Certifications
Residential Government Underwriter (RGU) Certification
Certification No.: DS-RGU-CAND

Underwriting is the key activity in the mortgage decision-making process. To make sound loan decisions, underwriting professionals must have familiarity with specific loan requirements and be able to identify borrowers who qualify and have the ability to repay a loan. Sound loan decisions not only benefit the homebuyer, they help reduce the lender’s risk of default. As the volume of government loan products increases daily, possessing core competencies for underwriting government loans is a valuable asset to your company and to your career.

AllRegs Academy is pleased to present the new Residential Government Underwriter (RGU) certification, designed to recognize commitment to increasing knowledge and professional experience working with government lending products.
Candidate Scenario | Requirements | Exemptions | Ethical Standards | Core Competencies
Application Process | Approved Courses | The Exam | Recognition | CE Requirements
Candidate Scenario
So you’re ready and you want to earn your RGU. What do you do?
If you have 10 years of experience in underwriting:
- Apply for the certification and pay your $250 enrollment fee. This makes you an RGU candidate.
- Having 5 or more years experience exempts you from 50% of the course requirements. Choose 6 credit hours of training from the approved RGU course list and register for those courses. AllRegs Academy recommends enrolling in either the Fundamentals of FHA Underwriting or Advanced FHA Underwriting, as they both individually meet the 6 hour education requirement.
- The next step is to successfully pass the RGU assessment with a score of 75% or better. To prepare for the exam, review the sample RGU test questions.
If you have 3 years of experience in underwriting:
- Apply for the certification and pay your $250 enrollment fee. This makes you an RGU candidate.
- Choose 12 hours of training from the approved course list and register for those courses. AllRegs Academy recommends enrolling in the Fundamentals of FHA Underwriting and Advanced FHA Underwriting courses, as together they meet the 12 hour education requirement.
- The next step is to successfully pass the RGU assessment with a score of 75% or better. To prepare for the exam, review the sample RGU test questions.
If you have 1 year of experience in underwriting:
- Apply for the certification and pay your $250 enrollment fee. This makes you an RGU candidate.
- Choose 12 hours of training from the approved course list and register for those courses. We recommend enrolling in the Fundamentals of FHA Underwriting and Advanced FHA Underwriting courses, as together they meet the 12 hour education requirement.
- Gain 1 more year of industry experience to meet 2 year requirement.
- The next step is to successfully pass the RGU assessment with a score of 75% or better. To prepare for the exam, review the sample RGU test questions.
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Participant Requirements
- Submit an RGU application and a $250 application fee
- Agree to abide by the AllRegs Academy Code of Ethics
- Have at least 2 years experience in the mortgage industry, with an emphasis in underwriting, processing, risk analysis or quality assurance
- Successfully complete 12 hours of education through select AllRegs Academy coursework* with a passing score of 75% or above
- Complete the RGU Assessment consisting of a comprehensive examination based on required core competencies for an RGU designee
*Each course requires individual enrollment and registration fee.
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Exemptions
RGU candidates having more than 5 years of documented experience working in the mortgage industry as an underwriter, underwriting manager, processor, validator, quality assurance expert, or other similar position can choose to apply their years of experience as education credit and omit up to 50% (6 hours) of the course requirements. Experience with underwriting government loan products is preferred but not required.
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Commitment to Ethical Standards
For all matriculated professional certificates or designations, AllRegs Academy requires a signed Code of Ethics statement.
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RGU Required Core Competencies
RGU designees, through the successful completion of the certification assessment, must exhibit the ability to:
- Identify the characteristics of FHA, VA and RHS loan requirements
- Distinguish between borrowers that qualify for FHA, VA and RHS loans and those borrowers that do not
- Identify reasons why borrowers do not qualify and specific steps required to cure the inefficiencies
- Make a decision on a borrower’s ability to qualify and pay for a government loan
- Read a uniform appraisal report
- Identify common red flags of fraud in an appraisal and loan file
- Calculate standard mortgage math examples and understand their application to the loan file (e.g., loan limits, front-end and back-end ratios)
- List the basic principles of RESPA, TILA, HMDA, GLB Privacy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and HERA, as well as their impact on government loan applications submitted by a borrower
- Know any supporting material required to complete a decision on a government loan
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Application Process and Fees
Candidates must submit an RGU application, indicating their background and experience. While experience is required, current employment in the mortgage industry is not required. A $250 fee is required with the application. This application fee allows the candidates to make two attempts at the final RGU Assessment.
