# The Dangers of Calling Yourself an Expert by Mark Cohen, Esq. **URL:** \ **Category:** Legislation, Licensing, Ethics & Legal Issues\ **Created:** [April 30, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219 "2015-04-30T23:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gromicko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gromicko/32/58172_2.png) [@gromicko](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gromicko)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/1 "2015-04-30T23:14:14Z")
[http://www.nachi.org/danger-expert.htm](http://www.nachi.org/danger-expert.htm) ---
**Author:** ![irobertson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/irobertson/32/171974_2.png) [@irobertson](https://forum.nachi.org/u/irobertson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/2 "2015-04-30T23:18:25Z")
Just read it, very well written. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![mgratton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mgratton/32/58251_2.png) [@mgratton](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mgratton)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/3 "2015-04-30T23:26:56Z")
I take it that a **CMI** ’s we may be held to a higher standard… ---
**Author:** ![jbelrose](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jbelrose/32/58203_2.png) [@jbelrose](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jbelrose)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/4 "2015-04-30T23:33:33Z")
I don’t let anyone call me an expert in regards to anything. I always correct them. Nor, would I ever market myself as an expert witness. Can certainly see that snowball come down a hill. Nice reminder and piece on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![gkeene](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gkeene/32/1139_2.png) [@gkeene](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gkeene)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/5 "2015-04-30T23:46:28Z")
I always tell them, “I am not an expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once”. They get the point ---
**Author:** ![dgrace1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dgrace1/32/175719_2.png) [@dgrace1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dgrace1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/6 "2015-05-01T00:19:34Z")
What’s the difference between a master and an expert? ---
**Author:** ![gromicko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gromicko/32/58172_2.png) [@gromicko](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gromicko)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/7 "2015-05-01T01:07:21Z")
You’re safe calling yourself a _Certified Master Inspector_ if you are one. _Certified Master Inspector_ is the inspection industry’s highest professional designation. It is also a Registered (in both the U.S. and Canada) Federal Certification Mark administered and awarded by a non-profit, federally tax-exempt organization. [www.certifiedmasterinspector.org](http://www.certifiedmasterinspector.org) You are never safe referring to yourself as some kind of “expert”… unless you really do have some particular expertise in something. ---
**Author:** ![dgrace1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dgrace1/32/175719_2.png) [@dgrace1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dgrace1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/8 "2015-05-01T01:50:35Z")
It’s very ambiguous, if someone told me they were a master plumber I would \*\*\*-ume they were an expert. I’m not a CMI but have aspirations to be one. ---
**Author:** ![gromicko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gromicko/32/58172_2.png) [@gromicko](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gromicko)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/9 "2015-05-01T02:14:44Z")
Perfect example. If I were a plumber, I would only call myself a _Master Plumber_ if I truly was a \*Master Plumber. \* On a side note: The requirements to be a _Master Plumber_ vary by state. The _Certified Master Inspector_ Federal Certification Mark has one set of national requirements. ---
**Author:** ![bboerner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bboerner/32/354840_2.png) [@bboerner](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bboerner)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/10 "2015-05-01T05:56:09Z")
Nick, You are not answering the question. Can the word “master” find yourself in the same position as “expert” in a court of law? In my opinion they both mean the same thing. What does Mark think about this? ---
**Author:** ![jjimenez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jjimenez](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjimenez)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/11 "2015-05-01T11:00:30Z")
> [@bboerner](#): > > What does Mark think about this? Whatever Nick tells him to think 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gromicko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gromicko/32/58172_2.png) [@gromicko](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gromicko)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/12 "2015-05-01T14:08:17Z")
