http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislation.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=551&year=15
NM HI’s should pay close attention to this bill, for instance it states a required pre-inspection agreement must include “the amount of compensation due and payable to the home inspector upon completion of the home inspection and delivery of a report;”. Think about that for just a moment.
Also, all education is classroom only, even required continuing education. Prepare to take off work, travel, and pay tuition forever.
Ew, That would suck :(, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t allow online education. Hell, I learned more online here with NACHI, that sitting in a classroom, JMHO
Some inspection school trying to get rich off of inspectors.
Agreed 100% with you Nick.
What do you mean you want me to pay you now? Where’s my report? The law says….:roll:
Thanks Nick for putting this out to everyone.
Wow. Someone’s being paid off. There will be one school somewhere in Albuquerque offering courses and folks in remote towns like Roswell, where my parents live, will have to drive all day to take one class.
Here are some talking points for those of you who are writing to oppose this legislation based on the limitation of only classroom courses being accepted:
Please oppose **HB 551, THE** **HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING ACT.**
**As written, the bill limits the home inspector’s choice of initial education and Continuing Education to classroom-only courses.
**Online written and video courses are perfect for educating and improving the competence of home inspectors, and providing options for their primary and Continuing Education. Some of their clear advantages over classroom courses include:
Cost of Course: Online courses are inexpensive or free. Dollar for dollar, an inspector can complete many online courses for the same cost as a single classroom course. The more education an inspector has, the better he/she can serve his/her clients. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by exhausting the Continuing Education budgets of inspectors faster than online courses.
Cost of Travel: There are no travel or hotel costs associated with online courses. In contrast, relevant classroom courses, which are few and far between, cause the inspector to incur out-of-pocket travel and accommodation costs. Again, the more education an inspector has, the better he/she can serve his/her clients. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by exhausting the Continuing Education budgets of inspectors faster than online courses.
Cost of Lost Work: An inspector need not take off work to complete online courses. Online courses can be taken at night, on the weekends, or whenever an inspector doesn’t have any inspections scheduled. In contrast, classroom courses are often offered only during the day and require the inspector to suffer lost business income. Again, the more education an inspector has, the better he/she can serve his/her clients. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by exhausting the Continuing Education budgets of inspectors faster than online courses.
Cost Advantage to Consumers: Online inspection courses are simply more affordable for inspectors. With reduced course costs come an increase in the number of courses an inspector can afford to complete each year, with a corresponding rise in the level of the inspector’s competence. Increasing the level of inspector competence is a direct benefit to consumers. Lower-cost education also gives inspectors the opportunity to pass on savings to consumers. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by delaying the inspector’s professional progress.
Accessibility: Online courses are available all the time, anytime, from anywhere. In contrast, classroom courses for the inspection industry are few and far between. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by limiting access to education for inspectors.
Collaboration in Development: Online course development often includes collaboration among many experts and inspectors from around the world. For example, it is not unusual for InterNACHI’s online courses to be the product of dozens of contributors. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by typically lacking in international collaborative development.
Expert Instruction: Online course developers can hire many experts to contribute to each course. Often, in online video courses, the instruction is presented by one or more renowned experts. In contrast, classroom instructors, though perhaps competent to teach a particular subject, are rarely international experts. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by denying renowned-expert instruction to inspectors and limiting them to a local pool of talent.
Number of Instructors: Online courses often utilize more than one instructor having more than one area of expertise. In contrast, most classroom courses are taught by only one instructor. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by limiting the number of expert instructors per course.
Accuracy: Online courses are reviewed for accuracy before being released. Online courses are also subjected to industry-wide peer review forever. In contrast, classroom instruction is rarely reviewed by anyone. The author of this article personally knows of a physics professor who had been teaching the use of an incorrect formula for over 30 years before the error was caught. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by failing to correct misinformation given to inspectors in a timely fashion.
Current Course Material: Downloadable, printable online course material is reviewed, edited and improved over time. In contrast, classroom texts are less frequently updated. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by providing inspectors with course material that may be outdated.
Pictures and Video: Online courses contain pictures and on-location video that permit the inspector to virtually accompany the instructors on inspections of many actual structures and components. In contrast, classroom courses can’t take inspectors into crawlspaces or on roofs. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by failing to provide inspectors with virtual, real-situation training.
Pace: Online courses move at each inspector’s desired pace. Online courses can be stopped and re-started. Online video can be paused. In contrast, classroom courses move at only the instructor’s speed. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to teach at each inspector’s own pace.
