Originally Posted By: dbowers
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I just happening to be reviewing this posting and saw some well intentioned but false information. To start with as a national trainer I train a lot of engineers, architects, electricians, remodelers, HVAC guys, home builders, code inspectors as well as every other type of trade or craft wanting to get into home inspection. There is a huge amount of false information given out as gospel that others hear and believe and then pass on to others, without researching.
An example would be the statement that engineers and architects are required everywhere to have E & O insurance to get licensed. That is a wide spread but false statement. YOU may be in a state where that holds true but in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and many others its not.
Until just recently in my state and 2 others around me that I know of, engineers and architects were not required to take continuing education. In short once they received their license - say 15 or more years ago the state did not make them take any CE to renew their license. DO YOU think there has been any changes in building science since then??
Up till about 12-15 years ago in many states (we were one), if you could pass the engineering boards test you could be a designated engineer without actually having a degree in engineering. I've met several.
There are at least 45 engineering degrees that I'm aware of including: farm agriculture, marine, robotics, nuclear, computer software, chemical, waste water management, chemical, traffic control, telecommunication, petroleum, etc, etc. Any of these folks could use the P.E. designation after their name and be GRANDFATHERED into the HI licensing of most states.
And yes, I'm starting to see this. How much training in HI did they get in college. Don't take my word for it - get a few college catalogs and look. There are some engineers that because of the type of degree they got received much more classroom training than the typical HI, but most engineers do not. They could also have received additional training in construction related issues or HI after college - most did not.
Lets bless our good ones, but not GRANDFATHER the rest.
For the records, I checked last year with 3 different state engineering boards to see if they had ever disciplined an engineer or architects license due to faulty home inspecting - None of Them Had. Yet I've personally testified in about 13 cases against P.E.'s where they were found at fault or negligent in the HI. So how much protection does the license give??
Dan Bowers (Kansas City)