How to become a Certified 203k Contractor^®

The process of becoming a Certified 203k Contractor^® starts here. After reading the information below (sections I-VI), contractor applicants will complete the online application form at the bottom of this page.

I. Introduction
Earning the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor^® and being listed on the National Directory of Certified 203k Contractors^® for the FHA 203k loan involves education and verification of the contractor's credentials, references, and residential remodel/rehabilitation/construction experience.

The 203k Contractor Certification Program enables contractors to have the necessary knowledge to master their role as a Certified 203k Contractor^®, properly and efficiently participate with 203k renovation jobs, and to connect with customers, lenders, sellers, and Realtors^® who need a Certified 203k Contractor^®.

The 203k Contractor Certification Program contains the education course for contractors for the FHA 203k loan and assures the customers, lenders, asset managers and Realtors® who recommend or use a Certified 203k Contractor^® of the most knowledgeable and experienced contractor for their FHA 203k loan needs.

Created to ensure that contractors are properly educated, prepared and informed on the complexities of the FHA 203k Rehabilitation Loan, this education-based program is a prerequisite to getting listed in the 203k Contractor Directory, thus earning the designation as a Certified 203k Contractor^®.

II. Education Course ($850)

Because the designation as a Certified 203k Contractor^® is earned and retained by the company and is not associated with a person, the 203k Contractor Education Course must be completed by the owner/principal of the company or the individual who holds the contractor license (applicable in areas where licensing is required for contractors).

The 203k Contractor Education Course includes the 170-page Certified 203k Contractor^® Manual, 3-hour 203k contractor education course (conducted online and organized into 19 sessions), HUD/FHA  203k Lender Training Manual, and the 70-question 203k test. Contractor applicants must pass the 70-question test (open book & open source) with minimum 80%.

The contractor will then complete and submit their references, credentials, and experience (with supporting documentation) to to be verified. If the application is sufficiently verified and approved, the contractor company will be approved to be listed in the 203k Contractor Directory at no cost in one city + one trade, thus earning the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor^®. Selecting additional cities or trades is optional.

Additional employees (company staff only) are also encouraged to complete the 203k Contractor Education Course (no additional fee).

Contractor applicants will have a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete the education course, which begins the day the application form below is submitted. The average time it takes to complete the education course requirements is 10 hours. 

III. Bypass Option for 203k-Experienced Contractors ($400)
Contractors who are experienced with both versions of the 203k (Standard & Limited) may be permitted to bypass the required education course if the following requirements are met:

• Contractor must be lead contractor (e.g., General Contractor) on minimum six (6) completed 203k renovation jobs during the past 24 months (minimum of 3 Standard 203k's)
• The owner/principle or the individual who holds the contractor license (applicable in areas where licensing is required for contractors) must pass the 203k test with minimum 80% grade
• Contractor's 203k project papers for 1 FHA 203k project will be reviewed/verified. The 203k Project Papers include:
  • 203k Consultant's SOR/WWU
  • Contractor's proposal/estimate/bid
  • Completed 203k change order form
  • Completed 203k draw request form
• Contractor's 203k experience with both versions (Standard & Limited) will also be verified by contacting the references provided by the contractor applicant (203k lenders, 203k Consultants, Realtors^® and 203k customers)
• Bypass Application fee is $400.

If the 203k test score is minimum 80% and the references, credentials, and 203k experience are sufficiently verified and approved, the contractor company will be approved to bypass the education course.

Approval to bypass the required 203k Contractor Education Course is rare, because with HUD/FHA's ever-changing 203k guidelines, it may be very difficult to pass the 203k Test if the contractor applicant is not familiar with all the new rules. In fact, 203k experienced contractors will learn something new when taking the 203k Contractor Education Course, and contractors are encouraged to obtain the most complete and current information on how to properly participate with the 203k and efficiently integrate the 203k within their company. These standards ensure the integrity of the 203k Contractor Program and that all Certified 203k Contractors^® will succeed with their participation of the 203k. If you or your company will not benefit from this 203k education, already has the most complete understanding of the 203k, and meets the above minimum requirements, you many add this bypass request to your online application request below.

IV. Accreditation Process
(must be completed within 30 calendar days)

The 203k Contractor Education, Certification, and Accreditation process consists of the following:

1. Contractor applicants must read the all the information provided on this page (Sections I-VI), prior to completing the online application request at bottom of page.
2. Contractor applicants must read the About and FAQ pages.
3. Contractor applicants should add info@203kContractors.com as a safe/approve email sender to their email account to avoid important emails going to junk/spam and to ensure they receive the necessary communication.
4. Contractor applicants may then complete the online application request below.
5. Contractor applicants will receive login instructions within 1 (one) business day to access the 203k Contractor Education Program or will receive instructions regarding how to bypass the Education course if the minimum bypass requirements have been met.
6. Contractor applicants then complete and submit the 203k test (minimum passing score is 80%) and their references, credentials, and experience along with supporting documentation.
7. Upon passing the test with minimum 80% score, contractor applicants will have their references, credentials, and experience verified. 
8. After application approval, contractor applicants will select their listing options for the 203k Contractor Directory
9. Contractor applicants will sign the Listing Agreement Packet, which is the final step to becoming a Certified 203k Contractor^®

Because the 203k Loan has very specific Government and Lender time lines, contractor applicants must complete the 203k Contractor Certification process in a timely manner, which is part of the accreditation process. This permits contractors to get acclimated with the strict time lines inherent with the FHA 203k Loan.

Once the online application request is submitted below, contractors will have a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete the steps listed above.

V. Benefits of being a Certified 203k Contractor^®

• Extensive education on FHA's Section 203(k) Rehabilitation Loan Program
• Notifications of any changes to FHA guidelines that effect the 203k
• Validate contractor's knowledge, understanding and/or experience with the FHA 203k Loan
• Free listing in the 203k Contractor Directory
  
• Designated as a Certified 203k Contractor^®
• Connected with all of the Mortgage Lenders who do FHA 203k Loans
• Connected with all of the FHA 203k Consultants 
• FHA 203k marketing materials, such as:
  • Certificate of Accreditation
  • Certified 203k Contractor® Logo 
  • Press Release about becoming a Certified 203k Contractor^®
    
  • "Benefits of the FHA 203k Loan" brochures (customized with contractor's information)
    
  • FHA 203k marketing pieces for your industry partners (Lenders and Realtors^®)
  • FHA 203k Marketing Webinar
• Continuing Education opportunities
• 203k Real Estate CE Classes for your Realtor^® and Lender partners conducted by Paul Welden, Director 203k Contractor Program, who has been a licensed Real Estate Agent since 2005
• Free support and assistance with FHA or 203k related items
  

VI. Continuing Education

Routine follow-ups (monthly, quarterly and annually) and Continuing Education are conducted on all Certified 203k Contractors^® to ensure appropriate retention of the 203k education and proper administration of the 203k, and participation is required in order to retain the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor^®.

Certified 203k Contractor^® Application Form