New Requirement

Track 1: Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (8 hours of TREC approved credit)
Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update
Did you know that Effective September 1, 2011, continuing education for renewal of a real estate inspector or professional inspector license must include six hours of Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update? Brian Murphy will present this first ever approved ethics course.

Does iNachi have plans to offer a course to help out with this?

Yep, already building it online… and of course it will be free for InterNACHI members.

Is the Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update online course available yet? I can’t seem to find it. Thanks

No. I don’t believe we are going to offer it online at first. We’re actually going to offer it as a classroom course so that we can get instant inspector feedback. We’re struggling to fill up 6 hours on this narrow topic.

I literally JUST realized (about 2 hrs ago) that because of my 9/1/11 renewal date that I am responsible for having this course ASAP. I thought it applied to me for my 2013 renewal, but apparently not.

I’m pretty sure you are mistaken.

While there is some uncertainty in the new TREC SOP/Legal/Ethics CE requirement this is what Inspector Advisory Committee Chairman Willcox had to say about it in last month’s TREC Advisor newsletter:

Mistaken that he needs it after 9/1/11 or mistaken that it applies to his 2013 renewal?

While there may be some uncertainty in the new TREC SOP/Legal/Ethics CE requirement this is what Inspector Advisory Committee Chairman Willcox had to say about it in last month’s TREC Advisor newsletter:

Additionally, the Texas Administrative Code was amended in Jan '11 to include the requirement. If I’m misinterpreting something please let me know.

See the attachment here:

The pre-licensing requirement wouldn’t apply to Bruce. But he will need to take the course before he renews in 2013. That’s how I read it. Otherwise, having a Sept 1, 2011 renewal date, he would be given only a 1-day window to take the course (so I know that isn’t right).

Could be…let’s hope that interpretation is correct. My license doesn’t renew for a year so I’m not gonna get too wound up one way or the other.

We’ll offer it in Texas this winter.

Am I the only one with a 9/1/11 renewal date !! :slight_smile:

Official word is in, read below:

To whom it may concern:

My professional inspector license renewal is due on 9/1/11. My question is: am I required to take the SoP/Legal/Ethics course prior to 9/1/11 in order to renew my license?

Sincerely,
Bruce


Dear Mr. Thompson,
License #9199

Your inquiry was forward to me since I process the Inspector Applications, Renewals, and CE documents.

At this time, it has not been mandated to complete that particular course.

Should you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Elisa Macias
Education Specialist


Thanks for the quick response. Just to reiterate, my license renews on 9/1/11. I don’t have to have that course for this renewal period.

Sincerely,
Bruce


No, Sir

Elisa Macias
Education Specialist

The reason for my panic is that I received an email from TAREI offering the education. In the heading was this sentence:

Did you know that any renewal on or after September 1, 2011 will require a six (6) hour SoP/Legal/Ethics update course?

One little word…“on”…it caused a little palpitation. :slight_smile:

Don’t believe everything you read. I’m glad you were mistaken.

Actual rule wording “FONT=Arial Effective September 1, 2011, continuing education for renewal of a real estate inspector or professional inspector license must include six hours of Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update.”

September 1, 2011 starts at 12.00 AM.

I suggest you elevate your request for clarification to Devon Bijansky. devon.bijansky@trec.texas.gov I have seen TREC over rule emails and you might find yourself without a license.

TAREI presented a 6 hour course a few weeks ago. The inspector committee developed a required syllabus outline and TAREI had to use it to develop their course.

As far as I can tell a slide show that reads the Ethics and SoP is about all that is needed. The course did solicit some interesting comments. I have no doubt INACHI and others will offer great courses.

As best I can tell, the purpose of the Rule was to make inspectors read the SoP at least once every 10 years. :wink:

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I would expect that you are correct. The problem with any SOP/Ethics course is that we will now most likely hear some other persons understanding of “The true meaning of the SOP” instead of the meaning directly from those who write and push the rules to TREC. I believe the IAC should be tasked with creating an online review of the rules, ethics, SOP, etc., that any Inspector can take from anywhere to satisfy this requirement. In that way instead of hearing somebody else’ interpretation we can get it straight from the horses mouth (or whatever other part of the horse it might come from).

Just copying your correspondence in case I ever need it to defend a member’s license.

Bruce,
our licenses’ expire 08/31/2011
meaning we have to renew before 09/01/2011
trec would like the renewal app & other required paperwork/files about 3-wks ahead of the expiration date…ymmv

the way i read the rule you or i will be required to do the ce anytime during the
09/01/2011~08/31/2013 license cycle

Barry’s correct Bruce. Your expiration date is 8/31 and as long as TREC has proof of your 32 hours of CE (not including the SOP/Ethics/Legal course) and proof of E&O then you can renew online today.