We are the largest provider of housing qualifications in the UK. We provide everyone in the housing sector with an opportunity to continue their professional development through our online and blended qualifications.
Whether you are new to housing or a senior manager, our accredited qualifications can help you develop your understanding of the housing sector.
You can apply to study with CIH Housing Academy by selecting your qualification from the list below and selecting an available date from the table on the following page.
Why study a CIH qualification with Housing Academy?
- We offer a fantastic range of online and online plus qualifications from Level 2 to Level 5
- You won't find any exams in our qualifications, just assignments staggered throughout your qualification
- Our qualifications are flexible to suit your lifestyle and working pattern
- Our learning style will help you apply your new knowledge and skills to your day job straight away
- All our tutors are established CIH members with excellent knowledge of the housing sector
Level two qualifications
For people who are new to the housing sector, or who wish 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.
This qualification provides a general introduction to letting and managing residential property. This programme provides the skills and knowledge to enable landlords and agents working in the market-rented sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to perform their roles at a high standard.
The qualification provides the skills and knowledge to enable landlords and agents working in the market-rented sector to perform their role at a high standard.
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
Level three qualifications
For housing practitioners who are already working in the sector.
Qualifications at this level will enable you to be an effective housing practitioner and will provide you with a broader understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work. The qualification will provide you with knowledge and understanding of a range of key areas in delivering housing services.
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
Duration:
- 37 weeks
The Level 3 Certificate in Letting and Managing Residential Property provides you with the knowledge required to work in a frontline role in letting and managing residential property in England and Wales.
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
Duration:
- 30 weeks
The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a practice-based qualification, aimed at frontline housing workers, and provides an excellent foundation in understanding housing services. It is
ideal if you work with homeless people but want to expand your knowledge of housing practice in general.
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
Level four qualifications
For those in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role in housing.
The level 4 Certificate in Housing qualification is a one year vocational qualification and is at the same level of learning as the first year of an undergraduate degree, which explores areas of housing policy, law, finance, and professional practice.
This qualification is suitable for those looking to move into a housing management role, who are new to housing leadership or management, or looking to gain a level 4 housing qualification.
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
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.
Who is this qualification for?
The CIH Level 4 qualifications are for individuals in or aspiring to a supervisory or management role in housing. They are designed to explore in greater depth the contextual and specialised knowledge for the housing professional.
You can enrol onto this qualification if you:
- You should be 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
Level five qualifications
For those in a management role in housing.
The CIH Level 5 Diploma in Housing provides individuals with knowledge and understanding across key areas of housing policy and practice, at a recognised professional standard. Providing you with the knowledge and skills required to perform in a senior management role.
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 have 2 years experience of working in a housing or housing related industry at a management or supervisory level.
Study methods
Online study
Studying online gives you total flexibility to study when and where works for you. As a CIH Housing Academy online learner, you will have access to a complete set of online learning tools, including study materials written by our team of specialist authors, links to useful websites and resources, and forums where you can share your thoughts and ideas with other learners.
Online plus
Online plus 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.
- 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
Blended learning is a method of study which combines face-to-face learning days with online learning. Hence, 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
What can I expect as a CIH Housing Academy learner?
The CIH Housing Academy will support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.
How we support you:
- At the beginning of the qualification you will be provided with a brief introduction to the qualification and information on how it is delivered, structured and assessed.
- You will be allocated an academic tutor who will offer you support throughout your qualification.
- You can contact your tutor through ‘Moodle messenger’ when logged in to our online learning platform, Moodle.
- Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you feedback as well as providing you with advice and support on any academic issues.
- You will be able to communicate and share ideas with other students via Moodle.
During your studies you have the option to access CIH membership at our learner concessionary rate. Membership is not required to complete a CIH qualification, however, it does give you full access to all our fantastic member benefits.
Contact the Housing Academy Team
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
