Home Inspector Licensing in British Columbia

[James Koong]

Hi Bill,
How long is the NCP eaxm waiting list in BC ?

[Claude Lawrenson]

One needs to apply and undergo a background review, than if eligible take the TIPR exam. Info may be found at http://www.nca-anc.com/

More specifically http://www.nca-anc.com/index.php?opt...d=24&Itemid=39

The current wait period is approximately a month for a TIPR depending on the number applications currently in the system.

[Get Facts Straight]

James you may qualify under item 10 (page 4 at the link below. TRANSITION. It appears you do not have to be a member of any association.

Reads like a grandfathering clause.

http://www.bpcpa.ca/images/40-09.pdf

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by clawrenson

One needs to apply and undergo a background review, than if eligible take the TIPR exam. Info may be found at http://www.nca-anc.com/

More specifically http://www.nca-anc.com/index.php?opt...d=24&Itemid=39

The current wait period is approximately a month for a TIPR depending on the number applications currently in the system.

Looks like there will be some "Weeding-Out" going on in BC....!!!

Claude, did everyone know, or I guess I should say, was this new law publicized for quite a while before actually becoming law?

Personally I think some licensing laws are actually good in more ways than not if written properly.

Good luck you guys....

[bmullen]

Originally Posted by Get Facts Straight

James you may qualify under item 10 (page 4 at the link below. TRANSITION. It appears you do not have to be a member of any association.

http://www.bpcpa.ca/images/40-09.pdf

I had mentioned that, and if James has more credentials than merely NACHI ones, he might have a chance. However, since the BC government finds the nACHI credentials insufficint, I can only wish him luck.

Bill Mullen

[bmullen]

Originally Posted by jkoong

Hi Bill,
How long is the NCP eaxm waiting list in BC ?

Hi James:

As Claude mentioned, you need to fill out an Application for Background Review. This application lists all your education, experience and credentials. It goes to a special National Certification Council which decides where you fit into the program. This process can take from one to three or four months, because this Council meets only when there are a certain number of applications. If you have enough solid education, training and experience, they can then recommend you for a TIPR exam.

If all goes well, you MIGHT get your NCH within three months, but it sometimes takes longer, especially if your courses don't meet the National Occupational Standards.

Under the circumstances in BC, with such a tight deadline, I predict people from the NCP across Canada will volunteer to help make things work a bit faster than normal.

Bill Mullen

[Kurt Evans]

I"m all about change, and change is for the better most of the time.
I've been a Home Inspector for 2 years, I did my training at UFV University of the Fraser Valley, located in BC. I'm also a NACHI for the last 2 years too.
Not all NACHI members are fake, I consider myself to be as good as any other association out there.
To find out now, that I can be certified through NCH for $250 ??? and that it only gives me a 2year window which then I'm forced to join an association that I donnot want to be part of is complete bull****! Just because someone passes an exam that the government of BC is involved in creating does not mean that I will take the time to do a great Home Inspection. I feel a little rail roaded and also find that because i never joined CAPHI I'm nobody. I'll tell you that the support for fellow home Inspectors out their is crap, take our money and your on your own, join us or your no one. even know we're a better group on the outside, there's still bull**** happening on the inside.

[Claude Lawrenson]

Dale, yes, in fact Raymond Wand posted it almost a year ago. Both Bill and I have mentioned it also, and been aware of the importance that the National Certification Program would help in developing a "national standard" to help bring in the NACHI and other non-aligned inspectors.

Much information about this, including requests for input was advertised in the newspaper and on the web. Unfortunately inspectors may get too busy to bother with the news, or concerns until it is too late.

However, once licensing takes hold - such as this, it certainly makes everyone aware of the possible vulnerability that may face them. Fortunately there are a number of NACHI inspectors that have successfully completed the National Certification Program. They prove that there are some very knowledgeable and experienced home inspectors out there that provide a good reference mark.

[bmullen]

Originally Posted by kevans

I"m all about change, and change is for the better most of the time.
I've been a Home Inspector for 2 years, I did my training at UFV University of the Fraser Valley, located in BC. I'm also a NACHI for the last 2 years too.
Not all NACHI members are fake, I consider myself to be as good as any other association out there.
To find out now, that I can be certified through NCH for $250 ??? and that it only gives me a 2year window which then I'm forced to join an association that I donnot want to be part of is complete bull****! Just because someone passes an exam that the government of BC is involved in creating does not mean that I will take the time to do a great Home Inspection. I feel a little rail roaded and also find that because i never joined CAPHI I'm nobody. I'll tell you that the support for fellow home Inspectors out their is crap, take our money and your on your own, join us or your no one. even know we're a better group on the outside, there's still bull**** happening on the inside.

