This final rule follows HUD's interim final rule (the interim rule) published on August 5, 2020. The interim rule extended the deadline by which participating agencies and counselors must comply with certification requirements in HUD's Housing Counseling Program from August 1, 2020 to August 1, 2021. The reason for the extension is that due to the COVID-19 national emergency, a large number of housing counselors would have been unable to get certified by the end of the grace period, resulting in a loss of Federal funding for some HUD- approved housing counseling agencies and loss of the ability to provide counseling that is required or provided in numerous HUD programs. HUD considered public comment on the interim rule. This rule makes the interim rule a final rule, without change.