Exhibit 31-1
                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Wilfred N.,Cooper, Jr. certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of WNC HOUSING TAX CREDITS
   III, L.P.;

2. Based on my  knowledge,  this  quarterly  report  does not contain any untrue
   statement of a material fact or omit to  state a  material fact  necessary to
   make the statements made, in light of  the  circumstances  under  which  such
   statements were made, not  misleading  with respect to  the period covered by
   this quarterly report;

3. Based  on  my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial
   information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material
   respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
   registrant as of, and for, the periods presented  in this  quarterly  report;

4. The   registrant's  other  certifying  officer  and  I  are  responsible  for
   establishing and maintaining  disclosure  controls and procedures (as defined
   in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15e and 15d-15e) for the registrant  and  we  have:

   (a) Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures, or   caused   such
       disclosure controls and  procedures to be designed under our supervision,
       to ensure that  material  information   relating   to   the   registrant,
       including  its consolidated subsidiaries,  is made  known to us by others
       within  those entities,  particularly during the  period  in  which  this
       quarterly report is being prepared;

   (b) Evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure  controls and
       procedures  and  presented  in  this  report  our  conclusions  about the
       effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of
       the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   (c) Disclosed in this report any change in the  registrant's internal control
       over financial  reporting that  occurred  during  the  registrant's  most
       recent fiscal quarter that has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably
       likely to materially  affect,  the  registrant's   internal control  over
       financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying  officer(s) and I have disclosed,  based on
   our most recent evaluation of internal control over  financial reporting,  to
   the registrant's independent registered public accounting firm and the  audit
   committee of the  registrant's  board of directors (or persons performing the
   equivalent functions):

   (a) All  significant deficiencies and  material  weaknesses  in the design or
       operation  of   internal  control  over  financial  reporting  which  are
       reasonably likely to adversely affect  in  the  registrant's  ability  to
       record,  process, summarize and report financial information; and

   (b) Any fraud,  whether or not  material,  that involves  management or other
       employees who have  a  significant  role  in  the  registrant's  internal
       control over financial reporting.

Date:  December 29, 2005




/s/  Wilfred N. Cooper, Jr.
---------------------------
President and Chief Executive Officer of WNC & Associates, Inc