Georgia HB 1217

[michael ivie]

Can anyone suggest what courses that may meet the states requirement?
Thanks


"(A) Completed a board approved course of study of no less than 80 hours that covers all of the following components of a residential building of four units or less: heating system, cooling system, plumbing system, electrical system, structural components, foundation, roof covering, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect the building"

[Bruce King]

Most states will provide a list of their approved training vendors.

Here is the list for SC some may also be approved for GA.

or see link for easier viewing:
http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/ResidentialBuilders/PDF%20files/HIAPP.pdf

1. Home Inspection Institute of
America, Inc.
P O Box 4174
Yalesville CT 06492-1524
2. National Institute of Building
Inspectors
424 Vosseller Avenue
Bound Brook, NJ 08805
3. Midwest Inspectors Institute
P O Box 186
Lansing Kansas 66043
4. Pillar to Post
14502 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Suite 200
Tampa FL 33618
5. North Eastern Carolina Home
Services, Inc
1507 Seabrook Ave
Cary NC 27512
1-800-570-1805 or 1-800-887-1515
6. World Inspection Network
6500 6th Avenue NW
Seattle WA 98117-5015
Fax 206-441-3655
7. Home Pro Services, Inc.
2841 Hartland Rd
Suite 201
Falls Church VA 22043
1-800-966-4555
8. Allied Business Schools, Inc
22952 Alcalde Dr
Laguna Hills CA 92653
949-600-6911 EXT 220
949-457-1887 (FAX)
9. Boot Camp Inspections
Yvonne Sharp & Associates, Inc.
66 River Oak Ct
Temple GA 30179
1-770-562-1999
10. The Home Team Inspection Service
6355 E. Kemper Rd.
Suite 250
Cincinnati OH 45241
11. All State Home Inspections
Household Environmental Testing
Center
2097 N Randloph RD
Randolf Center VT 05061
12. Examiner Home Inspection LLC
Attn: Lee Cunningham
1420 Victoria Street
Columbia SC 29201
803-238-8700
Lee@ExaminerHomeInspections.com
Examiner Home Inspections (http://www.ExaminerHomeInspections.com)
13. HE-A Better School of Building
Inspection
P O Box 1986
Salt Lake City, UT 84110
801-466-4447 Fax 801-474-3289
14. The Edifice Training &
Development
5490 Leather Stocking Lane
Stone Mountain GA 30087
770-971-2836
15. AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service
860 Ridge Lake Blvd
Memphis TN 38120
901-820-8500
910-820-8550 Fax
16. Building Spec Inc.
423 Thompson Creek Rd
Stevensville MD 21666
410-604-2700
800-217-7979
17. Education Direct
925 Oak St
Scranton PA 18515
570-342-7701
18. American Inspectors Society
P O Box 9842
HELEN, GA 30545
800-590-8664
19. American Society of Home
Inspector, Inc
ASHI@HOME Training System
932 Lee Street, Suite 101
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-759-2820
20. American Home Inspectors Training
Institute, Ltd.
14100 W. Cleveland Ave
New Berlin WI 53151
800-441-9411
262-754-3744
21. Home Reporter Systems
123 East Main Street
P O Box 280
Hookerton NC 28583
800-328-6775
22. Inspect - It 1st Franchising Corp
16042 N. 32nd St. Ste #B-5
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-971-9400
23. Housing Inspection Foundation
1224 N Nokomis NE
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-763-6350
