Hi Joe,

I haven't. Don't need to. It wasn't required here and I never applied to be an ASHI member before I left ASHI. I haven't taken the NAHI CRI exam either; but that wasn't required here either. Next year, if the NHIE or the NAHI CRI exam are required here in Washington State for licensing under the new law that was just passed I'll take it. I doubt that they'll accept the interNACHI entrance exam here though - unless it's reworked and made psychometrically valid and is considered legally defensible.

However, I should probably point out that I've got the Army's 5-month long 18C (SF Engineer Sergeant) course under my belt and, like you, I'm the product of the franchise system where I was required to undergo a lot of training by the franchiser - 140 hours - which included going out and doing inspections on actual houses with instructors. I was also required by the franchiser to take and pass a pretty tough exam, but I don't know if Housemaster makes it's franchisees take an exam. Do they? Also, like you, I come from a construction background and used to build homes. Even with all of that though, I found out at my very first inspection that I didn't know what I didn't know and it was a long time after I got into this business before I felt like I really knew what I was doing. One thing I can honestly say though, is whenever anyone has called me to ask me whether I'm licensed and certified, I've honestly answered, "What certification? There is no real certification process in place in this state and if anyone says there is they are lying to you and I can prove it."

What's that got to do with this thread? Just because I haven't taken the NHIE doesn't mean that I don't respect the work that EBPHI has done. 18,000+ men and women, with that test in mind, have gone out and taken plenty of extra training, have spent countless hours studying what they need to know to pass it, and that alone has helped to raise the overall level of expertise in this profession more than anything else that's been done in the past ten years. EBPHI has a right to be proud of what they've managed to accomplish. They certainly don't deserve to be denigrated just because ASHI loaned them the money to get started.

Shouldn't you get a new bustier and pumps for your next date with Nick?

OT - OF!!!

M.