Home Inspection Certificate (200 hours)

Course Overview/Description

The National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI®) was established in 1987 to provide educational programs, occupational training, and technical support for the home inspection and construction industries. NIBI offers classroom training programs, special seminars, field-training, continuing education programs, and a web-based online learning program.

Since its inception, NIBI has provided home inspection training for over 3,000 home inspectors in the United States and Canada. NIBI programs are open to the general public. Special sessions are also provided by arrangement for individual groups or organizations.

The individual Lessons of the Home Inspection Course have received credits or approval from various organization and governmental entities. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), the California Real Estate Inspectors Associations (CREIA), and 15 governmental agencies and other organizations have approved NIBI® Online courses for membership renewal credits or continuing education credits.

The NIBI Online Home Inspection Course currently consists of an Introductory Lesson and 11 Technical Lessons bundled in a subscription series as one Course. The Course covers the major elements of a house and the principal issues and components of a home inspection. All Lessons start with detailed information on residential construction, including basic building design and construction materials and practices. The focus of all courses, however, is on home inspection-including: standards of practice, defects recognition, inspection guidelines, and reporting methodologies. Each core course also includes appendices containing extensive glossaries, reference articles, inspection procedure lists, and common defect lists.

Each learning unit is independently formatted, so students can take the course in any order desired, or switch between units; however, the suggested format is to either complete the units as listed above, or alternate between a structure/building components course and a mechanical systems course.

With the NIBI Online Learning Program Courses, students learn in part through extensive questioning. There are hundreds of review questions in each individual course. Assessments-graded exams-are included at the end of each major segment of each course, with typically 6-10 graded assessment per core course. Each exam consists of 20 to 30 or more "multiple choice" or "select all that apply" questions. An aggregate grade of 75% is required for course completion credit.

The testing structure is flexible and can be revised to meet most specified criteria, including proctored exams when necessary. Five other standard question formats can be also used. Exams are graded instantaneously with scores supplied directly to the student.

The program monitors test results to weed out problematic questions. Exam questions are added/rotated regularly to ensure testing program integrity. A "final" 200-question exam covering all topics is used with the subscription series; final exams can be added to any course, as required.

The NIBI Online® Learning Program also provides student tracking, which monitors access times, sections reviewed, tests taken, and other administrative functions to ensure that all key components of each course are completed by each student. In addition to passing assessments, all core sections of a course must be completed to receive full credit.

While the Home Inspection program can be taken by students in any state, some states have home inspector licensing and/or registration laws that require a classroom components for most license or registration applicants. Please click here to view the list of states. The NIBI Online courses may not meet the educational requirements in these states for the typical applicant; however, in some cases, states waive classroom requirements for applicants with certain home inspection expertise or other related experiences or licenses. Each prospective student must consult their particular state home inspection regulatory board for specific information.

The National Institute of Building Inspectors and NIBI are registered trademarks of ProTeam, Inc., a N.J. Corporation. NIBI is affiliated with HouseMaster®, a network of home inspection franchises throughout North America. NIBI administrative offices and training center are located in Central New Jersey, approximately 45 miles west of New York City and 20 miles north of Princeton, N.J.

Course Objectives

The NIBI Online Home Inspection Certificate Course will:

• Provide an introduction to the home inspection industry.
• Review home inspection standards of practice.
• Provide information on residential construction, materials, and installation practices.
• Address special concerns and issues related to house components.
• Cover resources, tools, and equipment used for home inspections.
• Review common safety concerns and personal protection issues.
• Provide general guidelines on inspection procedures.
• Address common communication issues, perspectives, and reporting formats.

Upon successful completion of the NIBI Online Home Inspection Certificate, students will:
• Understand the purpose and scope of home inspection standards.
• Recognize and describe basic residential construction materials and techniques.
• Know basic procedures for inspecting a home.
• Know basic home inspection equipment and personal protective gear.
• Recognize common defects found in residential construction.
• Know the appropriate reporting methodologies
• Be able to sit for home inspection exams with reasonable expectation of success
• Earn continuing education credits, where applicable.

Course Outline

The following are the twelve segments or learning units of the Course.

1. Introduction
2. Roof Systems
3. Exterior Elements
4. Structural Systems
5. Insulation & Ventilation
6. Interior Elements
7. Electric Systems Lesson
8. Plumbing Systems
9. Heating Systems
10. Cooling Systems
11. Hot-water Supply Systems
12. Inspection Materials, Equipment and Reporting

Prerequisites/Audience

There are no specific pre-requisites for the Course. The more knowledge of residential construction that a student has the more proficient he/she will be at moving through the Course in a reasonable time period. Any recognized text on residential construction of home inspections will provide reasonable background for the Home Inspection Course.

The intended audience for this Course is the student contemplating a career in home inspections. It also is beneficial for those involved in residential appraisals or other residential construction or consumer businesses.

