Should classroom courses for home inspectors in Canada be outlawed?

[remmons]

Hi Nick,
I have recently joined INTERNACHI, and I am very glad to have found you. Before hearing of you from a local Inspector, I was becoming very frustrated at the process for certification here in Ontario. I took 5 of the required courses for inspectors in Ontario, and due to the convoluted way to break in to the Ontario Home Inspectors Association, I was starting to think I had wasted 1 year and $3,000 in a College education. I took 4 of the classes in-class; Electrical,Plumbing,Building Codes, and Health and Safety. HVAC was taken online through the college.
I graduated all courses with high marks, but I didn't know the difference between a gambrel and a gable until I took your roofing course. Scary, eh?. Keep it up!!
Richard in Ottawa

[Claude Lawrenson]

Hi Richard - it's truly unfortunate to hear of your experience. My comments are not intended to paint all other types of learning opportunities with the same brush. But fact of the matter there are various types and quality of education available out there, and some not as clear and beneficial as others.

I teach/facilitate several online college courses for Humber College (Toronto Ontario) from my home in Windsor-Tecumseh Ontario. These include Intro to Home Inspections, Structures for Home Inspectors, and Building Science for Home Inspectors. I have also developed education and training for First Nation National Building Officers through two well recognized government agencies.

I would certainly like to clarify that not all home inspection courses are at the same level of rigor and value. This type of inequity and uncertainty is why it is extremely important for a home inspector or a person considering entering this field to do their homework and carefully research getting the best value for your money. That is why the National Certification Program has an independant consultant and a National Accreditation Council that reviews voluntary submissions of Home Inspection Training courses/programs. If you go to the website you will see what courses/programs are "accredited".
http://www.nca-anc.com/
Being that I am involved with the National Certification Program, you can go to the website and review those program that are recognized and are "accredited" to the National Occupational Standard for Home and Property Inspectors in Canada. At the current time it is a good and reliable source to validate access to further your education and training.

BTW: Did you learn how to recognize a butterfly styled roof?

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by remmons

Hi Nick,
I have recently joined INTERNACHI, and I am very glad to have found you. Before hearing of you from a local Inspector, I was becoming very frustrated at the process for certification here in Ontario. I took 5 of the required courses for inspectors in Ontario, and due to the convoluted way to break in to the Ontario Home Inspectors Association, I was starting to think I had wasted 1 year and $3,000 in a College education. I took 4 of the classes in-class; Electrical,Plumbing,Building Codes, and Health and Safety. HVAC was taken online through the college.
I graduated all courses with high marks, but I didn't know the difference between a gambrel and a gable until I took your roofing course. Scary, eh?. Keep it up!!
Richard in Ottawa

Welcome Richard!

I'm just accross the river so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to call.

Home inspecting is a continuous learning experience and you will find that no two house inspections and reports are the same even though they may be the same house...

Regards,

Claude, your link don't work for me anyway...

[hlowe]

Hey Claude!

I tried clicking on that website, you mentioned, and it won't come up!

[Claude Lawrenson]

Thanks I have corrected the url. http://www.nca-anc.com/
Checkout "Accredited Training"

[hlowe]

Thanks Claude!...........I got it.

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by clawrenson

Checkout "Accredited Training"

Why wouldn't Algonquin College in Ottawa be interested in submiting its *Home Inspection* courses for accreditation???

[Bill Mullen]

Originally Posted by mgratton

Why wouldn't Algonquin College in Ottawa be interested in submiting its *Home Inspection* courses for accreditation???

Marcel:

Are you sure they aren't interested? There are several training institutions in the process of having their courses, etc. evaluated by the National Accreditation Council. This is quite a rigorous process because they are evaluated on how closely they teach to the National Occupational Standards. It is far from being a 'rubber stamp for them.

Some institutions already know on their own that they need to change their curriculum a bit to qualify, and that can take them some time.
Bill Mullen

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by bmullen

Marcel:

Are you sure they aren't interested?

The NC has been on for a few years and I would have expected colleges to be the first on their list of accredited courses but then again...

[Claude Lawrenson]

The issue becomes as Bill indicated taking the time and effort to update course material to match the NOS (National Occupational Standard). The NOS provides the source for pedagogically sound curriculum development for the course. The course learning outcomes must provide measureable performance value that provides the necessary skills to become a "reasonably" successful home inspector. Example - "upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Effectively participate and communicate in the completion of a home inspection report
2. Demonstrate appropriate and sound resolution in reporting on specific issue related to defect recognition
etc.

But more to your comment - initially they all "seemed" to meet the "standard" at first glance, however, after a more detailed review - some did not. Others did not apply for accreditation, or perhaps more recently may have applied and may be in process. The review by the NAC (National Accreditation Council) is a huge task and not an automatic acceptance.

Some courses/programs are only "accredited" for the maximum hours in the range of 200 to 250 hours, while others much less such as 40 hours. This less factor simply indicates that only part of their course curriculum is recognized. These generally provide the basic skill levels, while some accredited course offer 40 to 80 hours on one system such as structures.

[remmons]

Thans so much for responding;
It's great to hear from you Claude, as I am looking at taking the intro course through Humber online.
I will check that site and talk to you further later.
Regards, Richard Emmons

[remmons]

Hi Marcel;
Thanks for the welcome. I am in the process of setting up E&O, BN#'s, etc. Who do you recommend for E & O insurance?
Regards, Richard Emmons

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by remmons

Hi Marcel;
Thanks for the welcome. I am in the process of setting up E&O, BN#'s, etc. Who do you recommend for E & O insurance?
Regards, Richard Emmons

Kim Smith or Pat Sokic at Hub International; they can be reached at 1.800.570.8770 ext 225.

All the best,

[James Koong]

Hi Nick,

This web http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/ copy your concept.
Accredited by Canadian Grovernment other online exam!

Nick is going to the right direction.
http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jkoong

Hi Nick,

This web http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/ copy your concept.
Accredited by Canadian Grovernment other online exam!

Nick is going to the right direction.
http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/

Smarten up, James! Get your head out of the KOOL-AID bowl!!!

What do you recommend next.......our driver and commercial airline pilot licenses be done on-line with your pyjamas on in bed???