RGU candidates will need to enroll in and successfully complete the appropriate coursework from AllRegs Academy to meet their education requirements.
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RGU Courses*
Course Title |
Fulfillment of Requirements |
Fundamentals of FHA Underwriting
September 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
October 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
November 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
December 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2010 (4-Week Format) » |
6 hours |
Advanced FHA Underwriting
September 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
October 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
November 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2010 (4-Week Format) » |
6 hours |
Analysis of Self-Employed Borrowers
October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2010 (4-Week Format) »
November 30, December 7, 14 and 21, 2010 (4-Week Format) » |
6 hours |
Underwriting and Processing Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Loans:
A Rural Development Program |
1 hour |
Exploring Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH)
A Rural Development Program |
1 hour |
School of Residential Underwriting |
8 hours |
Essentials of Mortgage Lending |
1 hour |
Discovering FHA Programs |
1 hour |
Fair Lending - The Essentials |
1 hour |
Reviewing the Residential Appraisal Report |
1 hour |
Processing and Underwriting Credit |
1 hour |
Underwriting VA Loans |
1 hour |
School of Mortgage Compliance |
8 hours |
State and Local Mortgage Compliance |
6 hours |
*Each course requires individual enrollment and registration fee.
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About the RGU Exam
After completing the required courses, RGU candidates must pass the certification assessment, an exam that consists of questions derived from the core training programs, as well as questions on industry best practices, general underwriting guidelines and core competencies. A sampling of core competencies includes the ability to:
- Summarize the essentials of mortgage lending
- Identify red flags and fraud schemes
- Calculate up-front and monthly MIP
- List recent updates to guidelines effecting government loans
- Determine if properties are within FHA/VA/RHS guidelines
- Evaluate properties and appraisals to ensure compliance
- Analyze various credit history scenarios and determine acceptability
- Calculate ratios using various employment/income scenarios
- Compute maximum loan amounts and required borrower funds for purchase and refinance transactions
- Perform in-depth evaluations of credit packages
- Define appraiser responsibilities, qualifications and the basics of appraisal reviews
- Explain the valuation process
- Analyze self-employed borrowers
Upon successful completion of the required courses and the certification assessment, RGU designees will receive a certificate of recognition, an RGU certification pin and industry acknowledgement in the AllRegs Weekly Digest.
RGU Exam Questions:
The RGU certification assessment is an online exam consisting of multiple choice, multiple answer, true/false and fill in the blank questions. The exam is comprised of 100 questions based on the RGU core competencies (20% general underwriting, 65% FHA, 10% VA, 5% USDA). It will take approximately an hour to complete the exam, and you have two opportunities to pass it.
The RGU assessment consists of the following:
- General underwriting questions – 20%
- FHA content questions – 65%
- VA content questions – 10%
- USDA content questions – 5%
Preparing for the Exam:
The RGU assessment is a thorough and comprehensive exam designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the core competencies of underwriting government loans (see sample RGU test questions). Completing AllRegs Academy’s RGU courses is the best way to prepare for the RGU assessment. However, if you have more than 5 years of mortgage industry experience, you need only take 6 credit hours from our approved course list. Candidates must prepare and study in advance in order to successfully pass the exam. We suggest the following exam prep activities:
- Review sample RGU test questions
- Keep up with current trades
- Read the guidelines published by USDA, VA and FHA, including recent mortgagee letters
- Join our Weekly Digest of E-Alerts and read related articles and industry updates prior to your assessment
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Recognition

Designees will receive the following:
- Recognition from AllRegs Academy
- Certificate of Recognition
- Certification Pin
- Recognition in industry publications
- Name on RGU Graduate List on www.allregs.com
- Press kit on how to announce your certification to your company and news publications
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Continuing Education Requirements
To maintain the RGU certification, RGU graduates must complete at least 2 hours of approved AllRegs Academy RGU coursework each year.
AllRegs reserves the right to revoke anyone’s certification at any time for ethical violations, non-payment of CE fees, failure to pass CE requirements, or not meeting any AllRegs RGU requirements. Any ethical violations should be reported in writing to AllRegs Academy via email.
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Certification No.: DS-RGU-CAND

For discounts related to coupon or discount codes, quantity discounts or catalog pricing, please follow the instructions on the discount communication or call AllRegs Customer Service at (800) 848-4904.
Last Updated: 6/8/2010