PC Requirements/Materials Included

This course is currently compatible with Windows Vista Operating System.

Access to the program is through a standard web browser. Navigation through the program only requires basic computer skills. All instructions for the using the program are provided.

The following minimum hardware and software specification must be met to run the program:

• PC (133 Mhz or better)
• 16 MB RAM (32 MB recommended)
• Windows 95/98/NT/Me/2000/XP
• Web browser - Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0+ or Netscape Navigator 3.0+

Some features of the program may not work properly on a Macintosh/Apple Computer system.

Students will receive printed copies of core Lessons for the Course. They will also receive additional texts or CD/DVD reference materials to assist with or supplement the Course completion. Access to the Course also provides the student with the ability to print out all Course Screens for future reference. Materials will be shipped via UPS ground service, or similar, upon registration

Instructor Bio

Joseph P. Cummins. Joe is a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology where he majored in civil engineering. He began performing home inspections twenty-eight years ago and has personally inspected thousands of houses, multiple dwelling units and commercial properties. As Director of Engineering Services for an established home inspection business, he was instrumental in developing a commercial inspection program. He also coordinated all training aspects related to the inspection of condominiums, multiple dwellings and commercial properties including staff supervision, physical inspection, report presentations and expert witness testimony. Joe also has 10 years experience as the technical director of a nationwide relocation inspection services program. For the past 15 years, Joe has provided educational programs and technical publications for the home inspection industry. He has served as an instructor for NIBI's home inspection training programs and seminars. Joe's responsibilities also include the development and implementation of new technical training programs, report writing forms and programs, and inspector support materials. He is the principal author and instructor for the NIBI Online Learning Program. He has been a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors since 1977 and has been licensed as a New Jersey Building Inspectors and WDI Inspector.

Associate Instructors:

John Hendricks. John is a graduate of Trenton State College earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts Education with a major in Power Mechanics and a minor in Electronics. He earned a second Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. The last 20 years John's work experience has been in the home inspection field. During that time he performed thousands of home inspections on residential and light commercial buildings and served as an instructor for NIBI's home inspection training programs and seminars. He also developed and managed all facets of ancillary/environmental services, including but not limited to inspector Quality Control, Worker Health and Safety programs and federal/state licensing requirements for one of the largest home inspection firms in New Jersey. John is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. He is currently certified/licensed as a Radon Mitigation Specialist, Radon Measurement Specialist, Commercial Certified Pesticide Applicator, Lead-based Paint Inspector/Risk Assessor and Buried Fuel Tank Technician.

Joseph J. Tangradi. Prior to entering the home inspection field, Joe studied architectural drafting at the American Institute of Design in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joe also has extensive experience in the residential construction field, particularly in home remodeling and renovating. Since 1993, Joe has performed thousands of inspections on residential homes and light commercial properties and has served as an instructor for NIBI's home inspector training programs and seminars. He is a NIBI Certified Inspector, member of the American Society of Home Inspectors, a licensed Radon Measurement Technician, a licensed Lead-based Paint Inspector/ Risk Assessor, and a Certified Exterior Insulation Finish Systems Inspector.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I review a demo of the Home Inspection Course?
Yes. Go to the NIBI website (click here). Click on the NIBI Online banner and select the desired menu item to see a demo of the course.

2. When is the Course offered?
The NIBI Home Inspection Course is a self-paced, non-credit course with open enrollment. You can register and take the course at any time.

3. How long will I have access to a course?
The registration period for the course is 180 days.

4. Can I register for courses if I live outside the United States?
Yes you can!

5. What materials are provided with Course registration?
Students will receive printed copies of core Lessons for the Course. They will also receive additional texts or CD/DVD reference materials to assist with or supplement the Course completion. Access to the Course also provides the student with the ability to print out all Course Screens for future reference. Materials will be shipped via UPS ground service, or similar, upon registration.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?
All materials required for Course Completion are included in the Course tuition.

7. Is the Course approved for pre-licensing education?
Many states do not currently accept online or distance learning courses to meet initial educational or training requirements for licensure in lieu of classroom coursework. However, there is an increasing demand for this type of training alternative, and some states have now approved online courses for all or part of the initial education requirements as well as for use for continuing education credits. To confirm specific state requirements for licensure, visit the website of the applicable jurisdiction, or contact the appropriate home inspection licensure or regulatory board. To review basic state home inspector licensing requirements, and to obtain current agency contact information, you can also go to http://www.homeinspectionexam.org/state_regulations.php

8. Is the Course approved for continuing education?
Individual Course topics are periodically submitted to the various home inspection organizations and state/provincial agencies for approval for continuing education credits. Individual Course topics have received various forms of continuing education credits. Currently credits are offered by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®), California Real Estate Inspectors Association (CREIA®), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI®), and the following states: CT, IL, MS, NC, NV, SD, and WI. Specific credits (subject to change) are listed in the description for each segment of the Course.

