In a Competitive Marketplace, Differentiation is Key to Success

Professional designations offer excellent opportunities to improve your skills, advance your career, and be recognized for your commitment to professional growth. For customers, professional designations convey superior training, practical experience, and in-depth knowledge. These are key when contracts are being awarded or you are being hired for a new position in your career. FHBA, in joint venture with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offers many nationally-recognized, professional designation courses, which are open to both members and non-members.

Certified Graduate Associate (CGA)
Learn about the home building business from the best source possible: builders and remodelers with years of field experience.

The Certified Graduate Associate (CGA) certificate program offers associate members an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the fundamentals of the home building industry. The CGA is modeled after the Certified Graduate Builder's comprehensive curriculum of 21, six- hour courses delivered through licensed state and local home builder associations. The CGA designation is attained by completing three required and three elective courses, and maintained by completing one course annually and paying a $50 annual renewal fee. The required courses are: Introduction to Business Management, Customer Service, and Sales & Marketing.

Certified New Home Marketing Professional (CMP) 
CMP is the mid-level designation for IRM students who have completed the marketing intensive IRM courses I through IV.

Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) 
CGB is an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business and project management skills.

Certified Graduate Builder courses offer an overview of key areas in today's home building industry-business management, financial strategies, marketing techniques, construction technologies, and more. To earn a CGB certificate a builder must complete nine, six hour courses. To maintain the designation, a graduate must take one additional CGB course (6 hours) every year after the initial certificate date and pay a $50 renewal fee. The six hours also may be earned by taking approved state and local seminars, NAHB national seminars or college courses related to the building industry.

Benefits of the CGB Designation

• Expanded Knowledge
• Professional Recognition
• Peer Networking
• Improved Business Management
• Marketing Self/Company to Consumers
• CGB Newsletter (New in 2003)

Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) 
The Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) designation is the third and most prestigious designation given by the Institute. The MIRM is the top-level achievement for professionals in new home marketing. The IRM courses I through IV must be completed in order to achieve the MIRM designation.

Benefits of the MIRM Designation
• Increased marketability in the industry
• Enhanced sales and marketing skills
• Enhanced professional image
• Sales and Marketing Magazine
• Listing in the IRM Directory
• Networking

Graduate Master Builder (GMB) 
The courses in this series are more advanced with in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals. To begin the GMB certificate program a participant must have one of the following: 1) a Certified Graduate Builder certificate or certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) certification; or 2) successfully completed three CGB courses and have at least 10 years of building business experience. To earn a GMB certificate, a participant must a) complete five GMB courses or b) complete four GMB courses, plus two CGB/CGR courses (beyond those required for initial certificate).

Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP)  
HCCP is a specialized designation for developers, property managers, asset managers, and others working in the affordable housing industry.

Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR)  
Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) is an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.

The CGR Board of Governors operates the program under the auspices of the Remodelors™ Council of the National Association of Home Builders. The program confers CGR credentials on those in the remodeling field who meet its prescribed standards of business experience and practices and who complete the program’s educational requirements.

CGR is designed to increase remodelers’ professional credibility by identifying those who demonstrate exceptional business integrity, competence and a solid track record of consumer satisfaction.

The CGR program is the industry’s only designation program that emphasizes business management as the foundation of a successful remodeling company.

Benefits of the CGR Designation
• Increased professional credibility
• Enhanced competitive edge in the consumer/remodeler relationship
• Expanded consumer base
• Increased quality of your customer leads
• Broadened networking opportunities within the industry and your local community
• Support your business by providing information and relevant educational opportunities to improve your business management and technical skills

Certified Leasing Professional (CLP) 
The Certified Leasing Professional (CLP) curriculum includes an overview of multifamily leasing and sales skills.

Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) 
The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry – home modifications for the aging-in-place. The NAHB Remodelors Council – in collaboration with the AARP, NAHB Research Center and NAHB Seniors Housing Council – developed this program to provide comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to remodel their homes for aging-in-place.

Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) 
RAM is a comprehensive educational and designation program offered to property management professionals by NAHB.

Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP) 
The CSP designation was designed for specialists in new home sales to enhance their professional image, increase their marketability in the home building industry, and sell more homes!

Advanced RAM  
The Advanced RAM Program provides a higher credential in the field of apartment management for the levels of asset managers, property supervisors, and management company owners