Aw come on John…I’m laughing…I won’t be offended…HONEST!:twisted: 
That is the problem as I see it.
I held a trades lic. for many years, and it took me 8000 hrs OJT and many hrs of schooling, and a letter from my employer stating that I had been working at the Journeyman level for at leaste a year before I was even allowed to take the test for the license. This, IMO, in no way qualifies me to be a “Certified Master Inspector” So, IMO it is nothing but a way for some folks to take advantage and take $ out of HI’s pockets for something that amounts to nothing more than a marketing gimick.
Again JMO
GRI, the highest professional designation bestowed upon REALTORs takes 80 hours.
Agreed…Heck like I said…I have over 4,400 specialized training, many thousands of hours of electrical training and many hours of home inspection training…Do I think I am a master inspector…well ask me a BOILER question and you will quickly find my weakness…
BUT I don’t see where getting the CMI title harms anything…now maybe their should be something like…MUST be a member of a national organization for (1) year before being able to become a CMI…
Should their be a more enhanced TEST procedure for it…Who proctors it?
Should a successful passing of the NHIE be a requirement…heck I dont know…
Just that I dont see how it harms anything…the industry is larger than just a title in my opinion…
Agreed…Nick…I have a real estate friend who is GRI and a few other things…and guess what…he can’t even do any of the legal paperwork and has an attorney do the simple contracts…how he got his license to sell real estate I will never know.
Milking $ 175.00 out of the home inspection industry…and not having to pay it but once…heck again most HI’s spend that on (1) piece of high tech equipment anyway…no biggie in my mind…
Flame Away…
This program under its current guidelines is nothing other than a deceptive practice. It will lead the public to believe that they are hiring an inspector that is the best available. When in fact they could very likely hire someone who is performing their first inspection.
Job well done guys. I am sure that this program will give you exactly what you are looking for.
lol…I dont need any PROGRAM Mr.Bell to know I am a qualified inspector…You seem to take opinions as personal notations…
Was simply voicing that I did not see it as a problem…Is it anymore of a problem of NACHI members using the term Certified in the name…in states where no certification is required…should they not be able to use the certified status if they have full status in NACHI?
A GREEN electrician comes out of the apprentice program and get his license to and calls himself a “Certified” Electrician…well lets see I have 18 years and MANY hours ahead of this person…HOW dare he use “Certified” when in fact he might only know enough to get by…BUT the state certifies him…gives him his card and says…You Go Boy !
How about the State of VA…I use them because I know them better…lol…
You do 50 inspectons and some training hours and you can be state certified…now…in fact the 50 inspections don’t have to even be FEE paid inspections…neighbors, friends, $ 1.00 inspections…Free Inspections…and WHAMO…apply and granted Certfied State Home Inspector…all for a FEE as well…and NO back ground check…
The state SUCKS people blind every day…is it also wrong?
AMEN Paul! That right there is exactly the point. I bet you don’t see members of other trades being all high and mighty and full of themselves. Geeze it’s starting to smell in here. My sense of humor just went out the window.
I really want someone to be honest (someone being someone who is griping about newbies) and try to remember what it was like being new and if they actually went out to the public and shouted and advertised “Hey I’m brand new, I’ve never done an inspection, but please pay me anyway!!!”
Oh, and Nick, do my 60 hours of Real Estate Training count? I think Joseph might be right if they do and between that and my home inspection training I have the 150 hours, definitely for sure had it at 100 before it was raised.
Woo Hoo, might get in under a 100 yet! 
(if everyone else can make fun of me, so can I!)
Here you go…Proposed Requirements…lol
1.) Member of a National Home Inspector Organization for a Minimum of (1) Year
2.) Successfully Passed the NHIE Exam
3.) Completed 150+ hours of Continuous Education prior to applying
4.) Complete 8 hours minimum CE per year
5.) Pass a Background Check
6.) Show proof of General Liability Insurance
So heck I could not even get it if I wanted it under these terms…I have only been with NACHI since 9/05…lol…See even shields ME out…
Wendy I think you are the only one that see’s what I was trying to say…I have a friend who has an electrical contracting business as well…MUCH larger than mine…employs nearly 60 guys…
How many Master Electricians you think in that company…go ahead…Guess…(1)…the Owner…
How many journeymans…Guess…Who Cares…as long as they do the job right and the BOSS trusts them…
Honestly…I just have to say this…I don’t get hired because I am a Master Electrician…State Certified…I get hired for the WORK I do…the work my crew does and our reputation…the titles are nice…and good for marketing…and well…They hire YOU not the title.
P.S…I know some Master Electricians who STINK…and SHOULD retire as well…but they steal jobs from me everyday…
Also I should ADD…I really don’t know WHY i started posting in this thread…lol…I guess because a wise eurpean man living in florida once said…don’t do Religion and Politics on the board…save yourself from the bashing…so I did not see a “Cross” or a " Political Statement" in the thread so I jumped in…
Greg, seeing that you are in a state (FL) that requires the following continuing education before one does a home inspection (no differently than a CMI would):
–State of Florida… 0 hours.
