Registered Housing Health Practitioner sample digital credentialHousing Health Practitioners are equipped to inspect properties, improve conditions, investigate criminal landlords, issue civil penalties and prepare criminal prosecutions.

Housing Health Practitioners are accredited by CIEH and have passed a rigorous assessment of their skills and competence. In addition to being listed on our online Register, they can also use a digital credential to formally demonstrate and verify their professional status.

We have two pathways to Registration as a Housing Health Practitioner: one via the Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector and one for graduates from accredited environmental health degrees.

This is our new qualification, developed in conjunction with the Mayor of London.

The qualification is aimed at those with little or no experience in housing, who wish to become competent and capable of carrying out the full range of activities to improve standards and conditions in the Private Rented Sector.

Candidates should be employed in (or have access to) a local authority housing department.

The Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector (also known as APC-Housing) is composed of three elements:

  1. An accredited level 5 course, run by one of our Recognised Partners.
  2. A Practice Log, in which the candidate will demonstrate their on-the-job experience.
  3. The Experience Assessment – a final online assessment covering the Practice Log and knowledge gained in the taught course.

Successful completion of all these elements will lead to Registration as a Housing Health Practitioner.

The APC-Housing course is currently offered by Middlesex University and University of Derby. For more information, please see our UK centres offering accredited courses in housing.

Experience Assessment

The fee for this assessment in 2026 is £220.

Experience Assessment Deadline Experience Assessment Date
3 February 2026 10-12 March 2026
8 September 2026 13-15 October 2026

Successful candidates will be awarded the Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector and be eligible to be CIEH Registered Housing Health Practitioners and receive a digital credential.

Pathway

People with a CIEH-accredited BSc, MSc or BSc Apprenticeship can progress to Registered Housing Health Practitioner status by:

  1. Enrolling for this pathway.
  2. Successfully completing all three housing interventions in the EHP Portfolio.
  3. Passing a special housing version of the EHP Professional Discussion.

After achieving Housing Health Practitioner registration in this way, an individual would be able to progress to becoming a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner by completing the other elements of the EHP Portfolio and a further professional discussion assessment (without any further housing content).

Portfolio

  • The Housing Portfolio is your opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained on your accredited course in practice in a workplace setting.
  • While completing your portfolio, you will need to be supported by a workplace supervisor assigned by your employer.
  • A minimum of 3 months must be spent working on your portfolio. The 3-month time period begins at the point of enrolment, even if you are using historic evidence.
  • The Portfolio will be signed off by your employer and then submitted to CIEH for assessment.

It takes about 6 weeks to complete this assessment. When you receive a satisfactory result for your portfolio, you will be able to apply for your Professional Discussion.

The registration fee for the Portfolio is £214 in 2026. This includes the cost of the Professional Discussion and certification.

Please note that a fee of £15 per report will apply if you are required to resubmit your Housing Portfolio for a partial or full reassessment.

An FAQ for this pathway is under development. In the meantime, please refer to the EHP Portfolio and Professional Discussion FAQ.

The Housing Professional Discussion is the final gateway assessment to Registration as Housing Health Practitioner.

It is a face-to-face conversation (usually conducted by video conference) about some fictional environmental health scenarios and related issues.

Successful candidates will be added to our Register of Housing Health Practitioners and will be able to use digital credentials to verify their status.

Further information

Professional Discussion Deadline Professional Discussion Dates
6 October 2026 at 23.59 10 - 12 November 2026

Please note that a £69 resit fee will apply if you are required to resit your Professional Discussion

Information on how to apply for reasonable adjustments or the consideration of extenuating circumstances can be found below:

An FAQ for this pathway is under development. In the meantime, please refer to the EHP Portfolio and Professional Discussion FAQ.

Maintaining your Registration requires ongoing membership, compliance with our Code of Ethics and keeping up to date with your Continuing Professional Development obligations.

Regulatory Compliance Officer apprenticeship (housing)

CIEH also accredits this Level 4 apprenticeship designed for entry-level practitioners in housing teams. Find out more about this apprenticeship standard.

CIEH is working with providers of the Level 5 Advanced Professional Certificate in the Private Rented Sector to ensure there is a clear route for practitioners to progress from the Level 4 to the Level 5 qualification and become Registered Housing Health Practitioners.

CIEH accredited housing qualification providers

See our UK centres offering accredited courses in housing.

Professional Registration

Find out how to become professionally Registered based on your skills and career plans.

Find out more