A Proposal For a Meaningful and Attainable CMI Program

[John Bowman]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

OK - one more question....

This would mean that a rookie could be a CMI if they passed the test right (assuming they did 100 inspections to be a full member)?

Not the way I understand it. There is no actual "CMI" designation, involved. That is the beauty of the whole thing. No tiering of the membership.

[Blaine Wiley]

If we are going to not create a tiered organization, which is important, all full members should be able to attain the designation. The exam will check for the knowledge taught in the course, which should be designed to be advanced.

No course materials should have any of the basic information that all home inspectors should have a good working knowledge of prior to opening their business. This is meant to be an advanced designation.

A GCMI designation will be optional for all members. But to earn it you must take the designed curriculum and pass the exam. The idea is to learn things you don't know, not to pass a test without taking the course and score a 76, indicating that there are still many things to learn.

Again, the goal here is to make sure that as many of our inspectors who want to be, are as educated as they need or want to be which will benefit them by being more knowledgeable and marketable in their business.

I have no idea if GCMI is trademarked, but that isn't the issue.

Giving an unbiased measurement of whether someone is a "master inspector" is difficult at best. Measuring whether someone has met the course criteria and demonstrated that by passing an exam is simple.

[Blaine Wiley]

John is correct. No CMI designation. Just a designation for having taken and passed an advanced curriculum.

[jmichalski]

Blaine, I was just trying to find some way that this would be about NACHI and our inspectors, not a big payday for the inspection traiing schools.

Maybe offer the materials for study at home through the NACHI mall and give proceeds to the Foundation or something. Like ICC does. They don't teach it, they give you the info and the exam. If you pass you can claim the credential.

This means that no one would have to travel for the course, take time off from business, and the money stays In House.

We can also make it as difficult as we like, and not lose control over the cirriculum or cost control to the schools.

[Blaine Wiley]

I absolutely think that NACHI should own the curriculum, but that doesn't mean that it can't be taught by any school we choose. This is about NACHI and it's members. If there is a thought that we have only new inexperienced inspectors who don't have the education they need, this is one other avenue to eliminate that skepticism.

Remember though, things are usually worth what you pay for them! If we ask people to develop a curriculum and an exam, we can't expect them to donate their time, and provide everything for free. There are only so many of us volunteer fools out here!

[jmichalski]

I don't mind paying anyone to develop the cirriculum. I still do not understand why it has to be taught in-person at a physical school as opposed to a proctored exam using materials developed by NACHI, sold by NACHI, benefitting NACHI.

[jmichalski]

For what it's worth. I like the idea FAR more than the CMI fiasco. Just looking to put NACHI first wherever we can.....

[jcundiff]

Jesus H Christ- this is all starting to make ashi's bs seem strait forward