Overview

NAHB offers dozens of educational courses and seminars especially tailored for your needs as a building professional. These programs focus on practical training for newcomers and veterans alike, with lots of ideas and strategies you can use every day to improve your business and advance your career.

Business Management Courses

Business Management for Building Professionals (Online Only)

Learn the management skills that give industry leaders the edge. This on-demand course will give you a solid foundation for managing small- to medium-sized building/remodeling and service companies. Learn critical elements, from planning to evaluating progress, and receive practical tips and tools for managing a business successfully. You’ll get a solid grasp of business best practices and practical tools of value whether you are a new or experienced business owner.

As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe how to plan effectively for achieving business success
  • Describe the organization and processes that a company needs to have in place to run effectively
  • Identify tools and techniques to effectively execute the planning, management, and performance evaluation required for long term business success
  • Identify common business challenges and ways to overcome them
  • Examine best practices in how to create, implement, and manage efficient, effective construction processes and systems

Who Should Take This Course?

Builders, remodelers, and other home building industry professionals interested in understanding the challenges and best practices involved in managing a small to medium home building/remodeling business.

Estimating: The First Line of Defense for Profits

This revised half-day course will focus specifically on Estimating. The ability to effectively prepare for a project is vital to your success. Project preparation consists of multiple processes that work together and, when performed effectively, increase your efficiency and profitability, improve client satisfaction and enhance team and vendor relationships. Come away with the knowledge and skills to perform one of the critical processes in project preparation: estimating costs.

As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Illustrate how estimating and works to assist in effective project set up.
  • Identify the fundamentals of estimating to identify the costs (not the selling price).
  • Use spreadsheets and packaged estimating systems.
  • Identify techniques for estimating in an ever-changing market.

The Project Schedule as a Planning and Communication Tool

The ability to effectively prepare for a project is vital to the success of any business. Project preparation consists of multiple processes that work together and, when performed effectively, enable you to increase your efficiency, achieve greater client satisfaction, enhance team and vendor relationships, and protect profitability. This course provides you with the knowledge base and skills to perform one of the critical processes in project preparation: creating the schedule to complete the project.

As a graduate of this course you will be able to:

  • Explain the importance of the project schedule as a planning tool
  • Describe the importance of the schedule as a communication tool
  • Explore the fundamental components of a schedule
  • Distinguish between the different types of schedules
  • Create a project schedule
  • Review contract considerations regarding scheduling

Business Accounting – A Road Map to Profitability

The financial score card, or measurement of an owner’s or a company’s success, is based on managing your finances effectively. This course provides you with the basics of financial planning, budgeting, construction business accounting, job cost systems, and financing options that will enable you to track and analyze cost of goods, overhead, and individual job costs as well as communicate about them effectively. Topics include accounting terminology, a chart of accounts, types of records and reports to be maintained, and loan products that can provide financing alternatives.

As a graduate of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Define concepts and terminology basic to construction business accounting
  • Describe the value and use of common financial reports in measuring business performance, job cost accounting and variance analysis
  • Explain the importance and process of measuring and analyzing job cost against performance
  • Identify the essentials of operating capital funding methods
  • Identify common construction and permanent mortgage products and the relative builder/client positions
  • Recognize the differences between active and passive income endeavors
  • Access templates for a personal budget, a company budget, a chart of accounts, an income statement and balance sheet reports

This course qualifies for 3.0 CE for AIBD, 3 LUs for AIA,

Financial Management

 Improve your understanding of financial reports and learn how to use analytical tools that increase profit potential and add important data to decision making. This course for building professionals explores many tools that will allow you to take your company’s financial temperature and other vital signs and choose corrective measures to assure continued business health.

Learn how to start with business plans, budgets, and goals, informed by your local business potential, and choose the most profitable paths to move forward. Learn about specific financial tools, including ratio analysis tips, pricing formulas, labor burden calculators, and slippage calculators, which will help you make money on all projects. Finally, we will demonstrate the value and use of pro forma analysis to predict profits and cash flows.

