Welcome to NIC Academy Cerificate Programs
Why Choose NIC Academy
Elevate your career in the senior housing and care industry with NIC Academy’s CSHIP Certificate Programs. Designed for investment and finance professionals, our comprehensive programs provide the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this dynamic industry.
Industry Expert Instructors
Learn directly from experts with real-world experience.
Flexible Scheduling
Take courses on your own time at your own pace.
Hands-On Learning
Get practical experience through hands-on exercises.
Which Program is Right for You?
While most individuals progress from Level I to Level II, we also welcome professionals with relevant experience to bypass Level I with employer sign-off and proceed directly to Level II.
Join NIC Academy’s CSHIP Certificate Programs and advance your career in senior housing and care today.
CSHIP Level I
Fundamentals of Underwriting Senior Housing & Care
Unlock the fundamentals of underwriting senior housing and care properties with our CSHIP Level I Certificate Program. Over six meticulously crafted courses, candidates gain a solid foundation in key concepts essential for effective decision-making in the sector. Upon completion, graduates earn a certificate in the Fundamentals of Underwriting Senior Housing & Care and the esteemed professional designation of CSHIP – Certified Senior Housing Investment Professional, Level I.
Who is CSHIP Level I is for:
- Finance professionals new to the senior housing and care sector
- Professionals looking to understand how underwriters find value in senior housing and care properties
CSHIP Level II
Intermediate Underwriting for Senior Housing & Care Properties
Take your expertise to the next level with NIC Academy’s CSHIP Level II Certificate Program. Tailored for experienced professionals, this program delves deeper into underwriting senior housing and care properties. Through six specialized courses, candidates gain increasingly advanced knowledge and skills crucial for navigating complex investment decisions. Graduates receive a gold-standard certificate and the prestigious CSHIP – Certified Senior Housing Investment Professional, Level II designation, solidifying their position as leaders in the field.
Who is CSHIP Level II is for:
- Graduates of the Fundamentals of Underwriting Senior Housing & Care
- Veterans of the senior housing sector looking to boost their career and knowledge base
Prerequisites for CSHIP Level II:
- Ability to build a financial proforma model, which includes modeling NOI and different capital structures
- Ability to perform a market analysis, including defining the market area, direct and indirect competition, and calculating demand using age, income, and frailty
- Ability to analyze an offering memorandum and make an investment recommendation to an investment committee
Frequently Asked Questions
Candidates have up to four months to complete their certificate program. We follow a cohort model but offer flexible extensions when needed.
Yes, the program is entirely online and instructor-led asynchronously. All courses are pre-recorded, allowing each learner to proceed at their own pace. There are no live sessions or time-specific requirements—complete it on your own schedule!
There are no mandatory homework or reading assignments beyond the course materials. However, we provide optional supplemental reading resources for those interested in exploring topics further.
Candidates and Graduates of the CSHIP Certificate Program range from C-suite executives like CEOs and COOs to Analysts, Associates, and VP-level professionals. Many candidates work for Senior Housing & Care Providers (Operators) or Capital Providers. Since this program is one-of-a-kind, we see a diverse range of roles and industries represented.
A majority of Level I graduates have either already enrolled or plan to enroll in Level II, with many aiming to complete Level III when it launches in 2025. See the next question for more details on the differences between Level I and Level II.
CSHIP Level I is ideal for professionals seeking a foundational understanding of the business and underwriting aspects of the senior housing industry. Level II is tailored for Level I graduates or seasoned professionals seeking to deepen their expertise. To help determine which level is best suited for you, we outline the prerequisite skills needed to assess your readiness to advance directly to Level II.
- Ability to build a financial proforma model, including modeling NOI and various capital structures
- Ability to conduct a market analysis, which includes defining the market area, assessing direct and indirect competition, and calculating demand based on age, income, and frailty
- Ability to evaluate an offering memorandum and present an investment recommendation to an investment committee
If you cannot confidently answer “yes” to all these points, we recommend starting with Level I.
Absolutely! Our NIC Academy Programs Manager, who completed the program, is available to chat with you. Alternatively, we can connect you with a past participant from outside our organization—your choice!
We’ve had over 165 learners enroll in our program to date!
48 total hours of instruction are provided in each of the Level I and Level II CSHIP Certificate Programs.
You can easily transfer to a later cohort if you need more time! However, please note that transferring will reset your progress in the program, and any existing progress will be lost. *In 2025, if you are unable to complete the program within your original cohort and wish to finish the CSHIP Certificate Program, there will be a $500 fee to transfer to a new cohort. This ensures continuity in your learning journey and helps maintain program resources and support for all participants.
Interested in Learning More About the Programs?
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