New Requirement

[George E. Russell]

Track 1: Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (8 hours of TREC approved credit)
Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update
Did you know that Effective September 1, 2011, continuing education for renewal of a real estate inspector or professional inspector license must include six hours of Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update? Brian Murphy will present this first ever approved ethics course.

Does iNachi have plans to offer a course to help out with this?

[Nick Gromicko]

Yep, already building it online... and of course it will be free for InterNACHI members.

[Tim Kallmer]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Yep, already building it online... and of course it will be free for InterNACHI members.

Is the Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update online course available yet? I can't seem to find it. Thanks

[Nick Gromicko]

No. I don't believe we are going to offer it online at first. We're actually going to offer it as a classroom course so that we can get instant inspector feedback. We're struggling to fill up 6 hours on this narrow topic.

[Bruce Thompson]

I literally JUST realized (about 2 hrs ago) that because of my 9/1/11 renewal date that I am responsible for having this course ASAP. I thought it applied to me for my 2013 renewal, but apparently not.

[Nick Gromicko]

I'm pretty sure you are mistaken.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I'm pretty sure you are mistaken.

Mistaken that he needs it after 9/1/11 or mistaken that it applies to his 2013 renewal?

[Michael R. Boyett]

While there may be some uncertainty in the new TREC SOP/Legal/Ethics CE requirement this is what Inspector Advisory Committee Chairman Willcox had to say about it in last month's TREC Advisor newsletter:

Looking forward, our education providers will need to
revise their course offerings to meet the newly
designated hours per topic requirements for
pre-licensure education that become effective
September 1, 2011. After that date, inspectors will
need to have taken a new 6 hour course in Texas
Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update in order to
renew a license. These six hours will be counted as
part of the 32 hours of continuing education currently
required for each renewal. Both of these initiatives
are very positive changes for our industry. Our
education subcommittee has begun work on
curriculum guidance for the educators to ensure key
items are included.

Additionally, the Texas Administrative Code was amended in Jan '11 to include the requirement. If I'm misinterpreting something please let me know.

See the attachment here:

[Nick Gromicko]

The pre-licensing requirement wouldn't apply to Bruce. But he will need to take the course before he renews in 2013. That's how I read it. Otherwise, having a Sept 1, 2011 renewal date, he would be given only a 1-day window to take the course (so I know that isn't right).

[Michael R. Boyett]

Could be...let's hope that interpretation is correct. My license doesn't renew for a year so I'm not gonna get too wound up one way or the other.

[Nick Gromicko]

We'll offer it in Texas this winter.

[Bruce Thompson]

Am I the only one with a 9/1/11 renewal date !!

Official word is in, read below:

To whom it may concern:

My professional inspector license renewal is due on 9/1/11. My question is: am I required to take the SoP/Legal/Ethics course prior to 9/1/11 in order to renew my license?

Sincerely,
Bruce

________

Dear Mr. Thompson,
License #9199

Your inquiry was forward to me since I process the Inspector Applications, Renewals, and CE documents.

At this time, it has not been mandated to complete that particular course.

Should you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Elisa Macias
Education Specialist

_________

Thanks for the quick response. Just to reiterate, my license renews on 9/1/11. I don’t have to have that course for this renewal period.

Sincerely,
Bruce

_________

No, Sir

Elisa Macias
Education Specialist

[Bruce Thompson]

The reason for my panic is that I received an email from TAREI offering the education. In the heading was this sentence:


Did you know that any renewal on or after September 1, 2011 will require a six (6) hour SoP/Legal/Ethics update course?

One little word...."on".....it caused a little palpitation.

[Nick Gromicko]

Don't believe everything you read. I'm glad you were mistaken.

[John Cahill]

Actual rule wording "(a) Effective September 1, 2011, continuing education for renewal of a real estate inspector or professional inspector license must include six hours of Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update."

September 1, 2011 starts at 12.00 AM.

I suggest you elevate your request for clarification to Devon Bijansky. devon.bijansky@trec.texas.gov I have seen TREC over rule emails and you might find yourself without a license.

TAREI presented a 6 hour course a few weeks ago. The inspector committee developed a required syllabus outline and TAREI had to use it to develop their course.

As far as I can tell a slide show that reads the Ethics and SoP is about all that is needed. The course did solicit some interesting comments. I have no doubt INACHI and others will offer great courses.

As best I can tell, the purpose of the Rule was to make inspectors read the SoP at least once every 10 years.