Cost of doing business. Indicates, at least to the general public that verifiable credentials and on-going education are in your business plan. Not, of course, that they aren't in yours oh w-a-s-h-e-d Scott, just that in my opinion, it's often the appearances that count most to John Q. Public.

Sure, you keep up with your education, but how can someone else verify that? If it comes down to making a decision between inspectors to hire the prospective client will likely come down on the side of the inspector whose knowledge can be easily proven.

Example: my wife's Mercedes needs engine work. I can either take it to some mechanic with a verifiable certification from the Daimler-Benz corporation or I can take it to Fritz down on the corner who visited Munich once on vacation and got drunk on German beer. Fritz may well be the better mechanic, but how will I know. I'm not willing to take a chance on the unknown in this case. Which would you choose?

Aaron