SO, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A LICENSED HOME INSPECTOR

The process begins with registering for a recognized academic course offered either through a local educational institution (College) or as I did through virtual classroom learning through Carson Dunlop. Carson Dunlop actually wrote the book on Home Inspections. They are Home inspectors themselves so they " walk the walk ".

• A 1 Year Commitment
• 5200 Pages minimum of reading in 10 modules
• 17 hours of practical videos
• 33 Exams  (75% is a pass)
• 194 Quizzes 
• 38 Field Exercises
• 580 Contact hours

Following successful completion of the Carson Dunlop Course comes the HIABC (Home Inspectors Association of British Columbia) mandatory requirements which are;

• 7 Closed book proctored exams covering all the modules learned in the Carson Dunlop Course. All requiring a 75% or greater average
• The exams cover;
• Roofing/Exterior
• Electrical
• Heating/Cooling
• Plumbing
• Interior
• Structure
• Standards of Practice

Next comes 50 hours of Field Inspections under the supervision of certified field trainers

Then we need to submit 5 additional inspection reports for perusal by HIABC and these reports are verified as acceptable to HIABC's exacting Standards of Practice.

The last part of the process is a Peer Review Inspection where the new inspector performs an inspection under the watchful eye of a Peer Review Inspector (Again qualified by HIABC and CPBC).

Once this step has been successfully completed the new inspector needs to apply to the Consumer Protection British Columbia  for their license. All Home Inspectors need to be licensed by CPBC and are given a License number that should be visible on all literature, business cards, reports and correspondence as well as their personal ID Badge . This is your assurance that the Home Inspector has done everything required of him or her.

CPBC Requires all transcripts from the educational Institution and HIABC as well as a Criminal check.

At long last, the License is issued and we are now able to do Inspections.

This process takes 1 year and cannot be done any faster as per CPBC. From my own personal experience it became my full time job and required a full day's work, every day, until completion.

So when a Home Inspector displays a CPBC License number (Mine is Tom Pape License 72384) you know that this journey is not for the "Faint of Heart" and takes total commitment.

I am proud of my achievement and am proud to provide stellar client service and world class Inspection Reports.

I hope that this article proves enlightening and I look forward to demonstrating the skills I have learned this past year.

Tom Pape

CPBC License 72384