I wouldn’t refer to yourself as a “master” either, if you aren’t one. I wouldn’t claim you are “licensed” if you aren’t. I wouldn’t claim you are “insured” if you aren’t. This shouldn’t be news to you! Courts hold you to the claims you make about yourself in your marketing material. If you claim you are an expert in some profession… you’d better stand ready to prove you are. And it is especially dangerous to claim you are an “expert” if you aren’t able to point to evidence that you are…because unlike the other defensible adjectives (Certified Master Inspector, licensed, insured, etc) which have clear industry definitions… what makes you an expert? I know what makes me a Certified Master Inspector… I am one. I know what makes me licensed… I’ve been issued one. I know what makes me insured… I have insurance. Make sure your claims about yourself are defensible. That’s all this article is trying to emphasize to you. Mark is General Counsel for the Master Inspector Certification Board, btw. ---
**Author:** ![escanlan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/escanlan/32/57038_2.png) [@escanlan](https://forum.nachi.org/u/escanlan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/13 "2015-05-03T13:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@bboerner](#): > > > > Nick, > > > > You are not answering the question. Can the word “master” find yourself in the same position as “expert” in a court of law? In my opinion they both mean the same thing. What does Mark think about this? > > > [@jjimenez](#): > > > > Whatever Nick tells him to think 😄 Juan, What you appear to be inferring is some type of collusion on the part of Mr. Cohen. I don’t believe Mr.Chen has anything to gain from this type of activity such that others might. Also I don’t believe Mr. Cohen would put his name to anything he does not believe in. ---
**Author:** ![frotte](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/frotte/32/58483_2.png) [@frotte](https://forum.nachi.org/u/frotte)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/14 "2015-05-03T15:09:11Z")
> [@jjimenez](#): > > Whatever Nick tells him to think 🙂 You’re questioning Mr. Cohen’s ethics? ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/15 "2015-05-03T15:15:27Z")
> [@frotte](#): > > You’re questioning Mr. Cohen’s ethics? In Nathans, I mean Juans’ defense, I believe he is referring to the Employer/Employee relationship they enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![frotte](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/frotte/32/58483_2.png) [@frotte](https://forum.nachi.org/u/frotte)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/16 "2015-05-03T16:30:09Z")
> [@jjonas](#): > > In Nathans, I mean Juans’ defense, I believe he is referring to the Employer/Employee relationship they enjoy. ;)…oops…slip ---
**Author:** ![gromicko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gromicko/32/58172_2.png) [@gromicko](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gromicko)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/17 "2015-05-03T18:06:14Z")
I should have titled the article: “_Call yourself an expert as long as you can back that claim up._” ---
**Author:** ![jkeilson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jkeilson/32/59574_2.png) [@jkeilson](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jkeilson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/18 "2015-05-03T20:27:39Z")
> [@gromicko](#): > > I should have titled the article: “_Call yourself an expert as long as you can back that claim up._” In my opinion the difference between a CVMI and a CEI is transparent and easy to see. CMI was intended to offer a designation to those Inspectors who achieved and meet certain industry standards and requirements. The CMI designation is also open to all inspectors no matter what organization you belong to and no matter what tools or products, software etc… you use to perform your inspections. That being said its intensions are fair and open to all. Lastly being a CMI means that you have succeeded in meeting or exceeding all of the required requirements. This CEI title appears (as far as I can tell) to claim that and inspector is somehow an “Expert” in all of the different aspects of Home Inspections and can take on this designation by using certain products, tools etc… but has nothing to do with quantity of inspections performed, length of time being a Licensed or State Certified Inspector etc… Just seems like some made up designation to attempt to mimic a professional designation of Certified Master Inspector, Master Electrician, Master Plumber etc… Just my 2 cents and personal opinion on how it all looks to me. Jim ---
**Author:** ![jhagarty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jhagarty/32/78584_2.png) [@jhagarty](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jhagarty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/19 "2015-05-03T21:25:45Z")
I have been contracted as an Expert many times but cases never seem to make it to court. Insurers and Attorneys are always quick to settle… ---
**Author:** ![mgratton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mgratton/32/58251_2.png) [@mgratton](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mgratton)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219/20 "2015-05-04T01:28:35Z")
> [@gromicko](#): > > I should have titled the article: “_Call yourself an expert as long as you can back that claim up._” _CMI’s_ who were given their accreditation, beware! [Next page](https://forum.nachi.org/t/the-dangers-of-calling-yourself-an-expert-by-mark-cohen-esq/96219.md?page=2)