24. Fortune School of Real Estate/
Horry-Georgetown Technical
College
P O Box 261966
Conway SC 29528-6066
843-236-1131
800-922-2245
25. Cornerstone Home Inspections
8 Woodland Dr
Ware Shoals SC 29692-1114
864-456-2840
27. Advantage Inspection
P O Box 3917
Greenville SC 29608
864-241-2000
28. Inspection Depot
11150-2C San Jose Blvd
Jacksonville FL 32223
29. Trident Technical College
P O Box 118067
Charleston SC 29423-8067
30. Fortune School of Real Estate (
Midlands Technical & Trident
Technical College & Greenville
Technical College)
P O Box 3845
Myrtle Beach SC 29578
843-236-1131 or 800-922-2245
31. Inspection Training Associates
1016 S Tremont St
Oceanside CA 92054-5051
800-323-9235
32. York Technical College
452 South Anderson Rd
Rock Hill SC 29732
803-327-8000
33. National Academy for Home Inspectors,
Inc.
2662 Holcomb Bridge Rd
Suite 324
Alpharetta GA 30022
770-578-6464
34. Tri-County Technical College
7900 Hwy 76
P O Box 587
Pendleton SC 29670
35. South Carolina Home Inspectors Academy
736-D Saint Andrews Rd., #124
Columbia SC 29210
803-955-9000
36. Spartanburg Technical College
P O Drawer 4386
Spartanburg SC 29305-4386
37. The BrickKicker
849 N. Ellsworth St
Naperville IL 60563
630-420-9900
800-821-1820
38. Contractors Seminars, Inc
P O Box 90902
Columbia SC 29290
803-772-9596
39. Professional Home Inspection Institute
112 Egan Avenue North
Madison SD 57042
800-983-6322
605-483-3295
775-522-2916(Fax)
40. Academy of Real Estate & Appraisal
P O BOX 2175
7949 Broad River Rd. Unit 70
Irmo SC 29063
803-407-1764
41. FYI Seminars LLC
P O Box 50201
Columbia SC 29250
42. Foley-Belsaw Company
6301 Equitable Rd
Kansas City, Missouri 64120
816-483-6400
43. Accu-spec Home Inspector Institute
95 Keddy Blvd
Chicopee MA 01020-2919
800-233-2758
44. Professional Career Development Institute
(PCDI)
6065 Roswell Rd., Ste 311B
Atlanta GA 30328
45. Real Estate School of South Carolina
10 Diamond Ln
Columbia SC 29210
803-731-0654
fax 803-731-0394
The Real Estate School of South Carolina - Real Estate School of South Carolina - Columbia, SC (http://www.realestateschoolofsc.com)
46. Certified Inspection Training Inc
99 Ravenscrest Dr
Klamath Falls. OR 97601
541-273-1901
Certified Inspection Training (http://www.CertifiedInspectionTraining.com)
47. The Home Inspection Institute of Atlanta
2470 Windy Hill Rd Ste 300
Marietta, GA 30067
770-618-3042
48. Coastal Training Consultants
1527 Kentwood Circle
Charleston, SC 29412
843-762-6316
49. US Career Institute
2001 Lowe St.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-377-3375
50. Kaplan Professional Schools/ Inspection
Training Associates
1016 S Tremont St
Oceanside, CA 92054
1-800694-736
51. South Carolina School of Home
Inspections
120 Irby Raod
Spartanburg SC 29301
864-542-3740
864-439-6293(fax)
52. Vision Reporting Systems
629 Spearman Road
Pelzer SC 29669
864-640-2877
888-724-2197
53. National Property Inspections, Inc
9375 Burt Street Ste 201
Omaha NE 68114
800-333-9807
800-933-2508
54. Superior Home Inspections LLC
7001 St. Andrews Road #122
Columbia SC 29212
803-463-3076
Home (http://www.SuperiorHomeInspections.com)
55. Imperial One Home Inspection Institute of
SC
106 Thomas Drive
Sumter SC 29150