9. Do I get a certificate at the end of the course?
A transcript can be printed when a course has been satisfactorily completed. A formal validated transcript will be provided your local college or school.

10. Are the courses available on CD?
No. An online program allows flexibility to make the necessary changes to keep current. Changes in industry issues and concerns can be quickly uploaded for instant access by all students.

11. Do the courses contain video or audio?
The program has multimedia options; however, to avoid user problems with bandwidth and memory restrictions we have not incorporated them directly in the program at this time. All courses do have direct links to the websites of numerous manufacturer and industry associations. These provide extensive supplementary material and multimedia options.

12. Who will be my instructor?
Each student is paired up with an instructor or for one-on-one interaction when needed. The facilitator will be available (via email or phone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are experienced in the field of home inspection and home inspection education.

13. How do I contact the Course instructor?
Students can e-mail the instructor for clarification or questions on any issue directly through an email function in the Course menu. There is also a conference room where students registered at the same time can interact with each other as well as the instructor. This feature is only active when more than 10 students express an interest in such a forum for an exchange of ideas.

14. What are the computer requirements to take the Course online?
In order to take the Home Inspection Course online courses, you must have access to a computer, the Internet (a normal dial-up connection will work), and a browser, such as Navigator or Internet Explorer. You can access the course contents from any web-enabled computer. There are no other necessary plug-ins. A PC is recommended; the Course screens may not open properly with a MAC.

15. Can I access the Course from a remote computer?
You do not have to use the same computer to log-in to the course every time, all you need is the URL, your Student ID and password.

16. What constitutes a passing grade for a course?
In order to successfully complete the Home Inspection Course, a student must review 100% of the Lesson material and successfully complete all the graded Assessments. There are Assessments throughout the Course; a minimum of 75% is required for course completion. Review Questions found throughout the courses are not graded. Glossaries, Reference Files and other Appendix material that is provided to supplement the Lessons are not included in graded Assessments.

17. Is there a Final Exam?
No, student knowledge is tested by the numerous assessments throughout the Course.

18. How long should it take to go through a course?
The length of time to complete the Course will vary significantly depending on the student and their work habits. For most students, it takes 200 - 250 hours to complete the Course material. For each segment of the Course, allow a minimum of 12 to 20 hours online time to complete the basic Lessons, testing and for limited review of resources and other links. For Roofing and some other segments of the Course with significant content, it may take 20 to 30 hours to complete. Visiting all the linked websites and reviewing all trial questions and resources will add to this time.

19. Can I access the system at any time?
Once registered, the Courses will be available 24/7, until the end of the 180-day registration period. However, as with any computer-based program and any service offered on the Internet, there is always a possibility of unanticipated service interruptions. Periodically the system may also have to go off line for a short time for maintenance. Planned maintenance notices will be posted.

20. Are there Course prerequisites?
There are no specific pre-requisites for the Course. The more knowledge of residential construction that a student has the more proficient he/she will be at moving through the Course in a reasonable time period. Any recognized text on residential construction of home inspections will provide reasonable background for the Home Inspection Course.

21. Can I get a printed copy of the Course?
The text of the full course (each screen) course text can be printed, screen-by-screen. A printed version of the core lessons from the Course will be provided with registration. This will assist the student in off-line review of the material; however, the Course must be accessed to complete trial questions, use links, view inspection guidelines and lists, review reference materials, and complete graded assessments.

22. Will I be able to perform home inspections when I complete the NIBI Online Home Inspection Course?
While containing extensive information, this Course alone will not qualify a student to perform home inspections. Our program prepares students for the two widely accepted national home inspector exams are offered by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI, at www.homeinspectionexam.org) and the National Institute of Home Inspectors (www.nahi.org) as well as several pre-licensing exams offered by several states. However, each student must investigate the industry, ensure suitable competency with all relevant topics, observe home inspections, pass any locally required home inspection pre-licensing exams and requirements, complete trial inspections and reports, meet business obligations and complete local home inspector licensing exams and requirements before they can consider performing inspections for a fee. To review licensing requirements state by state check out EBPHI website at http://www.homeinspectionexam.org/state_regulations.php

23. How do I register?
Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the directions. It is important that you type all your information in the boxes, then print it out to sign.  Payment and sending instructions are in the bottom right corner of the form.

24. How much do the courses cost?
The fee is in the pink box at the top of the page.

25. Do I ever have go to the school I register with?
All of our courses are delivered entirely online, so you never have to go to a class or travel to the school.

26. Can I get financial aid?
GES courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Locate a school for more information on this. GES has information on different funding programs at www.gatlineducation.com/loaninfo.htm.

27. What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school you registered with. You must obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater to be awarded a certificate.

28. Am I guaranteed a job?
GES courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the course. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.