PA education - recommendations please

[Allen L. Thomas]

Hello. I have been perusing your site for weeks. I have read good things about AHIT and ITA but was wondering if anyone knows of the courses Penn Foster puts out?
http://www.pennfoster.edu/inspector/ProgramOutline.html

It is certainly the more affordable of the three but I realize we get what we pay for. (I need affordable however!).

Also, after looking at the projections of inspectors across the states I am wondering if PA is an area you would consider already saturated?

Finally; having little background can a person taking home-based courses do as thorough a job as a person having construction, electrical,ect. experience?

I took the online test and would suggest being able to see the scores as a learing tool to know what areas are weak and strong.

Thank you for your time and suggestions. I am very impressed with the NACHI site and organization!

[Nick Gromicko]

Thanks for the nice words about NACHI... I of course agree. My replies are in order to your questions:

I don't know about Penn Foster and would stick solely to the educational offerings in www.InspectorMALL.com where you will find both ITA and AHIT, good inspections schools.

A slightly saturated market is the best to enter as the competition is likely killing themselves with pricing and so would not be a hinderance to you (provided you are a strong marketer). In other words... price war participants in your market is a good thing, not a bad thing. They make themselves weak and their markets vulnerable... to you.

In order of best to worst (in terms of how much you will learn) I would put your educational options as:

1. Class room and online (tied for first).
2. Mock inspections.
3. At home study.

And as to your final comment, NACHI members have access to stuff like this http://www.nachi.org/qa.htm

Thanks for posting!


P.S. Watch out for the PHIC Scam in PA http://www.nachi.org/phicscam.htm