NJ Governor agrees with InterNACHI's lobbyist.

Governor Codey signed into law today A3983/S2503 revising the protectionist home inspection law that was on the books in New Jersey.  The law now says that to become a home inspector you must:

1. Be of good moral character and have a high school education or equivalent. 
2. Complete 140 hours of classroom study. 
3. Complete 40 hours of field work with a licensed inspector (not mentored inspections). The schools will be responsible to provide the field experience and the licensed inspectors. 
4. Pass the national exam. 
5. Have E & O insurance-Minimum of 500,000 per occurance.

One no longer has to place one's self into indentured servitude.

BTW, this is still the toughest law in the country!!!!!!!!

The above works very well for the new guys getting into the business, but there were many peolple in a state of flux which I called Associates License Limbo.

We were able to get the legislature to understand the problem and they wrote language into the law to help those went through the original licensing process to get granfathered into the the business and not get caught being out of work.

1. Anyone who has an Associates License, upon application, shall be issued a full NJ HI License. 
2. Anyone who has a letter from the Board stating they are approved pending an admistrative issue such as the "employment letter" shall also be grandfathered and issued a full license. 
3. Those who have finished the present schooling, gotten 50 mentored inspections, or have gotten 40 hours of field experience, will be issued a full license pending the normal review process and requirements.

The above addresses all of the scenarios that I could think for those in Associates License Limbo while the law is enacted.

This is great news not only for HI's but for the consumers of NJ. There will be enough new inspectors entering the business to meet the growing number of real estate transaction statewide.

For those who did not know, since the Associates License started over 3 years ago only 1 person that I know of has aquired their full license. He was employed by his father and naturally was able to find his way through the process without the obstacles those without friends/relatives in the business had to face. I do know of another 4-5 who qualify but most were required to sign non-competes to get their inspections and still cannot start theor own business.

There are many people to thank including InterNACHI, HICAG, our NJ members and the concerned inspectors all over the country who helped with the cause.

A special thanks goes to all of the sponsors of the bill, and Bill Maer, our lobbyist, who had a pulse on the indusrty and the players involved. His very special understanding of the legislative process made the the whole process work in our favor.

This is such a big win for home inspectors nationwide that there is not enough space here to go over all of the details.

I am thankful of everyone's support and know the industry is better today from New Jeresy's decision to do what was right for the consumers in the state.

Phillip R. Hinman
President, NJ InterNACHI