[David Banks]

Or you could use Brians Advertisers.
http://www.inspectionnews.net/home-inspection-inspector/education-for-home-inspectors-schools-classes.html

[Bob White]

Can anyone suggest what courses that may meet the states requirement?
Thanks


"(A) Completed a board approved course of study of no less than 80 hours that covers all of the following components of a residential building of four units or less: heating system, cooling system, plumbing system, electrical system, structural components, foundation, roof covering, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect the building"

Well, the key is "board aproved" --- The guv hasn't signed the bill, the board hasn't been nominated....

Prolly all the courses advertised on this site meet each requirement except for "board approved" ---

[mattmorris]

Can anyone suggest what courses that may meet the states requirement?
Thanks


"(A) Completed a board approved course of study of no less than 80 hours that covers all of the following components of a residential building of four units or less: heating system, cooling system, plumbing system, electrical system, structural components, foundation, roof covering, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect the building"


In the long run this bill (as written) is BAD for Georgia consumers. It will benefit the large firms, the bill is not specific enough about the fees (or should I say the "TAX") and the "Board" can make new policies and declare procedures at will! I am writing to Gov Perdue today! I urge all independent HIs in Georgia to do the same! Go to georgia.gov - Contact Governor Perdue (http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html)

[Bob White]

In the long run this bill (as written) is BAD for Georgia consumers. It will benefit the large firms, the bill is not specific enough about the fees (or should I say the "TAX") and the "Board" can make new policies and declare procedures at will! I am writing to Gov Perdue today! I urge all independent HIs in Georgia to do the same! Go to georgia.gov - Contact Governor Perdue (http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html)


Matt ---

Care to tell us how this bill will benefit "large" firms?

Is it your contention that the board will conspire to price small independents out of the business? If that's not it, what is it?

I think that every home inspector that survived last year's market and who surviives this year's market won't have much trouble meeting the requirements we'll see under this new law and the new board.

I believe that this law is inevitable. Maybe you should lobby for a position on the board when you write to Sonny.

[mattmorris]

Matt ---

Care to tell us how this bill will benefit "large" firms?

Is it your contention that the board will conspire to price small independents out of the business? If that's not it, what is it?

I think that every home inspector that survived last year's market and who surviives this year's market won't have much trouble meeting the requirements we'll see under this new law and the new board.

I believe that this law is inevitable. Maybe you should lobby for a position on the board when you write to Sonny.

I also think that the law is inevitable. And truly, I welcome licensure. Taking and passing the NHIE (if the NHIE is the test that’s deemed necessary) and having all the requirements (over 200 inspections) to submit to the board. I will still be here. BUT, I would like to see this bill written differently. With tighter wording and restrictions placed on the board. I am NOT for bigger government or a new tax.

I didn’t say anything about conspiracy. I do think that the fee could easily be set high enough to displace small independents. The larger firms have deeper pockets, with management and full time staff, they will have more ways to produce revenue and time to advance their agenda with the board. That’s life and its always that way. But I dont have to sit and take it.

I agree, the strong will survive this market. God willing and some hard work, I will be around. And I hope that I will be so busy again, that a seat on the board will be out of the question! I would not want to be on it, its not for me. I am an inspector, not a panel member or a politician. And I do enough around my community that takes me away from my family. My wife might shoot me if I volunteer for anything else!

How about you? Do you fully support everything about the bill? You looking to be on the Board?

[Bob White]

I also think that the law is inevitable. And truly, I welcome licensure. Taking and passing the NHIE (if the NHIE is the test that’s deemed necessary) and having all the requirements (over 200 inspections) to submit to the board. I will still be here. BUT, I would like to see this bill written differently. With tighter wording and restrictions placed on the board. I am NOT for bigger government or a new tax.

I'm not sure how to welcome licensure without welcoming the new guv'ment that comes with.... and that guv'ment should be paid for by the licensees, shouldn't it? When the fee schedule comes out and if it's exhorbitant, I'll start barking.


I didn’t say anything about conspiracy. I do think that the fee could easily be set high enough to displace small independents. The larger firms have deeper pockets, with management and full time staff, they will have more ways to produce revenue and time to advance their agenda with the board. That’s life and its always that way. But I dont have to sit and take it.

I think there'll be plenty of room for us independents for a while. There are no Home inspecting Sam Waltons out there yet, and the large firms are hurting in these times too. Even the largest firms don't have much political pull (at least locally.) I too am interested in the make-up of the board, and I am especially interested in who the non-affiliated member is gonna be. I fear that somhow the Realtours will somehow insinuate themselves into the governing board. So, if your nightmare (major franchise) and my nightmare (NAR) end up providing direction for the HI board, I'll have a problem with it. Otherwise, I'm waiting to see.
Any way, one of the board members has to be a licensed GC, and their latest extension was to July 2008. I think their deadline will be extended again. The HI board may never come about !! ;)


I agree, the strong will survive this market. God willing and some hard work, I will be around. And I hope that I will be so busy again, that a seat on the board will be out of the question! I would not want to be on it, its not for me. I am an inspector, not a panel member or a politician. And I do enough around my community that takes me away from my family. My wife might shoot me if I volunteer for anything else!

