HUD CERTIFICATION 2026 EXAM – VERSION A & B (COMPOSITE)
Total Questions: 180
Passing Score: 80% (144 correct)
Section 1: Fair Housing & Nondiscrimination (Questions 1–30)
1. Under the Fair Housing Act, which protected class was added by
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1988?
A) Race
B) Sex
C) Handicap and familial status
D) National origin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 added
handicap (disability) and familial status (presence of children under
18) to the original seven protected classes (race, color, religion, sex,
national origin).
2. A HUD-certified housing counselor must accommodate a client
with a hearing impairment by:
A) Referring them to another agency
B) Providing a sign language interpreter at no cost to the client
C) Charging a small fee for interpreter services
D) Asking the client to bring a family member to interpret
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the ADA, reasonable accommodations, including sign language
interpreters, must be provided at no cost to the client.
3. Which action violates the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on
steering?
A) Showing only properties in majority-Hispanic neighborhoods to
Hispanic clients
B) Refusing to rent to a person with a service animal
C) Advertising “no children under 12”
D) Requiring higher security deposit from non-citizens
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Steering is the practice of directing homebuyers or
renters to or away from certain neighborhoods based on a protected
class (e.g., race, national origin).
4. A landlord refuses to rent to a family with three children because
the unit is a one-bedroom. Is this legal?
A) Yes, reasonable occupancy standards can limit children
B) No, it is familial status discrimination
C) Yes, if the building is for seniors 55+
D) No, unless the children are noisy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: HUD allows reasonable occupancy standards (e.g., two
persons per bedroom). A one-bedroom unit may legally be deemed
,too small for five people (two adults + three children), provided the
policy is applied uniformly.
5. Which advertisement is legally permissible under HUD guidelines?
A) “Christian roommates only”
B) “Senior living – 62+ community”
C) “No Section 8”
D) “Perfect for married couples”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) exempts
housing designed for persons aged 62+ (or 55+ with specific criteria)
from familial status discrimination prohibitions.
6. A counselor learns a lender requires higher credit scores from
African American applicants. The counselor should:
A) Advise client to accept terms
B) File a HUD complaint on behalf of the client
C) Tell the client to find another lender only
D) Ignore unless the client asks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HUD-certified counselors have a duty to report known
discrimination and may assist the client in filing a HUD complaint.
7. The Fair Housing Act applies to all EXCEPT:
A) Single-family home sold by owner without broker (if owner owns
≤3 such homes)
B) Apartment complex with 5 units, owner lives in one
, C) Condominium association
D) Real estate brokerage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The “Mrs. Murphy exemption” applies to single-family
homes sold or rented by the owner without a broker, provided the
owner owns no more than three such homes at a time.
8. Which is an example of disparate impact?
A) Intentional refusal to rent to a Latinx family
B) Minimum income requirement of $40,000 that disproportionately
excludes most minority applicants
C) “No Muslims” sign
D) Charging higher rent to families with children
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Disparate impact occurs when a facially neutral policy
(e.g., income minimum) has a discriminatory effect on a protected
class, regardless of intent.
9. A housing counselor’s client says, “The landlord asked if I have a
green card.” The counselor should explain:
A) That is legal to ask citizenship
B) That may be discrimination based on national origin
C) Landlords may always ask for proof of legal residency
D) Only if the client looks foreign
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Inquiring about immigration status can be evidence of
Total Questions: 180
Passing Score: 80% (144 correct)
Section 1: Fair Housing & Nondiscrimination (Questions 1–30)
1. Under the Fair Housing Act, which protected class was added by
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1988?
A) Race
B) Sex
C) Handicap and familial status
D) National origin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 added
handicap (disability) and familial status (presence of children under
18) to the original seven protected classes (race, color, religion, sex,
national origin).
2. A HUD-certified housing counselor must accommodate a client
with a hearing impairment by:
A) Referring them to another agency
B) Providing a sign language interpreter at no cost to the client
C) Charging a small fee for interpreter services
D) Asking the client to bring a family member to interpret
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the ADA, reasonable accommodations, including sign language
interpreters, must be provided at no cost to the client.
3. Which action violates the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on
steering?
A) Showing only properties in majority-Hispanic neighborhoods to
Hispanic clients
B) Refusing to rent to a person with a service animal
C) Advertising “no children under 12”
D) Requiring higher security deposit from non-citizens
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Steering is the practice of directing homebuyers or
renters to or away from certain neighborhoods based on a protected
class (e.g., race, national origin).
4. A landlord refuses to rent to a family with three children because
the unit is a one-bedroom. Is this legal?
A) Yes, reasonable occupancy standards can limit children
B) No, it is familial status discrimination
C) Yes, if the building is for seniors 55+
D) No, unless the children are noisy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: HUD allows reasonable occupancy standards (e.g., two
persons per bedroom). A one-bedroom unit may legally be deemed
,too small for five people (two adults + three children), provided the
policy is applied uniformly.
5. Which advertisement is legally permissible under HUD guidelines?
A) “Christian roommates only”
B) “Senior living – 62+ community”
C) “No Section 8”
D) “Perfect for married couples”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) exempts
housing designed for persons aged 62+ (or 55+ with specific criteria)
from familial status discrimination prohibitions.
6. A counselor learns a lender requires higher credit scores from
African American applicants. The counselor should:
A) Advise client to accept terms
B) File a HUD complaint on behalf of the client
C) Tell the client to find another lender only
D) Ignore unless the client asks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HUD-certified counselors have a duty to report known
discrimination and may assist the client in filing a HUD complaint.
7. The Fair Housing Act applies to all EXCEPT:
A) Single-family home sold by owner without broker (if owner owns
≤3 such homes)
B) Apartment complex with 5 units, owner lives in one
, C) Condominium association
D) Real estate brokerage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The “Mrs. Murphy exemption” applies to single-family
homes sold or rented by the owner without a broker, provided the
owner owns no more than three such homes at a time.
8. Which is an example of disparate impact?
A) Intentional refusal to rent to a Latinx family
B) Minimum income requirement of $40,000 that disproportionately
excludes most minority applicants
C) “No Muslims” sign
D) Charging higher rent to families with children
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Disparate impact occurs when a facially neutral policy
(e.g., income minimum) has a discriminatory effect on a protected
class, regardless of intent.
9. A housing counselor’s client says, “The landlord asked if I have a
green card.” The counselor should explain:
A) That is legal to ask citizenship
B) That may be discrimination based on national origin
C) Landlords may always ask for proof of legal residency
D) Only if the client looks foreign
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Inquiring about immigration status can be evidence of
