Certification Programs

Economic Development | Housing Development | Continuing Education and Recertification

Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program™

"NDC's EDFP Certification Program gave me the foundation to work with a broad range of community development players.  Through the training, I acquired the skills and ability that allow me to quickly analyze and determine feasible projects."

— Richard LoPresti, Director, Department of Economic and Community Development, State of Connecticut

Our training is specially geared to developing knowledge and skills essential to making deals happen.  The Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Certification Program is a rigorous, four-course training series that explores the skills essential for the successful practice of economic development - business credit and real estate finance analysis techniques, loan packaging procedures, negotiating and problem solving skills and deal structuring techniques.  Participants in the EDFP Certification Program build the capacity to translate development opportunities into results for their communities.  Topics covered in the EDFP Certification Program include the following:

• Business credit
• Real estate finance analysis
• Loan packaging procedures
• Negotiating and problem solving skills
• Deal structuring techniques

You will learn from the real world examples of NDC course instructors.  In addition to lessons drawn from actual projects, you will learn through hands-on exercises.  You will be presented with projects and will be challenged to complete them successfully.

Certification candidates must complete all four courses and pass the examination administered on the final day of each class.  You may attend the courses at your own pace but may not enroll in any course until you have met all prerequisites.

NDC training classes are offered in a variety of locations and various times throughout the year. View a complete listing of upcoming courses for the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Certification Program. We look forward to your participation.

Housing Development Finance Professional Certification Program™

NDC’s Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) Certification Program is a four-course training program that explores the development process, financial analysis techniques and structuring and negotiating skills needed to successfully develop and finance affordable home ownership and rental housing development.  Skills are taught within the context of case studies based on actual affordable housing development deals that members of our professional staff have structured and implemented in conjunction with clients in urban and rural communities across the country.

Topics covered in the HDFP Certification Program are:

• Understanding the housing development process
• Financial analysis techniques
• Deal Structuring – putting together the financing and other components of a project
• Negotiating – the skills needed to bring the components together

Certification candidates must complete all four courses and pass the examination administered on the final day of each class.  You may attend the courses at your own pace but may not enroll in any course until you have met all prerequisites.

NDC training classes are offered in a variety of locations and various times throughout the year. View a complete listing of upcoming courses for the Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) Certification Program. We look forward to your participation.

Continuing Education and Recertification

Update your NDC certification while learning the latest development tools and techniques.  Beginning in 2013, NDC is instituting a continuing education/recertification requirement designed to maintain your professional certification and increase your skills.  Participation in a variety of professional education and industry-wide events and activities will make the continuing education process both meaningful and easy to complete.  As an NDC-certified EDFP or HDFP, you are recognized as a leader in your field.  Keeping your certification and skills up-to-date with continuing education, a requisite of numerous professions, will enhance the recognition of your peers, the value of your certification, and most important, your ability to improve underserved low and moderate-income communities.

Activities

Individuals who complete one or more of the following approved activities will meet NDC’s continuing education requirements:

NDC

• Attend the NDC Academy (go to www.NDCAcademy2013.org for details)
• Be selected and serve as an NDC Academy panelist or program expert
• Submit a project for the NDC Academy awards
• Complete an NDC training course or courses totaling three days
• Complete three NDC webinars, or a combination of webinars and training courses, totaling three days

Non-NDC

• Complete an approved provider’s courses or webinars consisting of three days of training
• Participate in an approved national organization’s annual conference
• Publish an article in an approved industry trade publication

Approved activities and providers will be reviewed periodically and new activities and providers will be added.  NDC welcomes suggestions for additional activities and providers with the understanding that vetting of suggestions will require a small fee to cover NDC’s due diligence (see Continuing Education Application for details).

Process

EDFPs and HDFPs who complete three units (generally, one unit equals one day) of approved activities will fulfill NDC’s continuing education requirements.  All EDFPs and HDFPs must complete the continuing education requirements every three years.  Individuals who were certified on or before December 31, 2012 will have three years from this date to meet the requirements.  People who are awarded certification after December 31, 2012 must complete the requirements within three years of their date of certification.
 
Continuing Education/Recertification Application

The Continuing Education/Recertification Application should be completed and submitted well in advance of completing approved activities.  Individuals who propose new activities for NDC’s consideration must submit their application at least six months in advance.

Applicants need to demonstrate their ongoing work in economic, housing or community development since the date of their certification or their most recent completion of the continuing education requirements.  An updated resume should be submitted with the application.  Individuals who meet NDC’s continuing education application requirements will be notified of application approval.  For those who do not meet requirements, NDC will provide an explanation of all application deficiencies.

Additional Information

NDC encourages all certified EDFPs and HDFPs to complete the continuing education program.  In addition to the benefits already mentioned, they will receive a special tuition discount for NDC courses and webinars that fulfill the requirements.  Individuals who complete the continuing education requirements will also receive a plaque that recognizes their accomplishment.  NDC will not de-certify individuals who choose not to participate in the program.  However, applicants for new jobs often refer potential employers to us for verification of their certification, which in the future, will include reporting on the status of continuing education.

A group of NDC staff members will oversee the continuing education program and make adjustments and refinements to improve the process.

For additional information, contact NDC’s Training Division at (859) 578-4850 or training@nationaldevelopmentcouncil.org.