Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, WA Home Inspector (King of the House)

head_left_image

Washington State Approved Home Inspector Education (Bellingham Technical College)

On an ongoing basis, due to being the program coordinator for home inspection training at Bellingham Technical College, I am receiving calls and Email inquiries from individuals who wish to be trained to work as licensed home inspectors in the state of Washington.

Licensing kicked into place in this state almost a month ago on September 1, 2009. That new law, when it went in, created a commotion for a few in the business. As far as we can tell, it impacted only a few inspectors but there are those who would have been "grandfathered-in" had they completed the licensing process prior to September 1.  Those who would have been grandfathered, but missed the deadline, are now treated as new inspectors....period. Those individuals are in a position where they have to take an approved 120-hour course in fundamentals of home inspection and obtain 40 hours of field training to obtain their state licenses.

There are only a few state approved courses.

The first class to obtain state approval, several months back, was Bellingham Technical College. Any presently unlicensed inspectors, or those hoping to enter the field, might be interested in the class we have scheduled at BTC beginning October 5. The first three weeks meet the classroom requirements and the final week meets state field training guidelines. New or old-timer, if you complete the 120 hour course and field training, you will be prepared to sit for the state exams.

Anyone who wishes more information on the October 5th class, should click on the BTC logo below.

And, to give the post some color, below are photos of a recent class that was very involved in the field training. The classes are in demand, and popular enough, that we are having many students from around the state move to Bellingham for the month in which they are in class.

 

Those four weeks involve lots of hard work for the instructors and the students, but I think that we all have a pretty good time during the time we are together as a class. Students make many friendships that stay with them during their careers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

 

        

        

Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's.  I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.

           

Comments

Better training can never hurt. Take advantage and do all the business you can.

Posted by Terry Miller over 2 years ago

Steven,

This must have been a difficult thing for those inspectors that did not make the deadline! Congratulations for staying on top of things!

Wishing you the best!

Judy

Posted by Judy Schneider (eXp Realty) over 2 years ago

"Hard work" does not BEGIN to describe the four weeks:)

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) over 2 years ago

Steve I'm trying to figure out how you "juggle" all this?

Posted by Heather Adkinson Moses Lake Real Estate Agent (Windermere K-2 Realty LLC www.propertiesinmoseslake.com) over 2 years ago

Heather,

Probably easier than what you have to juggle in the photo. Plus, do no forget, I have some clowns who work with me when we teach. Like Seattle's own Charlie Bee.

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 2 years ago

Heather and don't forget that this is the REAL picture that he refuses to use in place of the "fake" one he has up.  As you can see he has----and needs----all the support he can get.

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) over 2 years ago

He also actually "jiggles" better than he "juggles."

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) over 2 years ago
Darn you guys! Harsh! I'd hate to see what you guys would do if you didn't like each other.
Posted by Heather Adkinson Moses Lake Real Estate Agent (Windermere K-2 Realty LLC www.propertiesinmoseslake.com) over 2 years ago

Hey, I'm not the two year old with a hammer:)

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) over 2 years ago

Charles Buell...like? What is there to like?

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 2 years ago

I did think it was kind of a "strong" word to use:)

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) over 2 years ago

I judge Mr Charles as rude, obnoxious and his photo-shop photos are obviously fakes and I just might sue him. There are strong laws against making sport of a sitting superior court pro-tem judge.

Judge Nutsy

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 2 years ago

Steven, Some of the problems is that the States are slow to approve CEU's. It took several months for TN to approve the CEU's that I am taking now even though they are ASHI and NAHI approved. Sometimes licensing is not a good thing. I am waiting to see if TN is going to approve the National CEU's... 

Helping you live your American dream...

Posted by Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297 (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Michael,

Far as I can tell here, it is a farily prompt process. The provider has to submit the class for CEU credit. Then the state makes a decision quickly.

Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) over 2 years ago

We have plenty of opportunity to get the required CEU's here already.

Posted by Harold Miller - Everett (Lic. Home Inspector) (Miller Home Inspection) over 2 years ago

I like the color of the post!

Posted by Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC) over 2 years ago

This blog does not allow anonymous comments