Level 1 Certification

[David P. Valley]

Well, I decided to take the big step and take the Level 1 IR certification course at FLIR. This is one hell of an imformative course.

Level 1 certification is going very well. It can be very mind boggling at times going over many camera's with many features. During the day, they gave me so much information that my brain started to swell at times. I can only retain so much new information in one day, so I find myself writing down and highlighting a lot pertinent important during the class. Then, I go home in the evening and browse through the supplied literature and then I start to slowly retain the information at my own comfort level. This in fact, helps me place some of that missed information back into my head. WOW. Too much information in several days is really hard on me.

I'm learning so much through this course that I'm simply amazed that some of this pertinent IR camera information was not given out during the BS course. There simply isn't enough time to learn all the fundamentals of IR inspections and reporting in the little time that is alloted. Between both courses (BS and Level 1 certifications), I now feel very confident in performing and properly interpreting IR inspections.

For those who did take the BS course, the Level 1 certification course does not teach participants identical information that was taught in BS. I did hear very little information that I did hear in the BS course, only because the information was crucial in properly performing an IR inspection. Level 1 training is everything about measuring and properly interpreting what you are actually looking at and more. I could go on and on about this particular course, but I think I said enough.

Any questions?

[David P. Valley]

I took my first refresher quiz. There were not many questions on this particular quiz (10) and I feel it wasn't that complicated.


I went over the test with the instructor (Bernie Lyon) and got a 100%.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by dvalley

I took my first refresher quiz. There were not many questions on this particular quiz (10) and I feel it wasn't that complicated.


I went over the test with the instructor (Bernie Lyon) and got a 100%.

Gee I hope you said Is that not what I was supposed to do.

Congratulations sounds to me like you listened to the instructor and that he also had the ability to get it across well.

Incidentally we had 22 in our class and all passed .
Shows how great the FLIR instructors are ...Cookie

[David P. Valley]

Well, Flir took all of us (students) out for dinner last evening....Lobster and drinks. It was fantastic. I had a great time getting to know more about the students (in this class) and chatting with Bernie Lyon.

I'm in class now, just finished lunch and took my second short quiz this morning. Can you believe I got another 100% on this test? Fantastic.

The big test is at 3:30 PM and I'm very confident in passing this test. Actually...A passing grade of at least 70% is mandatory in order to get Certified by Flir. Then each student must submit a field inspection to Flir for final certification that will be sent by mail.

I had mentioned earlier that this course is 5 days long. I stand corrected... It's 4 (four) days long with an optional 5th day (FRIDAY) for those who would like to learn more about the ThermaCam reporting software versions 8 & 7. Then they take you around the facilty for a tour of the calibration room and such. I'm not interested, so today is my final day.

[Chuck Lambert]

Both are great courses. However Level I gives you instant credibility in the court room. Level I gives you more on the camera, what you are and are not seeing through the camera. Basically therory behind how the camera works. I battled with which class to take and went with the Level I and will do the Building Science this year after I do Level II. One other thing with Level I around here I can now bid jobs with the City and County because of the Level I certification, that is another thing to think about.

Chuck

[sfalvey]

Hi Dave,

Now that you have completed level 1, I am interested in knowing your opinion on which class to take first to gain the most out of each class. Level 1 or BS.

Thanks,

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

David,

Wow!! 100% That is great news and I have no doubt that you will pass the final exam. In my class the only person that received 100% was my friend Roy Cooke!!!

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by sfalvey

Hi Dave,

Now that you have completed level 1, I am interested in knowing your opinion on which class to take first to gain the most out of each class. Level 1 or BS.

Thanks,

Scott,

IMOPO, I highly recommend you take Level 1 certification first, only if you are a highly qualified Home Inspector and you know exactly what you are doing when you inspect homes. I say this only because Level 1 teaches more about the camera, its logistics, and how to properly read and interpret what you are actually seeing on your camera screen. Building Science teaches a lot of building science applications that I already knew about. BS was very interesting in the first day and a half because it taught information referring to the IR camera but after that, I was getting very bored. Being a home inspector for about five years and inspecting over 3,000 homes, I knew everything they were teaching regarding building sciences.

So, if you're new to the HI industry I recommend BS first. But if you feel comfortable inspecting homes and have a lot of HI experience, you definitely want to take Level 1 certification first.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by mkyriacou

David,

Wow!! 100% That is great news and I have no doubt that you will pass the final exam. In my class the only person that received 100% was my friend Roy Cooke!!!

If you pay attention in class, highlight everything that you don't know about, take notes and study, great grades will follow.

I am totally amazed at how much there is to learn in such a little camera.

I took my final exam yesterday and passed in flying colors. I didn't get a 100% (I got 3 wrong) but that's not the point. I passed the 3 testing phases, received my Certificate of Attendence and I'll be sending Flir my sample report today, in order to get Level 1 certification.

If anyone has any questions regarding IR training or anything relating to infrared cameras, I'm here for ya.

[Greg Bell]

Hi David

Congrats on taking the level 1.

It is a shame that NACHI once again has to lower the bar for all inspectors with their bogus certification and 16 hour course.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by gbell

Hi David

Congrats on taking the level 1.

It is a shame that NACHI once again has to lower the bar for all inspectors with their bogus certification and 16 hour course.

Gee do you think my taking this course will make me less of an Inspector .
I sure hope not .
...Cookie

[Greg Bell]

If that is the only course you plan on taking for IR and then telling the consumer that you are certified as a thermographer, then yes it will make you less of an inspector IMHO.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by gbell

Hi David

Congrats on taking the level 1.

It is a shame that NACHI once again has to lower the bar for all inspectors with their bogus certification and 16 hour course.

Thank you Greg. I look forward to putting my skills to use and becoming one the most professional Thermographers in my area.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by gbell

If that is the only course you plan on taking for IR and then telling the consumer that you are certified as a thermographer, then yes it will make you less of an inspector IMHO.

Do you have a IR camera?

...Cookie

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Scott,

IMOPO, I highly recommend you take Level 1 certification first, only if you are a highly qualified Home Inspector and you know exactly what you are doing when you inspect homes. I say this only because Level 1 teaches more about the camera, its logistics, and how to properly read and interpret what you are actually seeing on your camera screen. Building Science teaches a lot of building science applications that I already knew about. BS was very interesting in the first day and a half because it taught information referring to the IR camera but after that, I was getting very bored. Being a home inspector for about five years and inspecting over 3,000 homes, I knew everything they were teaching regarding building sciences.

So, if you're new to the HI industry I recommend BS first. But if you feel comfortable inspecting homes and have a lot of HI experience, you definitely want to take Level 1 certification first.

Thank you; my very own concept