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How to become a Certified 203k Contractor®

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  • How to become a Certified 203k Contractor®

Certified 203k Contractor Logo

To apply to earn the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor®, complete the 2 step process below.

Contractor applicants must read all of the information in Step 1: Requirements to learn if your company meets the minimum requirements and to receive the application code before proceeding to Step 2: Application.

Step 1 of 2: Requirements (read all sections I-VII)

I. Qualifications

These are the minimum qualifications to earn the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor®.

  1. License/Registration (only necessary if the contractor service area requires it)
  2. Insurance (minimum $500,000 general liability policy)
  3. Experience
    • 3 residential homeowner projects that were completed within the previous 24 months
  4. Working Capital (minimum $15,000), which is defined as personal or business funds immediately available to pay for materials & labor, such as but not limited to (may use as many of these as necessary):
    • deposit accounts (checking/savings), or
    • credit cards, or
    • credit lines with banks, or
    • credit lines from investors, or
    • credit lines from building/remodeling suppliers (Home Depot, Lowe's, ProBuild, Ferguson's, Menards, etc.).
  5. Completing the 203k Contractor Education Course
  6. Earning a minimum 80% on the 203k Test (100-questions, multiple choice, open book, open source)

II. Introduction

The FHA 203k Rehabilitation Loan was created in 1978 as a method to manage and dispose of HUD owned muti-family projects. It now includes almost all residential properties among many other changes.

The 203k Contractor Certification Program provides the most recent up to date guidelines, including the most recent updates from HUD in November 2024.

The 203k Contractor Certification Program is chartered with the responsibility of properly educating & preparing contractors to work within the guidelines of the FHA 203k Rehabilitation Loan and completing it is a prerequisite to becoming a Certified 203k Contractor® & getting listed in the 203k Contractor Directory.

Contractors will receive the necessary knowledge to master their role as a Certified 203k Contractor® allowing them to properly and efficiently participate with 203k renovation jobs & will also be connected with customers, lenders, sellers, and Realtors® who need a Certified 203k Contractor®.

III. Certification Process

The 203k Contractor Certification process takes the average contractor about 15 hours to complete and 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 form below.
  2. Contractor applicants must read the About and FAQ pages.
  3. Contractor applicants must add info@203kContractors.com as a safe/approve email sender to ensure receipt of necessary communication and prevent them going to junk/spam
  4. Contractor applicants complete the online application form below.
  5. Contractor applicants will receive login credentials within 1 (one) business day to access the 203k Contractor Education Portal.
  6. Contractor applicants will complete the course & test (minimum passing score is 80%).
  7. Contractor applicants will have their references, credentials, experience, and working capital verified while they are completing the course.
  8. Contractor applicants determine how their company will be displayed in the 203k Contractor Directory.
  9. The accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor® is now officially earned

IV. Education Course

The 203k Contractor Education Course fee is $975 and teaches the new FHA 203k rules that are effective as of November 4, 2024.

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 140-page Certified 203k Contractor® Training Manual,
  • 203k Education Course (3.5-hours total separated into 15 sessions),
  • HUD/FHA  203k Updates Guide (1 hour), and
  • The 100-question, open book, multiple choice test on the 203k guidelines

Minimum passing grade is 80%.

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 10-15 hours.

V. Continuing Education

Continuing education is free, quarterly, takes about 45 minutes each time, and required in order to retain the accreditation as a Certified 203k Contractor®.

VI. Benefits

  • Extensive education on the FHA 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
  • Assistance with becoming an FHA 203k Consultant
  • Continuing Education opportunities
  • 203k Real Estate CE Classes for your Realtor® and Lender partners
  • Free support and assistance with FHA or 203k related items

VII. Final

Because you read the sections I-VI, your company has earned a $75 credit towards the 203k Contractor Certification Education Course. Enter code 203k2025Q2 on the first page of the online application form below.

*** Proceed to Step 2 (Application) below ***

Email Qualifying Code

(optional) Enter your email if you would like the code emailed to you, so that you do not forget it.

Enter email again

Step 2 of 2: Certified 203k Contractor® Application

Certified 203k Contractor Application

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Completing this online application form to become a Certified 203k Contractor® will take approximately 5-10 minutes.

After applying, contractors are permitted a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete the 203k Contractor Education Course.

Please click the button below to "Start/Continue the Application".

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