Kurt:

NACHI and Nick were invited to the dance many times by Claude L. and myself over the past two or three years. Heck, we even offered to help NACHI complete the necessary paperwork, but were always refused.
Licensing and the requirements should not surprise anyone in BC. It's been on the radar for a couple years.

BTW, you can't be certified through the NCH for $ 250. I believe you can apply for a special assessment to be licensed for $ 250., which might get you two years breathing room. (if you qualify)

I hope you and other good NACHI inspectors can indeed find a way, because I am very aware that there are lots of very good NACHI inspectors. You and they deserved a shot at this, but maybe now's the time to ask your leader, the owner of iNACHI why he let his ego get in the way of your right to make a living.

Bill Mullen

[Claude Lawrenson]

Its all about choices, and doing your planning armed with facts. The common issues becomes who inspects the inspector? A large part of my job is dealing with unhappy clients that have had a bad home inspection experience.

As a matter of interest when was the last time a NACHI inspector was Disciplined for a Home Inspection or Professional Practice complaint, other than removed or banned from the NACHI forum?

The point being in many cases - who protects the consumer? Which gets back to the question of assuring reasonable compliance to the home inspection standards, and assessing the performance accuracy rate of the home inspector in finding and properly reporting the significant defects.

That is a nutshell is a major component and the basic premise of licensing. Proving competence and assuring reasonable protection to consumers. Otherwise it is simply an unregulated and uncontrolled industry; and not looked upon as a profession, such as other professionals.

Until now, other than in BC, the home inspector was the only unlicensed person participating in the transaction of a purchasing a house. Now the licensing requirement has set the standard, its up to home inspectors to prove their level of competence to get their license.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by clawrenson

Dale, yes, in fact Raymond Wand posted it almost a year ago. Both Bill and I have mentioned it also, and been aware of the importance that the National Certification Program would help in developing a "national standard" to help bring in the NACHI and other non-aligned inspectors.

Well if most people knew about it, I guess they had plenty of time to do what ever was necessary to be a professional home inspector.

Many people on this message board do not like licensing of our profession, but personally I think if a law is written properly any person who is actually qualified to inspect a home someone will be able to get that license.

When somebody who has no idea what they are doing simply picks inspecting homes as a career, schooling, construction knowledge, being able to explain items to clients professionally in terms they understand, and write a report professionally would not be possible if they worked at some type of job before deciding to become a home inspector that had nothing to do with building science, it does nothing but hurt our profession.

So I see the law as sorting out all of the folks who do not take the profession seriously or have no idea what their doing.

I would not doubt the other Province's follow suit soon.

[bmullen]

I know I can speak for Claude when I say that although he and I are no longer NACHI members, we will still help any NACHI member in BC or elsewhere who wants to become a National Certificate Holder.

Feel free to e-mail me at bmullen@ebtech.net with questions or for advice.

Bill Mullen PHPI ; RHI
#NCA00001

[dcook1]

Originally Posted by dduffy

I would not doubt the other Province's follow suit soon.

Dale,
It will spread across Canada in the next few years. Ontario politicians have tabled this license already.... it is just time.

[Kurt Evans]

Hi Bill, I've already sent off a message to Nick, I'm waiting to hear back from him on this. Yes I knew of this a year ago, but at the time nachi members were under the asumption that we would be part of the process with the BC government as well as CAPHI....etc.
It's terrible what's happenign right now to the good ones.

[Claude Lawrenson]

The blame should not be put on Nick, or anyone. Apathy and deviseness can cause a lot of harm.

Inspectors need to first and foremost get involved in their business to assure they are aware of what changes are brought forward through the media, and/or through reviewing the discussions and chats of the various home inspector forums.

Consumers experience, consumer protection and the impact of lack of uniform standards all factor into this. This seems to mirror similar concerns brought forward by a CMHC study some 10 years ago.

On the other side there were clear warning signs that something was about to take place. Now that is has, it does limit the options - at least in BC for home inspectors. Other provinces are already looking at similar scenarios. So yes, the ball is rolling and the NCP is that common denominator.