Well, I suppose some of you are getting what you want... On July 1, Florida's first regulation of the Home Inspection industry takes effect. From now on, the home sellers and buyers in our great state will be protected from the unscrupulous home inspectors. Or will they???
The new licensure law takes effect on July 1, 2010. Unfortunatey, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has not had funding for this program until July 1, 2010. The original law establishing the licensure did not set up those insignificant details like grandfathering, Ethics, or Standards of Practice. It mentioned that licensees would have to pass an exam, but did not establish this exam or who would administer it. The law requires Continuing Education, but did not give the DBPR authority to establish courses or who would teach them.
So, we have been waiting for "fix-it" legislation to pass the state legislature. It is now July 1. The DBPR will administer the program, and they have done a lot of preliminary work. They have also asked for and received a lot of input from industry leaders.
Licensure in Florida begins now, but ENFORCEMENT will be delayed a year. Many of us are preparing for it and will be pursuing our licenses as soon as possible. I can only imagine who in Central Florida will be the first to display advertisement as a "State-Licensed Home Inspector"!
In short - yes - home inspectors now need to have a state license to do business. However, the licensure is a "work-in-progress". Also, most Home Inspection Associations' membership requirements meet or exceed the state requirements for continuing education. So, don't just automatically assume (You know what "assume" means) that a state license by itself will make a home inspector the best available. Take into account the experience, active membership in a national or state association, and any recommendatons from his/her clients.
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