Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Review (2026)
The original staging designation, with optional in-person training. Historically significant, but expensive and dated in format.
Our score breakdown
Weighted against our published scoring methodology.
At a glance
- Price
- Around $1,800
- Payment plan
- Limited
- Refund policy
- Limited
- Accredited
- Yes (ASP designation)
- Format
- In-person or online
- Time to complete
- 3-day course + study
In-person and online options exist; the classic ASP course runs around $1,800 plus ongoing membership.
Pricing and specifications last verified on June 8, 2026. Prices are approximate and can change; confirm on the provider's site before enrolling.
What we like
- The original and historically most recognised staging designation
- Option for in-person classroom training, which few competitors offer
- Created by Barb Schwarz, widely credited as the founder of home staging
What to weigh up
- Expensive (around $1,800) with ongoing membership to retain the designation
- Format and materials feel dated next to modern online schools
- In-person scheduling is far less flexible than self-paced study
What ASP is
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) designation, from Barb Schwarz's StagedHomes.com, is the original staging credential. Schwarz is widely credited as the person who coined "home staging" and built it into a profession, and for years ASP was the default name in the field. It remains one of the very few options that still offers a live, in-person classroom course rather than online study alone.
What you actually get
The classic route is a multi-day training course (historically a three-day format) that ends in the ASP designation, with an in-person option as well as online delivery. The designation is tied to the StagedHomes.com ecosystem, which has historically included ongoing membership to keep the credential active and to access the directory and network. In other words, ASP is as much an association-and-designation model as a single course, which is worth understanding before you commit.
Our #1 pick: Home Staging Institute, from $197
Pricing and value today
The classic ASP course runs around $1,800, at the top end of the market, and the designation has historically carried recurring membership costs on top. You are paying for heritage and name recognition. The catch is that newer, video-based online schools have caught up on teaching quality while charging a fraction of the price, so the value gap has widened over time.
In-person versus online
ASP's genuine differentiator is the classroom option. If you learn best in a room with an instructor and peers, and you want that experience specifically, few competitors offer it. But in-person training also means scheduling around fixed dates and locations, which is far less flexible than self-paced study, and it is a large part of why the price is high.
Who it is for, and how it compares to the Home Staging Institute
ASP makes most sense for someone who specifically wants in-person classroom training and values the heritage designation, and who is comfortable with the ongoing membership model. For everyone else, the format feels dated and the cost is hard to justify. The Home Staging Institute gives you an accredited, up-to-date, fully online certification from $197 with no membership required, which is why it is our pick for the majority of readers.
Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) vs our top pick
Here is how Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) compares with the Home Staging Institute, our best-value pick for 2026.
| Course | Our rating | Price | Accredited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Home Staging Institute★ #1 Best overall value | From $197 | Yes (CSE designation) | See pricing | |
 Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Best in-person option | Around $1,800 | Yes (ASP designation) | Read review |
Prefer better value? Home Staging Institute is our #1 pick
Accredited, fully online, and finishable in weeks from $197, with a 90-day money-back guarantee. It is the course most readers choose after comparing Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) and the rest of the field.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Accredited Staging Professional?
ASP is the original home staging designation, created by Barb Schwarz and awarded through StagedHomes.com. It is available via in-person or online training and is tied to an ongoing membership.
How much does the ASP course cost?
The classic ASP course is around $1,800, at the top end of the market, and the designation has historically involved ongoing membership fees to keep it active.
Is ASP still worth it in 2026?
Mainly if you specifically want in-person classroom training and value the heritage name. On format and price, modern online schools have caught up while charging far less.
Does ASP offer in-person training?
Yes. ASP is one of the few staging credentials that still offers a live classroom course as well as online delivery, which is its main differentiator.
ASP or the Home Staging Institute?
Choose ASP only if in-person classroom training is a must. For an accredited, current, fully online certification without membership fees, the Home Staging Institute starts at $197 and is the better value for most people.
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