What to expect from this course:

  • A current and accurate business plan is important for a successful business. In this course, you will review a sample business plan and analyze financial results using ratios.
  • In business and in life, goals are an essential part of planning. This course will assist you in identifying personal and business goals and quantifying the effects to your financial planning.
  • One of the necessary tools in a business plan is the pro forma. This course will help you to assemble pro formas to create an operating budget that incorporates personal and business goals.
  • One thing that is certain in life is change. In this course you will identify ways to effectively manage a business’s financial results and respond to changes.


Using Contracts & Law to Protect Your Assets

Protect your business against legal problems with well-written contracts. Many construction or remodeling companies are too small to hire full-time legal staff, so it’s important to understand basic contract law.

This course provides a step-by-step explanation of how contracts sustain positive customer and supplier relations, provide for resolution of disputes and minimize the risk of litigation. You will learn about mandatory and optional provisions, warranties and arbitration procedures. Special emphasis is given to troubleshooting contracts for detrimental provisions.

As a graduate of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe elements, benefits and interpretation principles of contracts.
  • Describe contracts recommended for builders and remodelers (sales agreements, construction contracts, remodeling contracts, warranties and subcontractor agreements), including mandatory and optional provisions.
  • Identify additional resources related to construction law.
  • Explain how contracts sustain positive customer and supplier relations, provide for resolution of disputes and minimize the risk of litigation.

Who Should Take This Course?

  • Architects, planners, designers
  • 50+ housing, commercial, custom, production and small volume contractors and builders
  • Insurance agents
  • Lawyers
  • Real estate agents
  • Remodelers
  • Subcontractors and specialty trades

Additional Credit Information

6 AIBD CEU. All face-to-face and online education provided by NAHB is approved by the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) for continuing education units. Members of the Institute seeking credit must self-report by submitting a form and providing verification of attendance or completion. Credit is awarded as 1.0 CE unit per contact hour.

Risk Management and Insurance for Building Professionals

This reimagined course provides a clear overview of risk management practices in a home building business. The comprehensive course covers risk management topics like contractual risk transfer, financing risk, construction loss exposures, and solutions for controlling risk through insurance coverage.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Define and explain the purpose and use of Risk Management
  • Identify and address potential sources of business risk
  • Discuss industry specific methodologies for assessing and managing risk, such as use of insurance and contractual risk-shifting mechanisms
  • Select and employ appropriate risk mitigation solutions
  • Distinguish and report on risks for both internal and external audiences
  • Practice basic insurance claims processes
  • Evaluate and modify existing organizational Risk Management and Business Continuity processes.

Expanding & Diversifying Business Opportunities

Identify opportunities to build and diversify your business. This course examines more than 25 different opportunities within the construction industry that are ideal for expansion. Explore the different approaches and options diversification allows including commercial building, remodeling, special use structures and institutional projects. You’ll analyze the factors that affect success in diversification and learn the due diligence steps to take when preparing to diversify.

As a graduate of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Define the concept of diversification and identify its related benefits and risks
  • Identify types of businesses that provide diversification opportunities for builders, remodelers, residential contractors and small commercial contractors
  • Consider aspects of each diversification opportunity before selecting it as a viable option
  • Determine whether diversification is a desirable option
  • Identify due diligence that should be performed once an area of diversification is chosen

Who Should Take this Course?

This course is intended for: small volume builders, custom builders, remodelers, contractors and potentially trade partners who are looking to expand their business opportunities and add multiple income streams to their primary business.

In addition, it is highly recommended that anyone considering diversification should be on solid footing with their primary business as the time and investment of starting a new one is significant.

This course qualifies for:

.6 CE for AIBD

High Performance Building Courses

Green and high-performance construction is turning to the mainstream. More than theory, this series of hands-on classes are held with the support and cooperation of Green Building Advisor, the leading green web publication in the field. The emphasis is on building science: a core competency in a field that changes almost daily as new products and techniques are introduced. The classes are closely aligned with the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard, which includes chapters on energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, lot and site development and homeowner education.

