career.
Who are these qualifications for?
- Housing practitioners who are already working in the sector.
The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice provides you with knowledge and understanding of a range of key areas in delivering housing services.
Suitable for:
To register on this qualification you should be working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing and must also have completed either:
- CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice
- an equivalent Level 2 qualification or higher.
If you do not meet either of the above criteria you may still be eligible but must have at least six months experience of working in the housing sector.
Duration:
- Approximately 37-48 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week.
The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Letting and Managing Residential Property will provide you with the knowledge required to work in a frontline role in letting and managing residential property in England and Wales.
Suitable for:
- Individual landlords, letting one or a small portfolio of residential properties
- Letting and managing agents
- Housing association staff letting and/or managing market-rented properties
- Housing advice workers
- People in, or aspiring to, a front-line role in letting and managing residential property
Duration:
- Approximately 30 weeks, with an average of six - eight hours study a week.
The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a practice-based qualification and provides you with the knowledge and understanding required to support homeless people at an operational level.
Suitable for:
The qualification is aimed at frontline housing workers and to register you should be working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing. You must also have completed either:
- CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice
- an equivalent Level 2 qualification or higher.
If you do not meet either of the above criteria you may still be eligible but must have at least six months experience of working in the housing sector.
Duration
- Approximately 20 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week.
Level four qualifications
Level four qualifications are designed to explore in greater depth the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing professional. On completion of a qualification at this level you can become a certified practitioner member of CIH.
Who are these qualifications for?
- Anyone in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role in housing.
The CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing qualification 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 industry work.
Suitable for:
Anyone looking to move in to a housing management role, new to housing leadership or management.
You should, as a minimum requirement, have completed one of the following:
- The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice
- An equivalent Level 3 qualification or higher
If you don’t meet this minimum requirement but have relevant experience working in the housing sector, your application may also be considered.
Duration
- 12 months, with an average of eight hours study a week.
The Level 4 Certificate in Managing Housing Maintenance is a one year vocational qualification and is at the same level of learning as the first year of an undergraduate degree.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with the knowledge required to manage a housing maintenance service. All learners must study ethics and professional practice which supports the development of their own personal growth and engagement in learning and housing.
Suitable for:
Anyone looking working in housing or a housing related industry, preferably at a management or supervisory level.
You should, as a minimum requirement, have completed one of the following:
- The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice
- An equivalent Level 3 qualification or higher
If you don’t meet this minimum requirement but have relevant experience working in the housing sector, your application may also be considered.
Duration
- 12 months, with an average of eight hours study a week.
Level five qualifications
Our level five qualification is designed to explore the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing manager. On completion of a qualification at this level you can become a chartered member of CIH.
Who is this qualifications for?
- Anyone in a management role in housing.
The CIH Level 5 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.
Suitable for:
Aspiring professionals, supervisors and managers who wish to achieve CIH chartered membership (CIHCM) and have 2 years experience of working in a housing or housing related industry at a management or supervisory level.
You should be working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing and also have completed one of the following:
- CIH Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession
- CIH Level 4 Certificate, or Diploma in Housing Practice, or equivalent.
Duration
- Approximately 12 months, with an average of eight hours study a week.
Choose how you study
Studying online gives you total flexibility to study when and where works for you. Our online study option will give you access to online learning tools, including study materials, resources, links to useful websites, 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.
- You won't find any exams in our qualifications, just assignments staggered throughout your qualification
- All our tutors are established CIH members with excellent knowledge of the housing sector
- Our learning style will help you apply your new knowledge and skills to your day job straight away
This includes:
- Online materials
- Forums
- Quizzes
- Discussions
- Case studies
- Group activities
- Exercises
This includes:
- Online materials
- Forums
- Quizzes
- Online tutor led content session per unit
- Discussions
- Case studies
- Group activities
- Exercises
- Access to a recording of the session via moodle
Blended learning is a method of study which combines face-to-face learning days with online learning. Learners get the best of both worlds - the opportunity to interact, share knowledge and learn from other students and a tutor, and the ability to fit their learning around other commitments.
This includes:
- Online materials
- Forums
- Quizzes
- Discussions
- Case studies
- Group activities
- Exercises
CIH membership included for eligible Housing Academy 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 £80, when studying a full qualification at Levels 2, 3 or 4. Eligible learners undertaking a Level 5 qualification with The Housing Academy will be provided this for up to two years (worth £160).
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.
Get in touch
If you have any questions for our Housing Academy team, we’d love to hear from you. You can email us, give us a call or submit an enquiry and we will be happy to help.
Opening times
- Monday – Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00
- Friday: 09:00 – 16:00
- Weekends & Bank holidays: Closed
Meet our tutors
We have a team of tutors, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, both in housing and education and will support you throughout your qualification.
