Credentials Reference
CAPS Certification: What It Is and How to Verify a Contractor Has It
CAPS stands for Certified Aging in Place Specialist. It is a credential from the National Association of Home Builders that proves a contractor or designer has trained in accessibility, universal design, and the home needs of older adults. About 2,500 to 3,000 active CAPS holders work across the United States today.
Last updated: May 15, 2026
What CAPS Certification Means
CAPS is a professional credential awarded by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The program trains contractors, remodelers, designers, and allied professionals to plan and build home modifications that let older adults age in their own homes safely. NAHB launched the program in partnership with AARP and the NAHB Research Center, and it is the most widely recognized aging-in-place credential in the country.
To earn CAPS, a candidate must complete three required courses, agree to a code of ethics, and pay a one-time application fee. The credential expires every three years and holders must complete continuing education to renew. Read the full credential description on the NAHB CAPS program page.
The Three Required Courses
Every CAPS candidate finishes the same three courses, in any order, before applying for the credential. Each course runs one to two full days in person, or about 8 to 12 hours online.
CAPS I: Marketing and Communicating with the Aging in Place Client
Covers the size and needs of the aging-in-place market, how to talk with older clients and adult children, and how to set realistic project goals. Roughly 8 hours.
CAPS II: Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging in Place
The technical core. Covers universal design principles, accessibility codes, ADA reference standards, reach ranges, doorway widths, bathroom clearances, and lighting for aging eyes. Roughly 8 hours.
CAPS III: Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place
The build-side course. Covers project management, business operations, code compliance, contracts, and how to coordinate with occupational therapists and other clinical referrers. Roughly 8 hours.
How to Verify a Contractor Has CAPS
Verify a CAPS claim in two minutes through the NAHB directory. Search by ZIP code, state, or last name. Only active credential holders appear in the listing, so if a contractor is missing, the credential is either expired or never issued.
Look up a CAPS holder in your area
The NAHB directory is free and updated weekly. It is the only source of truth for active CAPS status.
Search the NAHB CAPS DirectoryIf the contractor is not in the directory but insists they hold the credential, ask for their NAHB designee number and call NAHB at 800-368-5242. Designee numbers are issued once per person and never reassigned, so a real holder can produce theirs on request.
CAPS vs General Contractor
A general contractor builds. A CAPS holder builds with accessibility training layered on top. The two are not interchangeable. Here is how they compare on the dimensions that matter most for aging-in-place projects.
| Dimension | General Contractor | CAPS Holder |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | Varies by state, often none required | 24+ hours of NAHB coursework |
| Accessibility-specific knowledge | Not required | Required (CAPS II covers it) |
| Universal design literacy | Optional | Required |
| Liability for ADA-style compliance | On the homeowner | Shared (credentialed pro is expected to know the standards) |
| Typical project type | New builds, kitchens, additions | Bathroom mods, ramps, doorway widening, whole-home retrofits |
| Renewal requirement | State license renewal only | Every 3 years with continuing education |
| Insurance and Medicare Advantage preference | Neutral | Preferred for funded modifications |
Why Occupational Therapists Prefer CAPS Holders
Occupational therapists (OTs) prefer CAPS holders because the design standards overlap almost completely. CAPS II teaches the same reach ranges, transfer clearances, and grab bar mounting heights that OTs use in clinical home assessments. When an OT writes a home safety plan and hands it to a CAPS holder, there is no translation step. A general contractor without that training often has to be walked through the measurements line by line.
The American Occupational Therapy Association publishes home modification practice guidelines that explicitly recognize CAPS as a complementary credential. OTs writing referrals for Medicare Advantage funded modifications routinely request a CAPS holder on the build side.
Why Insurance Companies Prefer CAPS Holders
Insurance carriers and Medicare Advantage plans that pay for home modifications prefer CAPS holders because the credential lowers their risk. A bathroom remodel where the grab bar is mounted to drywall instead of a stud is a future liability claim. A ramp built at a 1:8 slope instead of the 1:12 standard is a future fall claim. CAPS training drills both standards.