Basics of High Performance Building (Online only)

Implementing cost-effective green building techniques into your construction practice requires a whole-house approach to building science. In this course, you will learn how to incorporate green building practices in the construction of a new home, remodel, site development or multifamily project. With a focus on flexibility, building science basics and cost-effective solutions, the course provides tools for a successful green project and includes a review of the newly revised ICC 700-2020 National Green Building Standard®. This course must be taken in its entirety and is made-up of six modules, each focusing on a different high performance topic.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Integrate sound building science principles and a whole-house approach into the design, construction and remodeling process;
  • Analyze an array of water-, resource- and energy-efficiency solutions and techniques as well as indoor environmental quality practices;
  • Examine specific practices in each chapter of the ICC 700-2020 National Green Building Standard®; and
  • Explore how to market and sell in the expanding green home marketplace

Additional Credit Information 6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA

High-Performance Building: Building Science

This course will help participants develop a foundation in the principles of building science for high-performance homes. Understanding the principles of energy usage, moisture migration, air flow, and their relationship to each other in and around a building are key to designing, constructing, and maintaining healthy and energy efficient buildings.

This course will examine each of the principles, their relationships, and potential positive and negative outcomes with an eye to durable, healthy, and efficient homes.

  • Discover the importance of understanding Building Science.
  • Examine the principles of energy usage, moisture movement, and air flow.
  • Examine the Hygrothermal Relationship between all three.
  • Demonstrate the impact of building science principles on energy efficiency, durability, and occupant health.

Additional Credit Information

6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by NAHB. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

Advanced High-Performance Building: Best Practices for Climate Zones

A thorough understanding of building science and the climate zone(s) where a home is built can lead to a safer and healthier home. When it comes to high performance home design and construction, the principles of building science remain constant, while their application is determined by a project’s location. This course explains building science principles and demonstrates how to cost-effectively apply them to home building practices and construction techniques to increase the efficiency, comfort and durability of a home in each climate zone.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Examine how building envelopes can be optimized for each climate zone to maximize home performance in remodeling projects.
  • Review the benefits of systems based design and construction and how to properly implement these practices in a building project.
  • Apply building science principles to building projects to maximize home performance and comfort.
  • Identify the best climate zone-specific building practices based on building science and systems based design principles.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is intended for builders, remodelers, developers, architects, designers, construction trades, and associated industry professionals that are seeking cost effective, high performance building practices applicable to their climate zone. Building science principles are universal but their application can vary dependent on the individual climate zone and local characteristics.

Additional Credit Information

6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by NAHB. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

Land Development Courses

Land Development: Getting Started, Business Management & Financing

Becoming a land developer is not for the meek. But successful land development can substantially increase revenue and profit for smaller builders. This course will introduce participants to the land acquisition and development process and explore the crucial first steps to becoming a successful developer. You will develop strategies for finding land development opportunities for small projects (two to 50 lots) and discuss which business structure is best for your business. Participants will get a balanced perspective on what it takes to develop land and, more importantly, learn approaches to limit risk and maximize profits. The level of content in this course is for the novice learner.

What to expect from this course:

You will be introduced to the land acquisition and development process and review the first five steps of this eight-step process: finding land, market analysis, tying up land/preliminary investigation, concept plans and due diligence.

As a building professional who is new to the land development business, you will develop strategies for finding land development opportunities for small building projects (2 – 50 lots) by examining real-world examples.

And you will have the opportunity to review key business structures and financing options for running a small volume land development business.

Who Should Take this Course?

This course is primarily targeted at small volume and custom home builders.

Site Planning, Approvals & Construction

Take the next step to becoming a small volume land developer by exploring actual site planning and preliminary platting. In this course, you will learn about the typical approval and final platting process through a governing authority. We will also discuss construction of improvements and getting the property ready to sell or develop. The level of content in this course is for individuals new to the land development process.

What to expect from this course:

  • You will review the land acquisition and development process and explore the last three steps of this eight-step process: site planning, government approvals, and site improvements.
  • Recognize what it takes to successfully create a site plan and a preliminary plat.
  • Become familiar with the typical government approval process for land development, including the need for public land donation.
  • Identify what construction improvements are necessary to get the property ready to sell or develop.

Who Should take this course?

This course is primarily targeted at small volume and custom home builders.

Marketing and Sales Courses

House Construction as a Selling Tool (Online Only)

This on-demand course is designed to help building industry professionals more thoroughly understand the entire building process and to better present the benefits of the builder’s construction to potential buyers, while working as a unified team with the construction side of the operation. The primary audience for this course is sales staff and real estate agents representing builders as well as small builders, custom builders and remodelers. It is also intended for the professional who is new to the construction industry, those who want to expand their knowledge base, and anyone who fields homebuyer questions about the building process.

