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Designation Continuing Education

The HBAA offers many continuing education classes throughout the year that are open to both members and non-members. These classes provide participants with the opportunity to earn various designations from NAHB’s (National Association of Home Builders) University of Housing program.

While most classes are offered at the HBAA office in Montgomery, several are also held various local association sites around the state. Check out the HBAA calendar for upcoming classes.

Professional designations offer excellent opportunities to improve your skills, advance your career, and be recognized for your commitment to professional growth.

To register for a class, click here to download a registration form to mail or fax in. For more information about the HBAA’s education classes and designations, contact Billy McQueen or Kory Boling at (800) 745-4222.

Designations Offered

Certified Graduated Builder (CGB): The CGB is an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business and project management skills as the key to a professional building operation.

The CGB designation requires that graduates meet prescribed standards of practice, possess a minimum of two years building industry experience, have a proven track record of successful project management, complete comprehensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program's code of ethics.

Once you have completed the CGB candidate application, your next step is to take the Builder Assessment Review (BAR). This three-hour, 120-question multiple-choice assessment measures your knowledge in the four core areas of building business and project management. The BAR is offered by the HBAA on an as-needed basis.

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 designation requires that graduates meet prescribed standards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of successful project management, complete a comprehensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program's code of ethics.

The first step to earning the CGR designation is to take the PREP (Professional Remodelors Experience Profile). This three-hour, 130-question, multiple-choice assessment measures your knowledge and experience in the five core areas of remodeling business management. The five core areas include: Marketing & Sales; Business Administration; Design Estimating & Job Cost; Contracts, Liability & Risk Management; and Project Management. Your PREP results determine which courses are required in order to become a CGR.

Certified Graduate Associate (CGA): The CGA program offers associate members an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the fundamentals of the home building industry. The CGA designation is attained by completing three required and three elective courses, and it is maintained by completing one course annually and paying a $50.00 annual renewal fee. The required courses are: Introduction to Business Management, Customer Service, and Sales & Marketing.

Graduate Master Builder (GMB): GMB courses are more advanced with in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals.

To be eligible for the GMB designation, candidates must have previously attained the CGA, CGB, or CGR designation and have five years of building industry experience, or candidates must have completed three CGA, CGB, or CGR courses and have ten years building industry experience.

To earn a GMB certificate, a participant must 1) complete five GMB courses, or 2) complete four GMB courses, plus two CGB/CGR courses (beyond those required for initial certification).

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS): The 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.

In a three-day program, CAPS teaches the strategies and techniques for marketing, designing, and building aesthetically enriching, barrier-free living environments. This program goes beyond universal design; CAPS addresses the communication and technical needs to a specific market. CAPS adds value to that knowledge by providing insights into how to market to and work the demographic group. Candidates who already possess an industry certification (including CGR, CGB, and CGA with a business component are exempt from taking the third day (see below for additional information).

Upon completion of the CAPS coursework, participants receive a graduation application. Participants must complete and submit the graduation application to the NAHB University of Housing before they can use the “CAPS” designation.