Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) Practice Exam:
200 Questions with Answers & Explanations | Verified
Answers | Already Graded A+ | Latest Version
Section 1: Eligibility & Application Process (Questions 1–35)
1. Which HUD handbook governs occupancy requirements for multifamily subsidized
housing?
A) 4350.1
B) 4350.3
C) 4000.1
D) 4381.5
B) 4350.3
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 is the primary guidance for occupancy, income limits, rent
calculations, and tenant eligibility in multifamily housing.
2. An applicant must be at least how old to qualify as an elderly family under HUD's elderly
housing definition?
A) 55
B) 60
,C) 62
D) 65
C) 62
HUD defines elderly family as one whose head, co-head, or spouse is at least 62 years old.
3. A "disabled family" is defined as one whose head, co-head, or spouse is disabled. Under
HUD rules, must the disabled person be receiving disability benefits to qualify?
A) Yes, SSI/SSDI is required
B) Yes, but only SSDI
C) No, the definition is based on the statutory definition of disability, not benefit status
D) No, but a doctor's note is optional
C) No, the definition is based on the statutory definition of disability, not benefit
status
Qualification is based on meeting the HUD/statutory definition of disability; receipt of
benefits is not required, though it may serve as verification.
4. A property with Section 8 project-based rental assistance must give admission preference
to which group if specified in the HAP contract?
A) Working families
B) Veterans only
C) Displaced households
D) Single adults
,C) Displaced households
Admission preferences, including displacement preferences, are outlined in the HAP
contract or local guidelines; displaced persons often receive priority.
5. An owner must develop and follow a written Tenant Selection Plan. Which of the following
must be included?
A) Income targeting requirements
B) Procedures for unit transfer requests
C) Social security number disclosure policies
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
The Tenant Selection Plan must address income targeting, transfer policies, SSN
disclosure, and other elements per 4350.3.
6. An applicant has an annual income of $22,000. The income limit for the area is $25,000.
What is the applicant's eligibility status?
A) Income-eligible
B) Over-income, must be rejected
C) Eligible only if elderly
D) Requires waiver
, A) Income-eligible
Applicants whose income is at or below the published income limit are income-eligible
(assuming family size matches the limit).
7. When verifying an applicant's social security number, which documentation is NOT
acceptable?
A) Original Social Security card
B) Military discharge papers with SSN
C) Pay stub with SSN
D) State-issued ID with SSN listed
D) State-issued ID with SSN listed
HUD requires specific documentation to verify SSN; while a social security card, military
records, or paystub with SSN may be used, a state ID alone is not considered adequate
primary verification.
8. An owner must reject an applicant if any household member has been evicted from
federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity within what time period, unless
rehabilitated?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 7 years
200 Questions with Answers & Explanations | Verified
Answers | Already Graded A+ | Latest Version
Section 1: Eligibility & Application Process (Questions 1–35)
1. Which HUD handbook governs occupancy requirements for multifamily subsidized
housing?
A) 4350.1
B) 4350.3
C) 4000.1
D) 4381.5
B) 4350.3
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 is the primary guidance for occupancy, income limits, rent
calculations, and tenant eligibility in multifamily housing.
2. An applicant must be at least how old to qualify as an elderly family under HUD's elderly
housing definition?
A) 55
B) 60
,C) 62
D) 65
C) 62
HUD defines elderly family as one whose head, co-head, or spouse is at least 62 years old.
3. A "disabled family" is defined as one whose head, co-head, or spouse is disabled. Under
HUD rules, must the disabled person be receiving disability benefits to qualify?
A) Yes, SSI/SSDI is required
B) Yes, but only SSDI
C) No, the definition is based on the statutory definition of disability, not benefit status
D) No, but a doctor's note is optional
C) No, the definition is based on the statutory definition of disability, not benefit
status
Qualification is based on meeting the HUD/statutory definition of disability; receipt of
benefits is not required, though it may serve as verification.
4. A property with Section 8 project-based rental assistance must give admission preference
to which group if specified in the HAP contract?
A) Working families
B) Veterans only
C) Displaced households
D) Single adults
,C) Displaced households
Admission preferences, including displacement preferences, are outlined in the HAP
contract or local guidelines; displaced persons often receive priority.
5. An owner must develop and follow a written Tenant Selection Plan. Which of the following
must be included?
A) Income targeting requirements
B) Procedures for unit transfer requests
C) Social security number disclosure policies
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
The Tenant Selection Plan must address income targeting, transfer policies, SSN
disclosure, and other elements per 4350.3.
6. An applicant has an annual income of $22,000. The income limit for the area is $25,000.
What is the applicant's eligibility status?
A) Income-eligible
B) Over-income, must be rejected
C) Eligible only if elderly
D) Requires waiver
, A) Income-eligible
Applicants whose income is at or below the published income limit are income-eligible
(assuming family size matches the limit).
7. When verifying an applicant's social security number, which documentation is NOT
acceptable?
A) Original Social Security card
B) Military discharge papers with SSN
C) Pay stub with SSN
D) State-issued ID with SSN listed
D) State-issued ID with SSN listed
HUD requires specific documentation to verify SSN; while a social security card, military
records, or paystub with SSN may be used, a state ID alone is not considered adequate
primary verification.
8. An owner must reject an applicant if any household member has been evicted from
federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity within what time period, unless
rehabilitated?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 7 years
