Should inspectors with only classroom training be banned from our profession?

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/classroomsharm.htm

[Nick Gromicko]

I was chatting with an ex-plumber who is in home inspection school (classroom) and was explaining that he had to waste time sitting through the slow (for him) pace of the plumbing portions but was barely hanging on in the electrical portions as electrical was his weakness.

It reminded me of how harmful it is to consumers to have home inspectors train at the pace of the teacher instead of a pace matched to their own personal strengths and weaknesses.

Anyway, he is taking our electrical courses online because he can go at his own pace and repeat, something he couldn't do in a classroom setting.

It got me thinking... maybe home inspectors who only received classroom training should be banned from the profession for life.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Leave it up to the states. This is the land of the Free!

[Gary Farnsworth]

Most all industries require some on-the-job training before getting their credentials or going out by themselves to do the job.

Yes. Especially in our business, where most all homes are different. You cannot substitude any type of class for actual experience. How to act, speak, communicate, dress, business areas, all are hard to teach in any class, on-line or otherwise.

Classroom education is important, and part of the process, but cannot be totally relied upon to become a home inspector.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by gfarnsworth

Most all industries require some on-the-job training before getting their credentials or going out by themselves to do the job.

Yes. Especially in our business, where most all homes are different. You cannot substitude any type of class for actual experience. How to act, speak, communicate, dress, business areas, all are hard to teach in any class, on-line or otherwise.

Yes, but... most all industries also require some form of formal classroom training. All the OTJ training and experience traditionally occurs after the classroom experience.

Try getting any job in Minnesota if you don't have a college degree, typically a four year degree.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

I do not know of any trade where the have not served an apprentice .
I was 40 years in Construction (Electrician )and then mentored with my son for many months and have done well as a Homie .
I have mentored many wish to be Inspectors first trip for free then $50;00 a trip .
This has saved many a lot of money and has given them the truth as how much time and money they need to invest .
They have not wasted 3 years and $10,000;00 to be one 0f the 90% who fail .
We have had some who are now making a great living at this industry .
I feel mentoring like an apprenticeship is the better way to go .
Yes some have made it on their own but $10,000;00 ,3 years & 90% do not.

[Dale Duffy]

Personally, I do MUCH better at an Online Course, for the exact reasons Nick mentioned.

[Dale Duffy]

I have mentored many wish to be Inspectors first trip for free then $50;00 a trip .
This has saved many a lot of money and has given them the truth as how much time and money they need to invest .
They have not wasted 3 years and $10,000;00 to be one 0f the 90% who fail .
We have had some who are now making a great living at this industry .
I feel mentoring like an apprenticeship is the better way to go .
Yes some have made it on their own but $10,000;00 ,3 years & 90% do not.

Well there is nothing wrong with that, the 90% who fail leave this percentage to the ones who don't fail---

At least you tried, and made some money on the side, with only a 10% competition rate...can't beat that with a stick.....!

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by gromicko

It got me thinking... maybe home inspectors who only received classroom training should be banned from the profession for life.

Nick, did you forgot to post the homie inspector cartoon associated with this

how many have been expelled for life from this association?

with all that's offered here by an exceptional group of staff and basically a handful of seasoned pros a little house cleaning right here would be a great place to start.

am i to understand your novel concept?

"ban everyone classroom trained"


is this to include those that started before any online edu was even available...


where's my final check? ;~))

[Waqar Quraishi]

Classroom, tests, on the job training, and continuing education are all pieces of the same puzzle. They compliment each other. BTW many classroom training, if not all, have incorporated group field inspections, perhaps it should be expanded for a better outcome.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by gromicko

It got me thinking... maybe home inspectors who only received classroom training should be banned from the profession for life.

That would be me - classroom trained. Of course, I have completed diverse training since then, including online and classroom training, not to mention 5000+ inspections.

Both types of training have their strengths and weaknesses. It's my opinion that it's less about the forum, and more about the person taking the training. In addition, the quality of the material and instructor/author plays a large role successful training.

[James H. Bushart]

Yes. Particularly, this guy.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Banks give money to Builders with Classroom Training to build a Home...
Taxpayers give money to AHJ with Classroom Training to approve a Home.

Why is it that Home Inspections are even needed when homes are Built and Inspected with so much Education completed?

[Greg W. Mathias, CCHI]

I started in the business three years ago. My background was in carpentry with a small amount of plumbing and electrical background. I thought it would be an easy transition for me to get started right away and be the best inspector in the area because of my back ground. I learned very quickly how wrong I was. I still struggle with some of the electrical today and have taken many courses to improve myself. I spent a week with an inspector when I started along with a two week training course. It was almost three months before I felt I was ready to do my first inspection. I have done 32 ride alongs since then just to improve my abilities. I have taken almost all the online courses Nachi has to offer along with My WETT certification. I think everyone needs to do ride alongs even after they start doing paid inspections. You can never have two much knowledge. JMO

[Christopher Currins]

Members of InterNachi that fail to complete the minimum 24 hours per year of continued education should be, at least from this organization. I think that may be a fairly large percent.

I also feel the bar should be raised to become a Certified InterNACHI Member with logo use privileges.