Since 2002, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), at the encouragement of AARP, has been offering the Certified Aging In Place Specialist (“CAPS”) designation and training program for professionals who want to learn about continuing to live in their long-term home of choice in a safe, comfortable, convenient, and accessible way and for professionals who can make this happen for them.

All classes are taught ONLINE, in real-time, using the Zoom format by NAHB Master Instructor Steve Hoffacker, CAPS, who is licensed to offer these classes and has been doing so for an international audience several hundred times over the past fourteen years.

What is “CAPS”?    Certified Aging In Place Specialist

The key objective of a CAPS education is learning how people’s needs and requirements change over time as well as the most effective ways to address those changing conditions to keep people safe and functioning well in their living space.

A CAPS professional can assist someone who has no urgent physical needs or requirements, a progressive condition that increases over time, or a traumatic injury that requires an immediate response. Just helping people to live their lives more safely, comfortably, and enjoyably in their current homes is a large focus of the CAPS program.

Who recognizes the “CAPS” credentials?

There are many people, including a growing segment of consumers, who recognize the CAPS designation as a professional distinction of specialized training in serving the needs of people who want to remain in their current homes long-term and may need some modifications to enable that to happen.

To help in promoting the designation, in addition to NAHB and AARP, several professional organizations encourage their members to become CAPS trained and offer continuing education credits for the courses, or urge professionals in their industry to take the classes:

  • AIA (American Institute of Architects)
  • AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association)
  • APTA (American Physical Therapy Association)
  • ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)
  • NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association)
  • AIBD (American Institute of Building Design)
  • Home Inspectors (InterNACHI – International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, and ASHI – American Society of Home Inspectors)
  • Realtors (NAR/SRES) and Property Managers (NARPM)
  • Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP – RESNA) and Mobility Equipment Specialists
  • Aging in Place Organizations (National Aging In Place Council – NAIPC), Age Safe America (ASA), and VGM Homelink)

Click on the Classes for More Information & See the Schedule of Upcoming Classes

2024 Class Schedule