CERTIFIED OCCUPANCY SPECIALIST (COS) EXAM
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK / COS EXAM PREP WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A household applies for a HUD-assisted unit. The applicant reports
$1,250 per month in Social Security before Medicare is deducted. The
tenant's bank statement shows that only $1,075 is deposited each month.
Which amount should generally be used as annual Social Security
income?
A. $12,900
B. $14,100
C. $12,000
D. $13,200 – Correct Answer - B
HUD generally counts the gross Social Security benefit before Medicare
deductions. $1,250 × 12 = $15,000.
A household's bank account contains $18,000. The tenant says the
money belongs to a relative but the account is held in the tenant's name.
What should the specialist do?
A. Automatically exclude it because the tenant says it belongs to
someone else
B. Automatically count $18,000 as annual income
C. Ignore the account because it produces no interest
D. Determine ownership/access and apply the applicable asset rules –
Correct Answer - D
Ownership and access to the asset must be established before
determining how it affects eligibility and income calculations.
pg. 1
,During certification, an applicant owns a rental property. The property
generates $1,200 monthly rent and has documented allowable expenses
of $700 monthly. Which figure is most relevant when evaluating net
rental income?
A. $5,000
B. $8,400
C. $14,400
D. $1,200 – Correct Answer - B
Net rental income is generally determined after allowable expenses:
($1,200 − $700) × 12 = $6,000. Therefore, none of the listed choices is
correct; the calculation must be corrected before certification.
An applicant reports a $12,000 inheritance received six months ago and
deposited into a savings account. What distinction is important?
A. Receipt and asset status
B. Savings and employment
C. Interest and wages
D. Rent and inheritance – Correct Answer - A
The receipt of the inheritance and the continuing asset must be evaluated
separately.
A tenant's employer reports that the tenant earned $36,000 during the
prior year. The tenant's current hourly wage is substantially higher.
Which figure should the specialist rely on when projecting current
annual income?
A. Always the prior year's earnings
B. The higher figure because it produces a more conservative result
pg. 2
,C. The tax return only
D. Reliable current information reflecting anticipated income – Correct
Answer - D
Annual income is generally based on anticipated income for the
applicable period, using reliable verification.
A tenant reports $750 per month in child support, but bank records show
an average of $510 received monthly over the previous year. What
should the specialist examine?
A. The tenant's stated amount
B. The ordered amount only
C. Documented receipt history
D. The household's rent amount – Correct Answer - C
The applicable child-support rules require consideration of the amount
actually received and appropriate documentation.
A tenant begins receiving a permanent $300 monthly raise two months
before recertification. Which information should guide the income
projection?
A. The previous annual income
B. The first paycheck only
C. The current expected earnings
D. The tenant's tax refund – Correct Answer - C
A known permanent increase should be reflected in anticipated annual
income.
pg. 3
, An applicant has a rental property generating $1,500 monthly rent and
$650 monthly allowable expenses. What is the annual net rental income?
A. $7,800
B. $9,000
C. $10,200
D. $18,000 – Correct Answer - C
($1,500 − $650) × 12 = $10,200.
An applicant has $5,000 in a checking account and $18,000 in a savings
account. Which approach is appropriate?
A. Count only savings
B. Count only checking
C. Evaluate both accounts
D. Exclude both accounts – Correct Answer - C
Both accounts are potential assets and should be evaluated under the
applicable rules.
A household member receives $900 monthly Social Security. Medicare
premiums of $180 are withheld before the payment is deposited. Which
amount generally represents the Social Security benefit for income
purposes?
A. $720
B. $900
C. $180
D. $1,080 – Correct Answer - B
pg. 4
AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026/ 2027 TEST
BANK / COS EXAM PREP WITH COMPLETE 300 REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
A household applies for a HUD-assisted unit. The applicant reports
$1,250 per month in Social Security before Medicare is deducted. The
tenant's bank statement shows that only $1,075 is deposited each month.
Which amount should generally be used as annual Social Security
income?
A. $12,900
B. $14,100
C. $12,000
D. $13,200 – Correct Answer - B
HUD generally counts the gross Social Security benefit before Medicare
deductions. $1,250 × 12 = $15,000.
A household's bank account contains $18,000. The tenant says the
money belongs to a relative but the account is held in the tenant's name.
What should the specialist do?
A. Automatically exclude it because the tenant says it belongs to
someone else
B. Automatically count $18,000 as annual income
C. Ignore the account because it produces no interest
D. Determine ownership/access and apply the applicable asset rules –
Correct Answer - D
Ownership and access to the asset must be established before
determining how it affects eligibility and income calculations.
pg. 1
,During certification, an applicant owns a rental property. The property
generates $1,200 monthly rent and has documented allowable expenses
of $700 monthly. Which figure is most relevant when evaluating net
rental income?
A. $5,000
B. $8,400
C. $14,400
D. $1,200 – Correct Answer - B
Net rental income is generally determined after allowable expenses:
($1,200 − $700) × 12 = $6,000. Therefore, none of the listed choices is
correct; the calculation must be corrected before certification.
An applicant reports a $12,000 inheritance received six months ago and
deposited into a savings account. What distinction is important?
A. Receipt and asset status
B. Savings and employment
C. Interest and wages
D. Rent and inheritance – Correct Answer - A
The receipt of the inheritance and the continuing asset must be evaluated
separately.
A tenant's employer reports that the tenant earned $36,000 during the
prior year. The tenant's current hourly wage is substantially higher.
Which figure should the specialist rely on when projecting current
annual income?
A. Always the prior year's earnings
B. The higher figure because it produces a more conservative result
pg. 2
,C. The tax return only
D. Reliable current information reflecting anticipated income – Correct
Answer - D
Annual income is generally based on anticipated income for the
applicable period, using reliable verification.
A tenant reports $750 per month in child support, but bank records show
an average of $510 received monthly over the previous year. What
should the specialist examine?
A. The tenant's stated amount
B. The ordered amount only
C. Documented receipt history
D. The household's rent amount – Correct Answer - C
The applicable child-support rules require consideration of the amount
actually received and appropriate documentation.
A tenant begins receiving a permanent $300 monthly raise two months
before recertification. Which information should guide the income
projection?
A. The previous annual income
B. The first paycheck only
C. The current expected earnings
D. The tenant's tax refund – Correct Answer - C
A known permanent increase should be reflected in anticipated annual
income.
pg. 3
, An applicant has a rental property generating $1,500 monthly rent and
$650 monthly allowable expenses. What is the annual net rental income?
A. $7,800
B. $9,000
C. $10,200
D. $18,000 – Correct Answer - C
($1,500 − $650) × 12 = $10,200.
An applicant has $5,000 in a checking account and $18,000 in a savings
account. Which approach is appropriate?
A. Count only savings
B. Count only checking
C. Evaluate both accounts
D. Exclude both accounts – Correct Answer - C
Both accounts are potential assets and should be evaluated under the
applicable rules.
A household member receives $900 monthly Social Security. Medicare
premiums of $180 are withheld before the payment is deposited. Which
amount generally represents the Social Security benefit for income
purposes?
A. $720
B. $900
C. $180
D. $1,080 – Correct Answer - B
pg. 4