How about you? Do you fully support everything about the bill? You looking to be on the Board?

No, I do not fully support everything about the bill. I can't remember a bill that I read and fully supported, no matter what the subject.

I am afraid that the "approved" continuing education requirement will turn into me attending basic newbie classes over and over again --- not because of the requirement for CE, but due to the availability and cost of approved courses. I'll have to wait and see whether my fear is overblown, though.

I am not happy with the board determining the type and amount of liability insurance I have to buy. I would much rather put my money into a prepaid legal arrangement than E & O. Hopefully the only required liability insurance will be Gen. Liability.

I am not happy with the requirement that I be certified in Georgia Minimum Standards that I cite in my reports. I'll have to become certified in NEC, IRC, IPC,and IECC now, if I want to cite sections from those publications. If Georgia would use the IRC for plumbing and electrical for one and two family residences, I'd be happier to take the tests and certify. I don't relish becoming certified on the entire NEC just to be able to opine on the requirement for securing non-metallic sheathed conductors, and to be able to cite the section that I used to derive my opinion. There's a lot of stuff in that book that I just don't need to know (or cite) to be a one and two family residence inspector.

As for the board, I am neither motivated nor qualified to be a member. I've only been in business since the fall of 2003, so I wouldn't be the best candidate for a governing board member. I'd have trouble separating my own selfish concerns from the real needs of the HI community too.

[mattmorris]

Looks like you don’t need it now. The bill was vetoed today. For all the right reasons, too.

We should all thank the Governor.

[michael ivie]

Ding-Dong the witch is dead...:)

[Rick Hurst]

With all that publicity over HI, the number of inspectors will double there in the next year or so.

[Deleted Account]

With all that publicity over HI, the number of inspectors will double there in the next year or so.


That would have only happened if the Governor had signed the bill which would have made everyone equal, without licensing it will be difficult if not impossible to double the number of inspectors because there is no way for that many inspectors to establish themselves in such a short amount of time without government tampering with our profession.

Remember in not one case did a state ever raise the bar to even the minimum paltry ASHI standards. Backing state licensing will guarantee that your competition will at least double and in some cases like New York State, you will see the average price for a home inspection cut in half.

It is always a noble endeavor to reject the socialization of our profession, licensing solves nothing. Let me put it another way those who support home inspector licensing get what they deserve.

[Rick Hurst]

Joe,

Let look back a year from now and see what the numbers say.

50. bucks say the numbers of HI's there increase immensely.

Rick

[Bob White]

Looks like you don’t need it now. The bill was vetoed today. For all the right reasons, too.

We should all thank the Governor.




So be it.

I think I'll go for the ICC certs anyway.... adds --- what's the word? --- gravitas. :) And, if there's ever any more new construction, I'll be able to do those phase inspections too......

[Deleted Account]

So be it.

I think I'll go for the ICC certs anyway.... adds --- what's the word? --- gravitas. :) And, if there's ever any more new construction, I'll be able to do those phase inspections too......


Smart move, go for it. I would suggest taking the B1 & E1 then sit for P1 & M1. I don't know your background mine is electrical and I still found the plumbing exam the easiest.

The electrical & mechanical exams are the toughest if you have no background because of the necessity of having to be familiar with the language & nomenclature of those trades. I spent a month studying and passed all four first try. Let me know if I can help.

[Brandon Chew]

Backing state licensing will guarantee that your competition will at least double and in some cases like New York State, you will see the average price for a home inspection cut in half.

Please provide the facts that form the basis of this statement, as it pertains to New York State.