As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Use improved knowledge of how communities are developed and houses are built to create value in the buyer’s mind
  • Respond confidently to buyer questions and concerns about all phases of building a home and community
  • Describe the materials and methods typically used in residential construction and their benefits to the homeowner using plain language rather than technical terms
  • Describe the roles of all the stakeholders involved in constructing or remodeling a home and how to collaborate to set expectations to benefit the homeowner
  • Use the final steps in the sales process to close the sale, maintain customer satisfaction and generate new sales leads

Understanding Today’s New Home Buyer

This course will explore today’s home buyers. Who are they? How do they think? What affects their buying decision?

There are a variety of buyer profiles for new home purchases. As new home sales professionals, we first identify our buyer profile and then we must understand what motivates those who fit that profile to be effective in sales and marketing.

This course will explore the dynamics of personalities, generations, cultures, and their relationship to today’s home buyer. Why, where, and how are they making their home buying decisions? How are home buyers affected by global, national and local events, trends, and cultures? Can the new home sales professional be an expert on these aspects? The course will examine how different buyer profiles choose to look for new homes all the way to making their home buying decision. We will also investigate what to do and what not to do, in addition to other suggested techniques for selling to today’s home buyer. Lastly, the course will review best practices for marketing, advertising, merchandising, and modes of communication.

Participants in this course will be able to:

  • Learn about today’s new home buyers: Who are they? What are they looking for? How are they looking? In this course you will discuss the ever-changing demographics of new home buyers.
  • In addition to the questions of who and what, you will examine the differences between generations and how age shapes home buying preferences.
  • Through this course you will demonstrate helpful tips on how to market and sell to each different generation.
  • In addition to generational differences there are also abundant cultural differences in today’s home buyers. You will differentiate the wants and needs of new home buyers from various cultures.
  • Different generations, cultures and needs demand unique features in their homes. In this course, you will identify the design style and color preferences in today’s new home buyer market.

Who Should Take this Course?

This course contains suitable content for a variety of disciplines in the new homes industry. We are all involved in selling, whether we are the sales professional, the builder, the president, or the marketing director in a home building company. The information can be utilized by a range of positions within the home building industry.

The New Home Sales Professional

Are you ready to sharpen your sales presentation and place yourself in the top percentile of new homes sales professionals? We often find ourselves doing the same thing based on habits or what “seems” to be working, but for those that want more, this course will allow you to sharpen or reshape your sales skills and tactics.

It is designed to review the best practices of the New Home Sales Professional. The course offers tips and techniques to help you become the best new homes sales professional you can be. The course offers details on the tasks that must be practiced on a regular basis and the skills needed to close the sale. By completing the course, you should be confident performing the various tasks required of management and be on the top of your game in front of every buyer and make the sale.

Learning Objectives:

  • You want to be on your way to becoming a top-level salesperson, and that journey begins by identifying proper goals that can be attained both personally and professionally.
  • Every job has its own unique task list and not all those tasks are exciting. This course will assist you in organizing repetitive tasks that are required of the New Home Sales Professional.
  • Understanding your competition is an extremely important part of competitive sales, and you will be provided with tools to analyze your competition to see how you compare.
  • Knowing the difference between how different types of people approach a purchase can make a big difference when closing the sale and that is why you will discover various techniques for selling to different personality types.
  • From tips and techniques in your sales presentation and the various stages to close the sale, you will examine a variety of methods of improving the customer experience.

Who Should Take this Course?

This course contains suitable content for a variety of disciplines in the new homes industry. We are all involved in selling, whether we are the sales professional, the builder, the president or the marketing director in a home building company. The information can be utilized by a range of positions within the home building industry.