Wasted Time: Online courses are edited to cut out set-up time, off-topic discussions, bathroom breaks, lunchtime, etc. In contrast, classroom courses contain much wasted time. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by diluting the training time with things that don’t increase inspector competence.
Schedule: Online courses are available when each inspector wants to take them. In contrast, classroom courses have inflexible schedules that require inspectors to attend when it is inconvenient, when the inspector is ill, when the inspector is tired, etc. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by forcing inspectors to study and learn according to a preset schedule.
Quizzes and Exams: Online courses contain numerous short quizzes that ensure that the inspector has learned each section before moving on to the next. These quizzes are graded instantly and often alert the inspector to incorrect answers immediately. Some even have built-in intelligence, which recognizes each inspector’s unique areas of weakness, and reviews those areas until the inspector grasps them. Classroom courses typically have fewer quizzes, without instant grading. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being less diligent about ensuring that each inspector has learned and understands every concept being taught.
Review: Online courses permit inspectors to go back and review areas of weakness. For example, InterNACHI’s online video courses permit the inspector to rewind and replay them over and over. In contrast, classroom material is typically covered only once. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to allow inspectors go back and repeat material to strengthen his/her particular areas of weakness.
Repeat: Online courses permit inspectors to take the course over again. In contrast, classroom courses are typically taken only once. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being all but impossible for inspectors to re-take over and over.
Instant Grading: Online courses contain quizzes and final exams that are graded instantly. Instant grading permits the inspector to be alerted to areas of weakness while still engaged in the course. In contrast, classroom courses typically don’t grade instantly. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to instantly grade each quiz and exam.
Consistent Grading: Online courses and quizzes are graded consistently over time and around the world. In contrast, classroom courses grade easier or harder, depending on where and when the inspector takes each course. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to grade inspectors consistently.
Advanced Courses: It is financially feasible to offer advanced courses online. An online course need be developed only once, yet can run for years. In contrast, classroom courses usually must be of an introductory nature to attract enough students to pay for an instructor each time it is offered. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to financially sustain advanced course offerings.
Specialty Courses: It is financially feasible to offer specialty courses online. An online course need be developed only once, yet can run for years. In contrast, classroom courses usually must have enough popular appeal in terms of subject matter in order to attract enough students to pay for the instructor every time the class is offered. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being unable to financially sustain specialty course offerings.
Choice: Online courses offer inspectors a wide variety of choices in both level and subject matter. In contrast, such classroom courses are fewer and farther between. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by being less likely to offer the training inspectors need, when and where they need it.
Communication: Online courses typically provide an Internet forum for all current students, graduates, instructors, experts, developers, and interested parties from around the world to interact with each other and discuss the course. These course-specific forums provide continuing education to inspectors long after they’ve completed the course. Classroom courses harm consumers in New Mexico by rarely providing such widespread, post-course interaction for inspectors.
In summary, online courses allow inspectors to study and learn at little or no cost, without having to travel or lose business, when and where they want, with well-developed, accurate courses taught by experts, using updated course material, pictures and video, at their own pace and schedule, with the ability to review and repeat, and with the assurance that they’ll end up with a thorough understanding of the chosen topic.
Legislation that prohibits online course offerings creates a disincentive to inspector skill-set improvement, which ultimately harms consumers.
And because much of an inspection report includes safety issues, the harm may also be physical, instead of merely financial. In some cases, the harm may result in the actual death of either the inspector or the consumer in New Mexico
The Bill passed last night. Looks like InterNACHI is going to open classroom schools in New Mexico.
Another state legislature listening only to special interest groups, and not their voters. They may finally listen when they get voted out of office at the next election, when home buyers start screaming.
In Kansas, the laws are gone. They are all worthless to the voters, home buyers, and consumers.
I snail mailed every New Mexico legislator and the Governor a letter.
And what did the letter say???
Why don’t you do the same for Okla. Okla HI’s are being ripped off every day by contractors that don’t have to abide by the same Laws that Hi’s do. Contractors in Okla are allowed to do a inspection within their trade and then the next day return to the same property to make repairs. Talking to the CIB is like taking a whiz against the wind the CIB is all contractors. If this is ever going to be changed it will have to be done by the legislators.
This:
It looks like this bill also mandates errors and omissions insurance and professional liability insurance. The bill provides the “commission” to adopt “rules” to establish the minimum insurance requirements. As written, the commission can create unrealistic insurance requirements if they so choose. This bill, as written, is harmful to New Mexico home inspectors.
I’m glad I left NM when I did.
Thank you nick!
So far from what I am seeing the session ended on Friday and I cant find any information as to whether or not it made it to a full vote so far I don’t think it did.