Registration Main Page

 There are SIX steps to the HECM Exam Process:

  1. Gather necessary personal information

  2. Registration: Account Creation

  3. Registration: Payment

  4. Registration: Authorization Letter, Selecting your Test Center & Scheduling your Exam

  5. Preparing for the Exam

  6. Take the Exam

 

Registration Checklist

This is a step by step guide through the process of registering and taking the exam. We recommend you read through this guide before registering. If you are ready to register you can click the “Registration Account Creation” link in the menu to your left at any time. Registration Checklist:

  1. Valid credit card from MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express
  2. Last 4 digits of your social security number
  3. Name of your housing counseling agencyIf you are not yet employed at an agency, HUD has indicated test takers enter “No Agency” as a place holder.
  4. HUD Housing Counseling System (HUD HCS) ID number for your agency (five digit number that begins with an "8")If you are not yet employed at an agency, HUD has indicted test takers enter “80000” as a place holder.

Account Creation

HECM Counselor Exam Registration Center: Net Certification Link Under New User? click on Browse the Catalog

  1. Click on Add To Cart to the left of "HECM Counselor Exam"
  2. Click on 'Checkout in the lower right hand corner
  3. Scroll down under New Account on the right side of the page, and type in the information requested:
    • Legal Name
    • Address
    • Phone Number
    • Email AddressThis email will be used to send you important information once you pass the exam, please use an up to date email address.
    • ID and passwordWrite this information down, as you will need it to complete the registration process.
    • Date of Birth
    • Last four digits of your social security number
    • Complete name of your housing counseling agencyIf you are not yet employed at an agency, HUD has indicated test takers enter “No Agency” as a place holder.
    • The HUD Housing Counseling System (HUD HCS) ID number for your agency. This is a five digit number that begins with an "8." If your agency is an affiliate of a national intermediary for housing counseling, the intermediary contact can provide this number.If you are not yet employed at an agency, HUD has indicted test takers enter “80000” as a place holder.
    • If you have an account on FHA Connection, enter it here.  This helps HUD process data for those taking the exam for requalification.
  1. Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page

CHANGES IN YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION If at any time after you register, there is a change in your personal information, please be sure to re-enter the online Registration Center using your "Student ID Login" and "Student Password" to change it. 

Payment

Check the information to make certain it is correct - if it is not, click Modify Personal Information at the bottom of the page and correct it

  1. When the information is correct, click on the click here to enter our secure purchasing area button
  2. Enter your credit card information and click Continue and then on the next screen, after reviewing your information, click  I Authorize This Transaction
  3. When your credit card transaction has been completed, you will be at the Registration Center page; click on the Start link at the bottom of this page
  4. Login using the Login ID (user name) and Password that you created during registration
  5. Click on the Details "magnifying glass" button to the left of HECM Counselor Exam
  6. On the next page, click on the Details link to the right side of the page under the word Actions. You are now ready to select an exam site and schedule your exam. In doing so, keep in mind that you should plan on arriving at the exam site at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time, and allow another 2.5 hours to complete the exam process. If you will be needing special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you will need to schedule your exam and then also call the exam site provider at least 3 weeks before your scheduled exam date to arrange for special assistance (see SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS).

Authorization Letter

 

  1. Once logged into the site, and you’ve clicked Details, you’ll click onClick here to the right of the word Prometric.
  2. Click on the specific Authorization Number that appears on your screen.
  3. Then print out a copy of your Exam Authorization Letter. You must bring the ID number from this letter with you to the exam site when you take the exam.

Sample Exam:

You may see a statement saying that "You are urged to take the sample exam . . ." This is NOT a sample HECM exam. It is a sample "trivia" exam that only gives you practice answering multiple-choice questions on a computer. Sample HECM exam questions can be found on the Sample Exam page.

Find Exam Locations

You can call Prometric at this time to schedule your exam- skip ahead to “Calling to Schedule Exam.” However, if you want to see all the sites where the exam is offered go to Prometric's site and then do the following steps:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  You cannot actually register for the exam at this site until you have registered and paid for your exam. You will get your Authorization Number after you pay.

  1. Select "Academic, Professional Licensure, Government, and Corporate Programs"

  2. Select "Net Certification" as the Testing Program 

  3. Select "United States

  4. Select your state (or a nearby state)

  5. Click "Next"

  6. Click on "Locate a test site"

  7. Select "2 HOUR APPOINTMENT TIME BLOCK"

  8. Click "Next"

  9. Enter your address- all available sites will be listed

Calling to Schedule Exam:
      1. Call (800) 796-9855 three to four (3-4) weeks before your preferred date
      2. Follow the instructions on the Exam Authorization letter about the best times to call Prometric: generally Tuesday to Friday after 3:00 PM Eastern
      3. If you have any problem reaching or scheduling with Prometric, call Net Certification Support at 1-888-845-2634, Option 2.
      4. Be sure to have your Authorization Letter in front of you when you call Thomson Prometric, and use the exact words in the Letter to schedule your exam. For example, you must request the "Net 2" exam rather than the AARP exam, HECM exam, HUD exam, or Cyanna exam. 
      5. When you call Thomson Prometric to schedule your exam appointment, be sure to write down the exam appointment confirmation number that Prometric gives you. (you must bring this confirmation number with you to the exam site when you take the exam).



Special Accommodations

If you need special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act, send an email to HECMinfo@nw.org at least three weeks before the date on which you would like to take the exam. Provide specific information on your requirements as well as where and when you would like to take the exam.

Preparing for the Exam

Use the Preparation and Study Materials provided to prepare for the HECM Exam.

Take the exam - checklist

Before you leave for your exam make sure you have the following:

  1. Authorization Letter and the Authorization ID Number
  2. Exam appointment confirmation number
  3. Photo ID (Must match the name you used when registering for the exam)
  4. No food or drink, books, papers, cell phones, purses, briefcases, etc. A locker will be provided for these items.

Refer to the Authorization Letter for further details.Plan on arriving at the exam site at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time, and allow another 2.5 hours to complete the exam process.