Construction Management Courses

Residential Construction Industry Fundamentals. (Formerly Basics of Building 2022)

Build your housing industry expertise by learning about the residential construction process from the ground up. Those in housing and construction-related fields, like vendors, suppliers, brokers, retailers, builder/remodeler company staff, REALTORs® and others will learn what it takes to build or remodel a home. With that knowledge, you will learn how to build more effective and profitable relationships with the builders and remodelers you work with. As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe product types, current trends and stakeholders in the residential construction industry
  • Contrast and elaborate on the sales and marketing functions of the residential construction industry
  • Articulate the criticality and complexity of land acquisition and development
  • Outline types of financial tools available to support building and remodeling projects
  • Assess strategies to strengthen the relationship between suppliers and builders/remodelers
  • Explain the critical path of steps in the residential construction process
  • Describe the importance of post-construction activities: closing, customer care and after-the-sale service


Project Management

The primary responsibility of a project manager is to get the project built on time, on budget, and with a happy customer. By applying the concepts and strategies of this course, the participants will increase their professional value and thus bring value to the company and to the customer. The course explains the role of project managers during each phase of a project, including the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases. Project management tools and effective management of trade contractors will also be discussed.

As a graduate of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the basics of successful project management
  • Execute the pre-construction project management functions and responsibilities
  • Implement the tools available for efficient project management
  • Manage trade contractors effectively
  • Perform project management duties during the project
  • Complete the duties and responsibilities of post-project management

Who Should Take This Course?

  • Business owners, project managers, superintendents, sales managers, remodelers, Anyone involved in the pre-construction and construction process including small volume builders, remodelers, and custom and semi-custom home builders.

Additional Credit Information

6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by NAHB. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is also approved for continuing education for contractor state licenses in the state of Utah.

6 AIBD CE: All face-to-face and online education provided by NAHB is approved by the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) for continuing education units. Members of the Institute seeking credit must self-report by submitting a form and providing verification of attendance or completion.

Fall Prevention in Residential Construction

 Workers falling from the structure, roof, ladder and scaffolding continue to be the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the residential construction industry. This training program will help employees and employers identify and avoid fall hazards encountered during home building operations, the prevention of falls, solutions to protect against and arrest falls, and the rescue of a fallen worker. As a participant in this training, you will be able to:

  • Recognize common fall hazards in residential construction.
  • Identify when fall protection is required.
  • Determine which protection system to use for a given fall hazard.
  • Understand the key requirements and basic safety practices for each protection system.
  • Understand the safety requirements and practices for ladders and scaffolding.

This training program was produced under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration by the Job-Site Safety Institute in partnership with NAHB.


Certified Aging-In-Place Courses

Marketing and Communicating with the Aging in Place Client (CAPS I)

Millions of Americans are living longer and more active lives. Because they are embracing newly found and changing lifestyles, they need to revitalize their home environment. Identifying this burgeoning opportunity and then developing the skills to interact with this market can help you grow your business dramatically.

This course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively market and sell services to the aging-in-place (AIP) market.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify access points and marketing opportunities within targeted AIP market segments.
  • Explain how allied professionals can collaborate effectively to serve a targeted AIP market.
  • Identify common challenges of functioning in a real-world environment for the AIP population.
  • Enhance the client consulting process with effective needs assessment and communication techniques.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course will benefit builders, remodelers and allied professionals that serve the aging in place market, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, real estate professionals, and trade contractors, as well as academics.

This course education level is considered Introductory.

NAHB Designations and Continuing Education Credits

This course is required for the NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation. This course can be an elective for the Master CSP and CGA designations.

Additional Credit Information

NAHB is an Approved Provider with the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA. Education distributors who would like to offer CEUs to their students for approved courses must inform NAHB at the same time the course(s) is scheduled.

As of Jan. 6, 2021, the virtual format of this course provides 0.6 continuing education credits for AOTA.

Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS II)

To help home owners make their home a safe and comfortable living environment for the long term, many responsive and innovative products are emerging and service providers are focusing their businesses on creating new homes and renovations that provide design flexibility, pleasing aesthetics, high function and usability for all people, without regard to age, income or ability level, and regardless of life’s changes and challenges.

This course enables participants to identify common challenges and understand attractive design concepts that create a safe and comfortable environment for clients who want to age in place (AIP) as well as individuals who have a condition that requires home modifications or equipment.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

Identify special considerations for estimating, scheduling and executing livable home and AIP jobs while the client is in residence.

Identify legal and contractual considerations for building professionals providing livable home and AIP design solutions for residential clients.

