Designed with the housing sector, for the housing sector
Establish yourself as a professional in the housing sector and ensure you have the theoretical knowledge, essential skills, and learning to perform at the highest level in your job and thrive in your career.
CIH qualifications are delivered by our approved study centres. Centres will support you on your journey, working to the specification and the learning outcomes for each course. You can view all our approved study centre here.
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. CIH qualifications range from level two for anyone new to the housing sector, through to postgraduate certificates 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
Our level two qualifications are designed to provide you with an introduction to the subject and are suitable for residents, assistants and administrators. On completion of this level of qualification you can become a member of CIH.
Who are these qualifications for?
- Anyone new to the housing sector
- Anyone wishing to pursue a career in the housing sector
This qualification provides a general introduction to the housing sector and introduce you to some of the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in housing related activities.
Suitable for:
- Anyone new to housing or work in a frontline position and want to improve their general awareness of housing or get their initial qualification.
- Anyone not currently working in housing but are considering a frontline housing position as a career option.
- Tenants, residents and board members wishing to enhance their personal involvement and understanding of housing.
- Anyone working in housing who wants to gain an initial qualification in housing.
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 140 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide an understanding of tenancy law, property management and customer care in the private sector.
Suitable for:
- anyone aspiring to or working in the housing private rented sector
- individual landlords, letting one or a small portfolio or residential properties
- letting and management agents
- people giving advice to tenants (tenant officers, Citizen Advice Bureau workers)
- environmental health officers
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 100 hours
The objective of this qualification is to provide a flexible qualification that is capable of meeting the needs of a variety of tenants and residents participating in local and community housing.
This qualification aims to provide residents with the skills and knowledge that they require to be actively involved in their housing and community.
Suitable for:
- It is not necessary to have any previous knowledge or experience in housing or resident involvement.
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 30 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with an introduction to housing and to working in the sector in Scotland.
Suitable for:
- Anyone aspiring to or working in the housing sector in Scotland.
This qualification is accredited by (Scottish Qualifications Authority) SQA at SCQF level 5 and intended for delivery to the Scottish market.
The qualification will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to maintain communal areas of housing estates and neighbourhoods professionally and safely to a high standard.
Suitable for:
- Anyone aspiring to or working in the housing sector in a maintenance role in Scotland.
Level three qualifications
Our level three qualifications are designed to provide you with contextual and specialised knowledge to support you in your role and career. They are suitable for officers and co-ordinators. On completion of a certificate at this level of qualification you can become a certified practitioner member of CIH.
Who are these qualifications for?
- Housing practitioners who are already working in the sector.
The qualification will provide you with the technical knowledge and understanding across a broad range of frontline housing practices at an operational level. The qualification explores general and specialist areas of housing along with housing policy and law.
Who is this qualification for?
- Anyone working in a frontline capacity in a wide range of housing and housing related roles
- Anyone who already have a level 2 qualification and/or experience of working in housing
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 260 hours.
The objective of the qualification is to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of key areas of managing and letting property.
This qualification will provide you with the knowledge required to work in a front line role in letting and managing residential property. Develop your technical knowledge and get prepared for further study in housing and property.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- are working or resident in the UK and Ireland
- are in or aspiring to a front-line role in letting and managing residential property
- already have a level 2 qualification and/or experience of working in letting and managing residential property, preferably in a front-line role
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 140 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with the knowledge and understanding required to support people experiencing homelessness. This qualification explores core areas of homelessness.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol on this qualification if you:
- Have the potential and opportunity to gain the qualification
- Be working in the housing or homelessness sector
- Have completed a qualification at level 2
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 140 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with the technical knowledge and understanding across a generalist range of housing practice at an operational level.
The qualification explores core areas of housing management and supports the development of your personal growth and engagement in learning and housing.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- are working in a frontline capacity in a wide range of housing and housing related roles
-
already have a level 2 qualification and/or experience of working in housing
-
are working or resident in the UK and Ireland
Estimated study:
- Approximately 130 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with the technical knowledge and understanding of housing maintenance and asset management at an operational level.
The qualification explores housing construction, maintenance and repair, KPIs and health and safety.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- are maintenance professionals working in the housing sector
- or non-technical staff from a customer service or housing management background who want to progress to become a housing maintenance/asset management professional
- working as tenant liaison officers in private construction companies
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 130 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with an introduction to the housing practice profession at an operational level.
The qualification explores general areas of housing, professional practice, occupancy, tenure and lettings, housing markets and supply and demand.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- work in a frontline capacity in a wide range of housing and housing related roles
- have a level 2 qualification and / or experience of working in housing
Estimated study time:
- Approximately 110 hours.
Level four qualifications
Our level four qualifications are designed to explore in greater depth the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing professional. They are suitable for supervisors and managers. 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.
This qualification will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to face the current challenges in housing, covering key aspects of housing policy and law.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- working or resident in the UK and Ireland
- in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role in housing
- already have a level 3 qualification and/or experience of working in housing, preferably at a supervisory/management level
Estimated study time
- Approximately 360 hours.
The objective of this qualification is to provide you with the knowledge required to manage a housing maintenance service.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- working or resident in the UK and Ireland
- who are seeking or are currently employed within either a management or senior technical role
- who are providing a service in the management of operations and surveying or technical staff
- already have a level 3 qualification and/or experience of working in housing, preferably at a supervisory/management level
Estimated study time
- Approximately 360 hours.
Level five qualification
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.
This qualification will provide you with the necessary strategic skills and knowledge to face the current challenges in housing, covering key aspects of leadership, management and ethics. Successful completion of this qualification including the professional practice skills for housing unit will lead to CIH Chartered membership.
Who is this qualification for?
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- work or reside in the UK and Ireland
- aspire to or are working in a strategic housing management role
- already have a level 4 qualification and/or experience of working in a management/strategic role in housing
Estimated study time
- Approximately 320 hours.
Graduate qualifications are for those in or aspiring to a strategic management role in housing. They are designed to provide academic and practical perspectives to meet your professional aspirations.
Choose how you study
CIH qualifications are delivered by our approved study centres.
Centres will support you on your journey, working to the specification and the learning outcomes for each course. Courses can be offered on a part-time, full-time, blended or via online learning.
The CIH awarding organisation partners with approved centres to deliver a range of qualifications to the housing and property management sectors. Find out more about being able to deliver our qualification programmes to the housing and property management sectors.
