While sorting through many sites and departments on-line, it seems there are no requirements for an inspector to conduct home inspections in the state of Minnesota. I find this troubling, but curious why this would be?
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I’m in MN. I can confirm that there are currently no requirements from the state for someone performing home inspections. You will need a license if you wish to perform radon testing though.
Probably won’t be for long. They just have had bigger fish to fry and haven’t gotten around to it yet would be my guess.
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Many states have no licensing for home inspections…
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That’s correct. Because we prefer to manage ourselves. The ones who fail to do an adequate job are usually sued and out of business within a year. States like WI that require licensing have testing requirements (The National Home Inspector Exam) that provide next to zero insight or gauge into an inspectors actual ability. They test on code, not how to inspect. Being in the twin cities I’d say my average home inspection is in homes built anywhere from the 1880s to the 1950s. These tests provide no insight on how to inspect these homes.
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Georgia is one of them. Hang your shingle and you’re a Home Inspector… 
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Brandon have you taken this test?
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I’ve taken the practice ones. I plan on taking it soon as I do want to expand into Wisconsin. I should say, perhaps I was being a bit flippant in saying it has no relevance, it most certainly does. I’ve got their books, and they’ve definitely helped me become a better inspector, but that being said, any education in relation to homes has helped me be a better inspector, however, nothing prepared me for home inspections or taught me as much about actually inspecting as mentoring with other inspectors.
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As with most jobs, book learning and field learning are far different animals.
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You may not know it, but you’re making a case for a state license. There’s no substitute for being tested on your knowledge. I’ve held five contractor licenses in my lifetime. It’s easy to say you are XYZ. However, being tested on your knowledge is a different game altogether.
I’ve had a number of South Carolina home inspector prospects contact me on how to pass the state exam. It’s difficult. Here you are required to pass the business and law, which is very difficult. As of yet, all contacts have still not received their state license.
So what is the advantage to being licensed by your state besides your clients knowing you have been tested on your knowledge? I can tell you it keeps the number of home inspectors in my area to a minimum and creates a lot of work for me.
That’s where it begins. Soon, the big multi firms gain influence over the requirements and force the newbies into restricted access.
This is constantly done at all levels. The big corps lobby for anti competition laws.
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So, before I jump in and offer any information I have on your concern, tell us who you are and why you are here asking these question(s)? What is your interest with the inspection industry in Minnesota?
Are you a prospective future inspector hoping for “instant recognition and a fast track to success” that comes with a license (cough-cough)? Or perhaps you are a disgruntled home owner/buyer looking for information to build your case against an inspector that you disagree with an inspection report?
Yes, we’ve seen this kind of digging here many times before. I won’t provide free ammunition to harm another inspector without knowing upfront who I am talking with.
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This is simply not true. Any individual that meets the state requirements is allowed to take the state exam. I’ve held a number of licenses in a number of states and have never ran across such a monopoly.
South Carolina has not reached that point. And may never.
There are some state(s) that have absurd requirements such as a large number of supervised or parallel inspections which plays right into the hands of bigger firms. That’s my take.
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So why does a state all of a sudden require a license and its contractors to have 100 supervised inspections?
Is the large corporate inspectors the only one who can supervise the inspections? You alluded to the fact this benefits large corporations.
I suspect the sins in the past by inspectors has forced the hand of the state to require licensing. So who benefits from all this? In my opinion it’s my clients. Kind of nice to know that the guy who bags your groceries during the week isn’t inspecting your home on the weekend.
I know many will chime in and say it’s the $150 every three years you have to send the state for your license. I guess they forget they send 50 bucks to InterNACHI’s every month.
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Just so you don’t think I’m crazy, read the first two paragraphs.
There is often a fine line between protecting the consumer and barriers to entry.
IMO, we should all be cognizant of this when supporting licensing.
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I read the first two paragraphs and nothing indicates a state exam somehow limits competition.
Let’s imagine for a moment you need heart surgery. Are you going to go to a doctor that has gone to school and been tested and licensed by the state.
Or would you like to go to the guy down the alley with no credentials? No worries he has a sign over his door that says he’s the best doctor in the business.
Yup Brian it’s all a conspiracy to keep the man down.
It’s interesting how one perspective looks at state licensing as protecting the consumer and ensuring they have an educated contractor.
Another perspective is big corporation doesn’t want the little guy to get licensed.
Glass half empty half full kind of thing I guess?
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You’re a CMI. Is InterNACHI conspiring and controlling the CMI requirements with 1000 inspections or hours to prevent competition?
Or is InterNACHI saying a CMI has met the requirements and may use their credentials?
You use your CMI credentials as a way to separate yourself from the pack. A license is a way to separate yourself from the pack too.
The CMI designation is voluntary. I can see where Brian is coming from in terms of barriers for entry. Here in MN we have a local large inspection company regularly pushing for state licensing.
In regards to what you mentioned that what would prevent alternative parties or inspectors from mentorships or supervision, perhaps not wanting the competition? IDK.
Here in MN, especially in the twin cities I know of no less than 20 inspectors that have passed certain exams that are required for licensing in other states. I’ve also worked with their Buyers on new buys, and realtors that have worked with them in the past. I understand this is anecdotal, but 10 out of 10 times, or rather 20 out of 20, they’ve been some of the worst inspectors they’ve encountered.
Credentials i’ve pursued in my career have been voluntary and because I have a passion for the industry.
MN is also an interesting example, as we have many areas that have their own required inspections by inspectors that are required to be licensed, and undergo certain testing qualifications. If you saw those reports you’d laugh. They have a checklist that is very short, and they can’t even get those right. I’ve come across well over 100 homes that these inspections are required on and the house is on the brink of falling down, flooding, or going up in flames. Government isn’t always the answer.
I’m sure Jeffrey knows what I’m talking about with these TISH Inspections.
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