Last reviewed
July 4, 2026
Planning guide
CAPS contractor for aging in place remodels
Understand what to ask when hiring a CAPS or aging-in-place contractor, including experience, scope, credentials, permits, and warranties.
This website provides educational information only. It is not medical, legal, construction, or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals before making major home modifications.
CAPS, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, is a designation from the National Association of Home Builders earned through coursework on aging-related design, home assessment, and business practice. It signals that a contractor, remodeler, or occupational therapist has studied the field, and NAHB maintains a public directory where the credential can be verified by name.
What CAPS is not matters just as much: it is not a contractor license, not an insurance guarantee, and not proof of hands-on accessibility experience. Treat it as one strong filter in a screening stack that still includes state licensing, insurance certificates, references from similar projects, and a written itemized scope.
Plan
CAPS contractor screening
- Verify the CAPS designation in the NAHB directory by name.
- Ask what training or certifications are current and relevant to the project.
- Review similar completed projects and speak with those references.
- Confirm whether they coordinate with OT, PT, designers, or other professionals when needed.
- Get a written scope with product details and exclusions.
- Verify license, insurance, permits, and warranty responsibility separately.
Before you commit
Questions to ask
- Can you show your CAPS listing and your state license number so we can verify both?
- How many accessibility projects like ours did you complete in the last two years?
- Do you work from OT recommendations when a client has one, and can we see an example?
- Who on the crew, not just in the office, holds the accessibility training?
How to use this information
Data note
This guide is educational planning content. It is not medical, legal, construction, or benefits advice, and program rules change, so verify details with official sources.
Primary sources for this page
Ranges and rules on this page draw on the official sources below. Program amounts and standards change, so confirm current details on the source itself before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What does CAPS certified mean for a contractor?
It means the person completed the NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist coursework covering design for aging, home assessment, and related business practice, and maintains the designation through continuing education. It indicates training, not licensing.
How do I verify a CAPS certification?
Search the public NAHB directory of CAPS designees by name or location. If a contractor claims the designation but does not appear, ask for their certificate and confirm with NAHB before weighting the claim.
Is a CAPS contractor worth the extra cost?
CAPS designees do not necessarily charge more, and the training often prevents expensive design mistakes like wrong clearances or missing blocking. The value shows up in the questions they ask; a good one interviews the user, not just the house.