NMA Renews Accreditation, Sets Quality Bar in Affordable Housing

SAN DIEGO, CA – January 21, 2026 – Nan McKay and Associates (NMA), a prominent national firm in affordable housing services, has secured a five-year renewal of its accreditation from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The reaccreditation reaffirms NMA’s authority to issue nationally recognized Continuing Education Units (CEUs), reinforcing its position as a key provider of high-caliber professional development in a sector defined by complex regulations and critical community impact.

For over 15 years, NMA has maintained this accreditation, a credential that signifies adherence to the rigorous American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/IACET Standard for continuing education. In the affordable housing landscape—encompassing public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties—such benchmarks are not just a mark of quality but a vital tool for ensuring compliance and operational excellence.

The Gold Standard in a Regulated Field

The IACET accreditation serves as a third-party seal of approval, assuring housing agencies and professionals that a training program has been meticulously designed and evaluated. To achieve this status, NMA underwent a comprehensive review of its instructional design processes, program administration, and evaluation methods, including an on-site assessment. This process ensures that the training offered is not only accurate but also effective in imparting complex information.

“This accreditation matters because our clients operate in one of the most highly regulated environments in the country,” said Sheryl Putnam, NMA’s Senior Director of Professional Development, in a statement. “Authorization to award IACET CEUs reflects the rigor behind our programs and gives housing professionals the confidence that their training meets the highest national standards.”

This confidence is paramount for housing authorities and property management companies navigating a dense web of federal rules. For individual professionals, earning IACET CEUs provides a portable, standardized credential that validates their commitment to ongoing learning and can be a significant factor in career advancement. In an industry where mistakes can lead to compliance failures and jeopardize funding, verified expertise is a valuable asset for both the employee and the employer.

Navigating a Maze of New Regulations

The timing of NMA’s reaccreditation is particularly significant as the affordable housing industry grapples with two of the most substantial regulatory overhauls in recent years: the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) and the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE).

HOTMA introduces sweeping changes to how tenant income and assets are calculated, directly impacting eligibility and rent determinations for millions of families. With deadlines for full compliance looming, housing authorities are in urgent need of clear, actionable training to retool their processes and retrain their staff. Similarly, NSPIRE replaces the old HQS and UPCS inspection standards with a new system focused on the health and safety of residents, requiring inspectors and property managers to learn an entirely new protocol.

The demand for training on these topics is immense. Across the sector, leading organizations are rolling out courses to address the knowledge gap. NMA has positioned its curriculum to directly tackle these challenges, offering specialized courses designed to guide professionals through the intricacies of implementation. The IACET accreditation provides an extra layer of assurance that this critical training is reliable and built on sound educational principles, turning a complex transition into a manageable process.

A Differentiated Market Position

While numerous organizations offer training and certifications in the affordable housing sector, NMA, along with its online training partner HAI Group, stands out with its claim as one of the only IACET-accredited providers specifically focused on the assisted and public housing industries. Many respected industry bodies, such as the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the National Center for Housing Management (NCHM), offer their own robust certification programs and are key players in professional development. However, the specific IACET credential provides NMA with a distinct market differentiator.

This distinction is crucial for organizations that prioritize or require training from providers who meet the ANSI/IACET Standard, a benchmark recognized globally across many professions. For a public housing authority or a large property management firm, choosing an IACET Accredited Provider simplifies the process of vetting training quality and ensures that their investment in staff development meets a universally high standard.

NMA's four-decade history and comprehensive service model further solidify its competitive position. The company doesn't just offer training; it actively administers nearly 100,000 Housing Choice Vouchers and provides direct consulting and program management for housing agencies nationwide. This hands-on, in-the-trenches experience directly informs its training curriculum, grounding theoretical knowledge in real-world operational practice.

From Training to Transformation

The impact of NMA's work extends far beyond the classroom. The firm's extensive consulting portfolio illustrates how expert knowledge, like that imparted in its training, translates into tangible community outcomes. For example, NMA has played a critical role in disaster recovery efforts, assisting Harris County, Texas, in planning for over $1.1 billion in CDBG-DR funds and helping Joplin, Missouri, run a successful homebuyer assistance program after a devastating tornado.

This practical application of regulatory expertise—whether in managing large-scale public housing conversions under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program or providing technical guidance on complex federal grants—underscores the importance of a well-trained workforce. When housing professionals are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills, they are better able to manage programs efficiently, ensure compliance, and ultimately improve housing stability for the families they serve.

The renewal of NMA's IACET accreditation is more than an administrative milestone; it is a reaffirmation of the link between rigorous professional standards and the effective delivery of housing assistance. In an industry dedicated to providing a fundamental human need, ensuring that its professionals have access to the highest quality education is a foundational component of success.