Taking the Exam at a Test Center

Candidates sit for the exam at a test center for in-person proctoring. The test center provides all required equipment and a secure testing environment. The fee is $100. Reasonable Accommodations are available upon request approval.

Test Center Information

The HUD Housing Counselor Certification Exam is only offered at Kryterion Test Centers. To find a Kryterion test center near you, visit the Locate a Test Center page.

Test Taker ID Details

Test Takers are required to present two forms of identification. One must be a government-issued photo ID from the  Primary ID tab.

The name on your two forms of identification must match exactly with your name as specified in your test-taker profile on HUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov. Additionally, all identification must be current. Expired identification will not be accepted.

Primary Photo ID Examples

  • Government (Local, State, Province or Country) issued driver’s license or identification card
  • Passport
  • Military Identification
  • National Identification card

Secondary ID Exmples

  • Bank debit or credit card
  • Employee Identification card
  • Student Identification card
  • Retail membership card
  • Wholesale membership card

Advice for a Successful Test Center Exam

  • Print your Assessment Confirmation Email and bring it with you to your exam
  • Verify both Primary Photo ID and Secondary ID are valid (not expired) and will be valid on test date
  • Arrive up to 15 minutes early for your exam
  • Be prepared for test center staff to secure all of your personal items in a locker during your exam
  • Be prepared to remove your glasses briefly for examination by test center staff
  • Request assistance from test center staff immediately if you encounter any technical issues during the exam

Test Center Closures

View this Important Message to learn about the impact of COVID-19 and ongoing civil unrest on test center availability.

Taking the Exam Online

Candidates sit for the exam at their home or office for virtual proctoring. The candidate is responsible for providing their own equipment and for ensuring a secure test environment. The fee is $60 plus the cost of equipment, including an external webcam. Reasonable Accommodations are available upon request approval.

Note: candidates are automatically logged into Kryterion's Webassessor site with their HUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov account when they proceed to the Exam Status Center. Candidates should proceed to the Exam Status Center to complete the preparation steps and launch the exam. A separate Webassessor log-in is not required for any step in this process.

Computer Requirements

To ensure you are able to launch your exam, verify that your computer meets the hardware and software requirements on the Kryterion website here. 

Camera Requirements

NOTE: Beginning August 6, 2020, HUD will no longer require online exam candidates to use an external camera. HUD will accept any camera for the online certification exam. This change is being made due to the increased demand for online testing and the slow reopening of testing centers that closed due to Covid-19. This change will be revaluated in the future based on security, demand, and availability.

Watch this video for information on proper camera placement.

A camera with a heavy base and flexible neck allows for easier placement. The webcam you choose must meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum Video Resolution of 720p with a frame rate of 30 fps
  • High Speed USB 2.0 connection - Plug and Play preferred
  • Cord length of 6 ft (2 m) or more
  • Manual focus ring
  • No auto zoom or auto focus allowed. These features must be turned off.
  • Built-in microphone

You will not be allowed to use an internal laptop camera. The following cameras DO NOT meet requirements:

  • Digital cameras/camcorders
  • Smartphones
  • GoPros
  • Tablets
  • PlayStation Eye/Camera
  • Eye Toy
  • Kinect
  • Additional laptops/computers.

For information on acceptable external cameras read the guidelines here.

Creating Your Biometric Profile

Biometrics are distinctive and measurable identifiers used to confirm that people are who they say they are. Kryterion uses facial recognition. Watch this video for instructions on taking your enrollment photo.

Create your Biometric Profile after you register for the online exam. HUD test takers can create their Biometirc Profile via the Exam Status Center. For further instructions on this process, review the Kryterion guidelines here.

Installing Sentinel Secure

Sentinel Secure software allows the proctor to monitor your computer and view the camera stream.

Kryterion recommends that you use a personal computer and network. Many office networks and systems have unknown security measures set in place and may not allow the Sentinel software to open or the camera feed to work. Please consult your IT Department if you plan to use an office computer or network.

Advice for a Successful Online Exam

Preparation & Launch

  • Read Kryterion's Exam Launch and Setup article on the Kryterion Online Exam Support page
  • Download Sentinel Secure from the Exam Status Center, create your Biometrics Profile, and test your equipment at least one day before your exam. 
  • Some candidates may require assistance from their IT Department to install Sentinel Secure and troubleshoot any network or equipment issues.
  • Exams should be launched at least 10 minutes before the appointment time, but may be launched up to 20 minutes after.
  • Upon launching, you will be queued up for the next available proctor and alerted when a proctor becomes available.
  • Keystroke analytics has been eliminated from the Biometrics requirements for the online HUD Housing Counseling Certification Exam.
  • Candidates taking the exam online must now produce valid, government issued photo ID to the proctor upon request. The name on your identification must match exactly with your name as specified in your test-taker profile on HUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov. Additionally, all identification must be current. Expired identification will not be accepted.

Communicating with the Proctor

  • The proctor will communicate with you through a chat feature on the computer. Be prepared for possible interruptions by proctor requests during the exam.
  • Prepare to work with the proctor before beginning the exam to ensure the testing environment and camera placement are in compliance.
  • Use a camera stand to allow for quick adjustments to camera placement. Make sure the camera view includes your eyes, hands, keyboard, and mouse. 
  • NOTE: Beginning August 6, 2020, HUD will accept any camera for the online exam. An external camera will no longer be required until further notice.
  • If you wear glasses, the proctor will ask you to remove them and present them for inspection through the camera.

Online Test Taker ID Details

Test Takers are required to present a government-issued photo ID from the Primary ID tab  list to the proctor upon request.

The name on your identification must match exactly with your name as specified in your test-taker profile on HUDHousingCounselors.hud.gov. Additionally, all identification must be current. Expired identification will not be accepted.