–Counties and cities in Florida…** 0** hours.
–FABI… 0 hours.
–NAHI… 16 hours per year after you join.
–ASHI… 22 hours per year after you join.
–NACHI… 24 hours per year after you join.
–CMI… 150 hours up front.
…I don’t think anyone from FL can complain much about CMI’s 150 hours (done up front).
Paul,
The term “certified” is not the problem. Hell the eggs in my refrigerator are certified. LoL… The use of “Master” on the other hand is a problem. No matter how anyone wants to spin it, I can forsee a future lawsuit and high litigation in some of these so called CMI’s futures.
If in fact the CMI designation had any legitimacy I truly believe that the E&O carriers would be jumping all over it and garnishing the CMI inspectors with outlandish insurance options. In fact they should. But in this instance, I believe the insurance industry will forsee higher litigation and lawsuits and will do just the opposite and significantly raise or even not insure those that utilize this designation in the future.
The designation needs solid “nuts and bolts” behind it before it will be recognized within the industry as being a solid meaningful designation. As it stands now the designation is open to anyone who has “mastered” book learning and class participation.
I totally disagree with Nick on the importance of considering the number of inspections performed. He tends to harp on the “unsupervised”. BUNK, I say.
Let’s take one inspection and break it down.
- No two inspections are the same.
- Each inspection is a new learning experience.
- Each inspection is subject to litigation procedures.
- Each inspection involves report writing skills.
- Each inspection entails countless business decisions.
- SOP’s are exercised and followed with each inspection.
- COE’s are exercised and followed with each inspection.
- Communication skills are tested.
- Interpersonal relationships are tested.
- Research and Interpretation are exercised.
You just don’t get many of these things sitting in a classroom or behind a computer doing a course.
Hey CMI Board - Give your designation some legitimacy.
Actually John, unless you see something I don’t and there is a legal definition hiding somewhere of “Master Inspector”, no one would have ANY grounds whatsoever for proof in a lawsuit because there wouldn’t be anything to judge it against.
Furthermore, by owning the ground floor the way he is, and any wise person is, then Nick/CMI/whomever, DEFINES the term “MASTER INSPECTOR”, thereby forming the rule by which any lawsuits down the road will have to be measured against.
It’s actually one of the smartest moves to make even if in it’s current form it isn’t defined the way most would like it to be. I see it being a wise thing to do, a smart thing to get in on now, and then it will grow as the years go by and not remain static until it becomes the institution that it ought to be.
Until I see the CMI Badge, CMI Whistle, & CMI Decoder Ring I will refrain from judging the merits of the program.
Tell me something Greg…
How can the program be deceptive. I refer you to my above statement. There is no legal definition of Master Inspector, therefore there are no grounds to consider the CMI “deceptive”.
You are actually setting up a straw man argument.
What CMI does is NOT MEASURE UP to GREG BELL’S Standards or BELIEF SYSTEM.
The problem then becomes in proving that Greg Bell’s Belief System is any better or more valid than Nick Gromicko’s, or Wendy Forsyth’s, or Bill Gates’ for that matter, not to mention Oprah Winfrey…
Just because something conflicts with your opinion/belief system/standards, does not in any way, shape or form make it deceptive or illegal and by calling it such you are merely making yourself look ill informed.
Look in a box of Tootie Frooties. Nick will probably manage to get them in there.:mrgreen: 
:twisted:
Yawn…
Let’s not forget why we all got in this business eh?
To help people and to enjoy ourselves doing it and make an honest decent living. Right?
That is what I have been doing all day whilst this discussion jumped from 1 page to 7…sheesh.
What happened to the good old fashioned threads about garage doors and the breaking thereof?
Good comments from everyone. Personally I agree with Greg’s point of view.
Using a powerful credential when it may be your first home inspection is just bad business. Wouldn’t you consider a new auto mechanic who is wearing master mechanic credentials deceitful?
I thought that the magic number “150” came becasue somewhere Nick developed a formula that meant that only 5 or 6 % of all inspectors would qualify.
If we have just shown that a newbie fresh out of the box qualifies, doesn’t that kind of lead you to believe that we way undershot our 5 or 6% threshold by making it 150 hours, and maybe we should make it something truly fitting the title of Master - like 1500 hours, plus a test (at least)?
Tony,
I thing debate is good…I most certainly am not upset with anyone over a good debate…FYI I worked today also…prices 6 jobs and editted 4 electrical plans…we all work fella…it is just a good fun debate…I don’t think anyone takes anything on this thread personal…debate is healthy and we all have opinions…we won’t all ever agree:)