Some Medicare Advantage plans now require a CAPS holder for any project over $500 in funded modification benefit. Check your plan's Summary of Benefits, or call the member number on your card and ask if the home modification benefit has a credentialed contractor requirement.
Decision Tree: CAPS vs General Contractor vs OT Consult
Use this tree to pick the right professional for your project. Most homeowners need more than one.
Start: What is the project?
If the goal is one or two grab bars in a standard bathroom, a handy family member or a general contractor is fine. If the project touches the layout, shower, or doorways, you need a CAPS holder.
Is there a recent fall or hospital discharge?
Yes: book an occupational therapist home assessment first. The OT writes a plan. Then hire a CAPS holder to build to that plan. No: skip the OT step and go straight to a CAPS holder for the build.
Is the project funded by Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or VA?
Yes: a CAPS holder is strongly preferred and sometimes required. Get the credential verified in the NAHB directory before signing. No: a licensed general contractor is acceptable for simple work, but a CAPS holder still reduces the chance of a non-compliant install.
Is the home rural with no CAPS holders within 50 miles?
Hire a licensed general contractor for the build and pay for a separate OT consult to design the modifications. Have the OT review the contractor's plan before work starts.
Are You a Contractor? Here Is How to Get CAPS Certified
CAPS certification is open to anyone, but the credential is built for contractors, remodelers, designers, occupational therapists, and aging services professionals. Here is the path.
- Register for the three required courses through NAHB or a local Home Builders Association. Total tuition runs about $700 to $1,000.
- Pick a format: in person (one to two days per course at a local HBA) or online (self-paced, about 8 to 12 hours per course).
- Complete all three courses within 24 months. The order does not matter.
- Submit the CAPS designation application to NAHB. Pay the one-time application fee.
- Agree to the NAHB Code of Ethics. The signed code is part of the application packet.
- Maintain the credential by completing 12 continuing education hours every three years and paying the renewal fee.
Full registration and tuition details are on the NAHB CAPS designation page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAPS certification?
CAPS stands for Certified Aging in Place Specialist. It is a credential issued by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for contractors, designers, and other professionals trained to remodel homes so older adults can stay in them safely. Holders complete three required courses covering aging-in-place market needs, design and build solutions, and business management. The credential is granted by NAHB and must be renewed every three years through continuing education.
How do I verify a contractor has CAPS certification?
Use the NAHB official directory at nahb.org/education/find-an-education-graduate. You can search by ZIP code, state, or last name. The directory lists only active credential holders in good standing. If a contractor claims CAPS status but does not appear in the directory, ask for their NAHB designee number and call NAHB at 800-368-5242 to confirm.
How much does CAPS certification cost for a contractor?
The full three-course program runs about $700 to $1,000 in tuition through NAHB. Courses are offered online and in person through local Home Builders Associations. Beyond tuition, candidates pay a one-time application fee and a renewal fee every three years to keep the credential active. Total first-year cost for most candidates lands between $800 and $1,200.
Is CAPS the same as a general contractor license?
No. A general contractor license is issued by your state and is the legal requirement to perform construction work. CAPS is a private credential from NAHB that proves added training in accessibility, universal design, and the needs of older adults. A CAPS holder should also hold a valid state contractor license. Always check both.
How many CAPS holders are there in the United States?
NAHB reports roughly 2,500 to 3,000 active CAPS holders nationwide. That number is small compared to the 700,000+ licensed general contractors in the US, which is why CAPS holders are clustered in metro areas. Rural homeowners may need to hire a contractor for the build and pair them with a separate occupational therapist consult for the accessibility design.
Why do occupational therapists and insurance companies prefer CAPS holders?
Occupational therapists prefer CAPS holders because the training covers the same fall risk, reach range, and clearance standards they use in clinical home assessments. Insurance companies and Medicare Advantage plans that fund home modifications often require, or strongly prefer, a CAPS holder on the job because the credential reduces the chance of a non-compliant install that triggers a future claim.