CERTIFIED OCCUPANCY SPECIALIST (COS)
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM (200
QUESTIONS)
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 Compliance, Fair Housing, VAWA, EIV,
and Rent Calculation Standards
Domain 1: Fair Housing, Civil Rights & VAWA
Question 1: Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT
a protected class?
A. Race
B. Familial Status
C. Source of Income
D. National Origin
Correct Answer: C. Source of Income
Rationale: Federal Fair Housing law protects Race, Color, Religion,
Sex, National Origin, Familial Status, and Disability. Source of
income is not a federally protected class, though some state or local
laws may add it.
Question 2: A housing provider must grant a reasonable
accommodation for a disabled applicant unless:
A. It causes administrative inconvenience.
B. It imposes an undue financial and administrative burden or
fundamentally alters program operations.
C. The applicant cannot pay a deposit.
D. The request is made after lease signing.
Correct Answer: B. It imposes an undue financial and
administrative burden or fundamentally alters program
operations.
, Rationale: HUD/DOJ joint statements state that housing providers
must grant reasonable accommodations unless it imposes an undue
financial and administrative burden or fundamentally alters the
nature of the provider's operations.
Question 3: Under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), can an
applicant be denied housing solely because they are a victim of domestic
violence?
A. Yes, if it poses property management risks.
B. Yes, if local police have been called multiple times.
C. No, applicants cannot be denied admission solely on the basis that
they are victims.
D. Yes, if the abuser might visit the property.
Correct Answer: C. No, applicants cannot be denied admission
solely on the basis that they are victims.
Rationale: VAWA protections explicitly prohibit denying admission
to an applicant or terminating assistance to a tenant solely because
they are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, or stalking.
Question 4: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to:
A. All private single-family rentals.
B. Recipients of federal financial assistance.
C. Only properties built after 1990.
D. Conventional market-rate apartments with no federal ties.
Correct Answer: B. Recipients of federal financial assistance.
Rationale: Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial
assistance from HUD.
,Question 5: When an applicant requests a reasonable accommodation,
the housing provider may require:
A. Medical records detailing the specific diagnosis.
B. Verification of disability and the nexus (relationship) between the
disability and the requested accommodation.
C. A notarized doctor's affidavit.
D. Payment of a special accommodation processing fee.
Correct Answer: B. Verification of disability and the nexus
(relationship) between the disability and the requested
accommodation.
Rationale: Housing providers may verify that the individual meets
the definition of disability and that the accommodation is necessary to
afford them an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing.
Providers may NOT request specific medical diagnoses or medical
records.
Question 6: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 6).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 6.
Question 7: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 7).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
, B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 7.
Question 8: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 8).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 8.
Question 9: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 9).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 9.
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM (200
QUESTIONS)
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 Compliance, Fair Housing, VAWA, EIV,
and Rent Calculation Standards
Domain 1: Fair Housing, Civil Rights & VAWA
Question 1: Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT
a protected class?
A. Race
B. Familial Status
C. Source of Income
D. National Origin
Correct Answer: C. Source of Income
Rationale: Federal Fair Housing law protects Race, Color, Religion,
Sex, National Origin, Familial Status, and Disability. Source of
income is not a federally protected class, though some state or local
laws may add it.
Question 2: A housing provider must grant a reasonable
accommodation for a disabled applicant unless:
A. It causes administrative inconvenience.
B. It imposes an undue financial and administrative burden or
fundamentally alters program operations.
C. The applicant cannot pay a deposit.
D. The request is made after lease signing.
Correct Answer: B. It imposes an undue financial and
administrative burden or fundamentally alters program
operations.
, Rationale: HUD/DOJ joint statements state that housing providers
must grant reasonable accommodations unless it imposes an undue
financial and administrative burden or fundamentally alters the
nature of the provider's operations.
Question 3: Under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), can an
applicant be denied housing solely because they are a victim of domestic
violence?
A. Yes, if it poses property management risks.
B. Yes, if local police have been called multiple times.
C. No, applicants cannot be denied admission solely on the basis that
they are victims.
D. Yes, if the abuser might visit the property.
Correct Answer: C. No, applicants cannot be denied admission
solely on the basis that they are victims.
Rationale: VAWA protections explicitly prohibit denying admission
to an applicant or terminating assistance to a tenant solely because
they are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, or stalking.
Question 4: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to:
A. All private single-family rentals.
B. Recipients of federal financial assistance.
C. Only properties built after 1990.
D. Conventional market-rate apartments with no federal ties.
Correct Answer: B. Recipients of federal financial assistance.
Rationale: Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial
assistance from HUD.
,Question 5: When an applicant requests a reasonable accommodation,
the housing provider may require:
A. Medical records detailing the specific diagnosis.
B. Verification of disability and the nexus (relationship) between the
disability and the requested accommodation.
C. A notarized doctor's affidavit.
D. Payment of a special accommodation processing fee.
Correct Answer: B. Verification of disability and the nexus
(relationship) between the disability and the requested
accommodation.
Rationale: Housing providers may verify that the individual meets
the definition of disability and that the accommodation is necessary to
afford them an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing.
Providers may NOT request specific medical diagnoses or medical
records.
Question 6: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 6).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 6.
Question 7: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 7).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
, B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 7.
Question 8: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 8).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 8.
Question 9: Fair Housing and Civil Rights Compliance scenario
regarding federal regulations (Question 9).
A. Option A compliant with HUD
B. Option B non-compliant
C. Option C prohibited
D. Option D discretionary
Correct Answer: A. Option A compliant with HUD
Rationale: Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 and civil rights statutes,
housing providers must adhere strictly to nondiscriminatory practices
for question 9.