Describe the categories of design and how they relate and apply to the three AIP market segments.

Describe specific design concepts for the livable home and AIP client. The course presents various methods and techniques for modifying home design, from the perspective of new construction and retrofitting.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course will benefit builders, remodelers, and allied professionals who serve the aging in place market, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, real estate professionals, and trade contractors, as well as academics.

This course education level is considered Intermediate.

NAHB Designations and Continuing Education Credits

This course is a requirement of the CAPS designation.

Additional Credit Information

6 AIA/CES HSW Learning Units. NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this event will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by the Provider. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

6 CE for AIBD

0.6 AOTA CEUs.NAHB is an Approved Provider with the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA. Education distributors who would like to offer CEUs to their students for approved courses must inform NAHB at the same time the course(s) is scheduled.

As of Jan. 6, 2021, the virtual format of this course provides 0.6 continuing education credits for AOTA.

Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS III)

This course builds on the CAPS I & II courses (which are recommended) by introducing design solution techniques, innovative products and best practices for product installation for CAPS professionals to use when creating livable spaces in which to age in place. Participants will engage in hands-on activities from real case studies to apply material learned in all CAPS courses.

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Create comprehensive designs for aging in place projects.
  • Become familiar with available innovative and specialized products.
  • Practice design and installation for key components of in AIP home design.
  • Implement techniques of budget integration into design and product selection
  • Identify common missteps for design and installation of AIP solutions.
  • Review and apply solutions for common single-room modifications cases
  • Identify common installation considerations for modifications of a specified space.
  • Prioritize solutions in a whole house multi-generational case study while being compliant with budgetary constraints with consideration given to phased construction application.
  • Prioritize individual tasks relative to a projects budget and urgency.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course will benefit builders, remodelers, and allied professionals who serve the aging in place market, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, real estate professionals, and trade contractors, as well as academics.

This course education level is considered Intermediate.

NAHB Designations and Continuing Education Credits

This course is a requirement to earn the CAPS designation.

Additional Credit Information

NAHB is an Approved Provider with the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA. Education distributors who would like to offer CEUs to their students for approved courses must inform NAHB at the same time the course(s) is scheduled.

As of Jan. 6, 2021, the virtual format of this course provides 0.6 continuing education credits for AOTA.

6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by NAHB. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

Universal Design Essentials

This course parallels the NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) courses — Marketing and Communicating with the Aging in Place Client (CAPS I), Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS II), and Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS III) — by shifting the focus from custom accessibility-related modifications to successful integration of Universal Design as part of far more single family residential construction projects (new construction as well as remodeling, affordable to luxury).

The concepts discussed in this course will enable industry professionals to produce marketable projects that support the changing needs of clients over their lifetime. The audience for this course includes Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) graduates, home building industry professionals, health care professionals and the home buying consumer. While it is a novice level course and welcomes participants with little or no prior knowledge of the subject matter, having taken the CAPS courses will help participants understand the differences between “universal” and “accessible. ”

As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the significance of integrating Universal Design (UD) concepts in residential construction.
  • Describe the broad beneficiary groups of homes with universal features.
  • Distinguish between accessibility solutions/products and UD solutions.
  • Describe ways that functional design can also be attractive.
  • Identify and implement solutions for simple and complex scenarios that address various household compositions, budget levels and changing needs of clients.
  • Use effective marketing and communication strategies throughout the process.
  • Locate resources, materials and services.

Who Should Take This Course?

  • Design/build professionals including builders, remodelers, interior designers, architects, kitchen/bath designers, developers, civil engineers
  • Health care professionals including occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, discharge planners, case managers, nurses, rehabilitation engineers
  • Public and private agency staff including housing finance agencies, community development agencies, CHODOs‐community housing development organizations
  • Allied industry members including product manufacturers and suppliers, consultants, planners, real estate professional, appraisers, home inspectors, lenders, electronic systems contractors

Additional Credit Information

6 AIA/CES LU: NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this course will be reported to CES Records for AIA members by NAHB. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available upon request.

NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by AOTA. Education distributors who would like to offer CEUs to their students for approved courses must inform NAHB at the same time the course(s) is scheduled.

The virtual format of this course provides 0.6 continuing education credits for AOTA.