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Home Inspection legislation for Montana !

By Scott Patterson, ACI

Home Inspector with Trace Inspections, LLC TN #17

February 06, 2009 01:29 AM

A legislative bill has been introduced that would license home inspectors in Montana. HB417 has been placed into the Business and Labor Committee. It looks like the committee will hold hearings on February 18th in Helena, MT. This is an overview of the bill:

This bill would ....

• require the annual registration of all persons selling real estate inspections on residential properties of 4 units or less

• require an inspector to successfully complete The National Home Inspector Examination / NHIE or its equivalent.

• require an inspector to complete 20 hours of continuing education annually

• require adherence to a Code of Ethics

• require adherence to a Standard of Practice. This bill would not ....

• require E and O insurance

• provide any form of grand father clause.

This bill is so detailed, with such clear definition, that adjudication of complaints against errant inspectors would be handled by The Department of Labor and Industry legal staff at no additional cost to the state. This registration program will be supported wholly by registration fees paid by inspectors.

According to my sources, this has a buy-in from all of the various organizations, everyone has had a say so in the bill or they are onboard with it. Best part of this bill is that it has no grandfathering.

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Paul Duffau

Safe@Home Inspections, LLC in SE Washington - Asotin, WA

Caring for People, Educating about Homes

This is kind of interesting in the sense that we're prepping for licensure in Washington, Oregon already has it and Montana is getting it.

Idaho will be along in a couple of decades.

Feb 10, 2009 03:08 PM

Scott Patterson, ACI

Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN

Home Inspector, Middle TN

On 2/19/2009, HB417 passed the Business and Labor Committee and is now heading for a vote on the House floor.

It should also be noted that the Vice Chair (Paul Beck) of the committee is also a home inspector in Montana.

Feb 20, 2009 02:13 AM

Anonymous

Mike O'Handley

Hi Scott,

I saw that the bill had moved out of committee; I'd also noticed that an interNACHI company from Montana is stating on the interNACHI site that Montana is going to allow a protored version of interNACHI's online test to be used to measure an inspectors competency.

I've read through the bill a couple of times and I can't see anything in it that allows any test other than one that's been determined to be psychometrically valid to be used for competency testing. Do you know if the requirement for a psychometrically valid test has been pulled or whether interNACHI has now developed a proctored test that's been validated by a psychometrician?

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike O'Handley, Editor, The Inspector's Journal (http://www.inspectorsjournal.com)

Feb 21, 2009 10:35 AM

Hi Mike,

I was at the hearing representing the NHIE at the invitation of the committee, and what Bruce & Judy Kirby are reporting is flat out wrong. The test requirements have not changed and the INACHI exam does not and can not meet the requirements set forth in the bill, even in a proctored setting.

INACHI can not has not provided any of technical reports that backs their claim that their test is psychometrically valid and that it has been developed to professional testing standards. Nick, even claims that they have no third party verification of their exam. The reason he gives is that they do not know of a company that is qualified to do it.

Another large issue with the INACHI exam is that they have no proof that their exam is legally defensible, and this is an important point for states that use an exam for licensing. All this means is that each question on the exam has a verifiable and published reference that is current and available to the public.

Bottom line is that nobody will be grandfathered and everyone will have to take the exam and this is upsetting a few individuals.

Feb 22, 2009 01:07 AM

OK,

That's what I'd thought but since there was someone claiming something else I was looking for clarification.

Interesting comment made by Nick at that link in your post about how they can't find anyone qualified to verify that their test is psychometrically valid. Psychometricians aren't that hard to find. I guess he thinks his clients are just ignorant enough to believe everything he says.

I certainly hope he's wrong about his clients.

Thanks.

Mike O'Handley, Editor - The Inspector's Journal (http://www.inspectorsjournal.com)

Feb 22, 2009 07:28 PM

The main exam administrator for the NHIE is a company called Pearson VUE, they are huge and administer many professional exams like the MCAT (medical school entrance exams), the CPA exam, and all types of governmental exams. I think they could handle Nicks little test.

The NHIE is also managed by two other providers (PSI & AMP)in specific states.

Feb 23, 2009 12:21 AM

Your Inspector Inc. - Seattle, WA

Hi,

I know that, I meant it sardonically. Anyway, I'd written to the Montana Bill's sponsor the other day and someone called me tonight to confirm that the interNACHI exam does not qualify, which is the response I'd expected to hear.

One never knows though; maybe one of these days Nick won't outright lie to folks and we'll all be really really surprised.

Mike

Feb 23, 2009 04:28 PM

I just received word that it looks like this bill might not make it. The House did not bring it up for a second reading and for right now the bill is listed as "Likely dead".

It is a bad year for any type of licensing legislation to be brought up. With the economy in the crapper and Washington DC printing money up like it was fodder for the country, I doubt that many bills will pass this year. When everything settles down and homes start selling, I bet that if this bill is presented in two years that it will pass.

Feb 26, 2009 01:53 AM

Home Inspection legislation for Montana !

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