As of August, 2010 doesn’t have any permit requirement for conducting home inspections. In 1996, the state enacted the Trade Practice Act, outlined in chapter 338 of this nation’s business and professional code. The code prohibits inspectors from certain unethical inspection activities, such as contracting to complete repair work on a property within 12 months of scrutinizing it. The code references the best practice standards and codes of ethics published by the California Real Estate Inspection Association and the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Experience
The California Real Estate Inspection Association requires member applicants that are certified to become actively engaged in the real estate inspection enterprise. Master-certified inspector applicants who have at least two years’ membership needs to have performed over 1,000 paid property inspections. The American Society of Home Inspectors demands associate members who display the group’s logo to have a minimum of 50 paid specialist inspections finished and supervised instruction in report writing, procedures and criteria for inspections. To make certified membership into the ASHI, inspector applicants must have performed at least 250 paid professional inspections.
Coaching
CREIA members must complete a mentoring program which consists of eight classroom DVDs, two textbooks and 25 practice inspections. Students may take part in structured ride-along inspections with an experience inspector. The ASHI needs members possess no less than 80 hours in inspector education. Students may complete these hours through instruction in the classroom, both online and from the area. A thorough training program should include how to identify and report defects in a home’s exterior and interior. Components the inspector must learn include the house’s structure, foundation, roofing, insulation, heating, cooling, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical.
Testing
CREIA members, associate members who display the ASHI logo and ASHI-certified members must pass the 200-question National Home Inspector Examination. The multiple-choice test covers processes for inspection, reporting, building systems, exteriors, interiors, structural, roofing, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), insulation, plumbing, fireplace and chimneys. Pupils have four hours to complete the examination and must make at least 500 out of a possible 800 points to maneuver. Students must register in advance to take the test, which costs $225, as of August, 2010, by phoning 800-733-9267, or online at psiexams.com. CREIA members may take the California Home Inspector Exam administered by CREIA in lieu of the National Home Inspector Exam. The certified-level exam has. The master’s-level exam has 150 questions with a time limitation.
Continuing Education
CREIA members must take at least 30 classroom hours of approved continuing education related to property inspection. Members of this ASHI must take part in a minimum of 20 hours of approved training to maintain registration. Providers of courses have availability in classrooms or via distance learning format; a few courses may meet the continuing education needs of both classes.
Meetings
Members of CREIA must attend at least two of their monthly chapter meetings per year. CREIA has eight areas with 25 area chapters.