MICB attorney's going after those who use "CMI" and "C.M.I." without permission.

http://www.certifiedmasterinspector.org/cmi/cease.html

I posted it on the CMI MB since you never come to visit.

Thanks!

Looks good.

We have, in this area, an inspector posing as a “Certified Master Home Inspector”. While he is not using he C.M.I. or any of our logos, is this made up designation close enough to constitute trade mark infringement? If so, is there a body charged with enforcing the C.M.I. name and trademarks?

heres one to add to the list

http://www.michiganhomeinspectors.org/?gclid=COyZu-uN25QCFQKcFQodw2H-kw

How many CMI are there nationwide?

Maybe 300 tops.


he’s gone

Thank you, sir!

300 out of 4,000? members seems like a very low number…

Do you think there would be more applicants if this “designation” had some verifiable meat to it such as factual time/tenure, passed testing/certifications, report/peer review along with the requirements/controls in place vs. a form that can be falsified and fee payment?

Hardly a form that can be “falsified” easily. The documents that one has to submit (above and beyond the notarized affidavit, third party criminal background check, etc.) just to verify the 3 year requirement for instance, are greater than most major universities and employers demand. This excerpt from the CMI application http://www.certifiedmasterinspector.org/cmi/app.html:

Anyway, I don’t know what you mean by “4,000 members.” If you mean ASHI (They have almost 4,000 members if you count their come-only-with-cash associates)… although many CMIs are members of ASHI, most of our first CMIs came from ASHI, and the Executive Director of the MICB is a long time ASHI member… the CMI designation is open to members of all associations (7 different SOP’s have been approved including InterNACHI’s), not just ASHI and so qualified InterNACHI members are welcome to apply for the professional designation as well.

There are about 30,000 inspectors in N. America. 300 CMIs represent the top 1% of our industry and rightfully use that fact to command higher fees.

Certified Master Inspector (the highest professional designation in the inspection industry) is not just a Trademark in the U.S. and Canada… it is a U.S. Registered Federal Certification Mark.

http://www.certifiedmasterinspector.org/cmi/app.html:

As in a notice has been sent? He’s still listing himself as a CMI on his website

Here is another one http://homeplusisus.com/ He uses here as well http://worldtradehelp.com/viewrequest.aspx?type=1&rid=188&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Certified Mold Inspector - that CMI has been around for a long time.

Long time or not you are not allowed to use it

I would disagree Mr. Pennick. The American Indoor Air Quality Council owns that designation and has had it for years when referencing their Council-certified Microbial Investigators (or CMIs). Don’t take me wrong; I’m not taking sides on who should or shouldn’t use it when it comes to describing their credentials. I just think it would be wise for people to find ways to explain their credentials in a credible way where the public becomes educated in the difference; otherwise, for a large portion of the general public, it doesn’t mean much more than any other acronym out there.

I’ve done a lot of research on that subject, even wrote about it on my website (not for home inspection, but the IAQ industry). I’ve found (having five industry “certifications” and many more “certificates” - both as defined by the new ANSI/NOCA Standard 1100) that if you don’t get out and educate the public in the difference between you and the other guy, making your’s something of significance to own, then it may not matter to many who you’re certified with and what you’re certified in other than you’re another “certified” home inspector.

I don’t say “let” - I say “make them know the difference”, so they know they want you when they need you!

I should have added to my last post that there are others too (not just the AmIAQ Council) - Certified Marine Inspector and Certified Medical Investigator.