[Deleted Account]

Please provide the facts that form the basis of this statement, as it pertains to New York State.



Like everything else I found it on some website, I will try to locate the discussion, do you have conflicting data?

[Rick Hurst]

Brandon,

Now you have to back up yourself he says, when he pulls some BS story out of his arse but can't remember the source.

rick

[Deleted Account]

Brandon,

Now you have to back up yourself he says, when he pulls some BS story out of his arse but can't remember the source.

rick


If you have data that conflicts what I have reported please present it, I am always willing to change my opinion should the new information be brought to light.

I realize that you probably don't have much time to spare regarding New York's licensing issues when you have to perform inspections in a state where the Realtors control the home inspectors, but don't take that out on me, I'm only the messenger.

[Brandon Chew]

Like everything else I found it on some website, I will try to locate the discussion, do you have conflicting data?

If you find it, please post a link. I'd like to read it and make up my own mind about whether or not I believe it to be true.

[Deleted Account]

If you find it, please post a link. I'd like to read it and make up my own mind about whether or not I believe it to be true.



I'll look for it, but you live there, why would you need to make up your mind? Is it true for you or not? I mean has the number of home inspectors in your market increased with a subsequent decrease in inspection prices post licensing?

[Brandon Chew]

In my small corner of the world, I haven't seen a significant change in numbers of inspectors or pricing pre- or post-licensing. My personal anecdote is meaningless when it comes to the impact of licensing on my entire state.

But this discussion is not about me and my local market. You're the one making statements about the effects licensing has had on my entire state and using those statements to further your anti-licensing arguments. I'm not entering the pro/anti licensing debate; I'm trying to decide for myself if what you are posting about my state is believable, and in the process of doing that, to learn more about the effects of licensing elsewhere in my state.

[Bob White]

Smart move, go for it. I would suggest taking the B1 & E1 then sit for P1 & M1. I don't know your background mine is electrical and I still found the plumbing exam the easiest.

The electrical & mechanical exams are the toughest if you have no background because of the necessity of having to be familiar with the language & nomenclature of those trades. I spent a month studying and passed all four first try. Let me know if I can help.


Mechanical will be my downfall.

[Jerry Peck]

[quote=Bob White;43744]I think I'll go for the ICC certs anyway.../quote]


Bob,

I always recommend that every HI take the ICC exams and get their ICC certifications in each of the for categories.

Regardless whether or not you actually use the certifications to enhance your business, the simple act of studying for, and taking, the exams if very educational ... you get to learn how things 'are supposed to be done'.

I would first go for the Building Inspector, then Mechanical, then Plumbing, followed by Electrical. There is a crossover between Mechanical and Plumbing, so whichever one you take first will help with the other. If you are weak in mechanical, take the Plumbing first, that way the crossover from Plumbing will make your Mechanical easier. The crossover between those two is mainly the Fuel Gas area and related items, such as combustion air, etc.

[Jerry McCarthy]

FWIW, which is probably nothing to most folks, I totally agree with E.C. Jerry's recommendation regarding ICC certification and if I had my way ICC’s Combination Residential Dwelling Certification would be mandatory throughout our country. I have long failed to understand why anyone who considers him-her-self a professional home inspector has not taken the time and effort to obtain that certification? To me it’s the only meaningful basis for calling oneself a “certified” property inspector.

[Deleted Account]

Mechanical will be my downfall.



Mechanical is tough first because of Chapter 24 Fuel Gas, there is just so many pages that is dificult to narrow down your search and many items are listed in both Chapter 24 & in Part V of the codebook.

The strategy that I teach for passing these exams is to study to the point of being able to answer 1/2 of the questions on the first pass through the exam using no more than 1 minute per question, while marking the other half to go back & review. If you can do that you will have about 3 minutes per question to look up the 30 questions you marked for review.

Over the past two years we have had over 300 inspectors throughout the gulf states achieve at least their B1 certificate, and many others have gone on to R5 certification. These exams are tough but any practicing home inspector should be able to get themselves through these exams without too much effort, but you must know your way around the codebook to be successful.

Good Luck