I often get asked by fellow home inspectors, “Why do I need so many continuing education hours?” My answer is simple, we never stop learning. As a Florida licensed home inspector, I am required to obtain 14-hours of continuing education every 2-years, and as a Florida certified contractor it is the same thing. But really is 14-hours enough? I don’t think so. As a member of the Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI) Florida’s leading home inspector association, I am required to get 20-hours per year. They offer the opportunity to obtain these credit hours four-times a year. But again, is that enough? To be perfectly honest, last cycle (2016-2018) I submitted 174 hours of continuing education, with 94 hours just this year alone for 2019.
Just this past weekend I attended the FABI 2019 Winter Conference in Daytona Beach, FL, this was once again a fabulous opportunity to gain additional knowledge and boy did I. This was a three-day event with Friday, me teaching 7-hours of insurance-based inspections “4-point and Wind Mitigation Inspections;” Saturday with Mr. Mark Hall of HomePro Inspections of the Keys, Inc providing us 2-hours on “Dock, Seawall, and Lift Inspections,” Ms. Amanda Throndsen of the Florida Department of Health covering 2-hours of “Pool Safety,” and Mr. Troy Bishop with Engineering Express 2-hours of “Hurricanes Destroy… But only if You Let Them;” and Sunday 2-hours of business knowledge, Ms. Rishma Eckert of Eckert Law Group “You Own a Business, Now What?” and Ms. Bette Hochberger of Bette Hochberger Inc “Cash Management of Business Profits First.” With the face-to-face classroom training and the one-on-one conversations with my fellow inspectors, I came out of there with so much more information to make me a better inspector, better business person, and a better advocate for my clients.
You might be asking yourself, “But Glenn, aren’t you a continuing education provider yourself?” Of course, I am. But the reality is, I am always learning, I am always studying, and I am always trying to better myself. These are the types of questions you should be asking the men and women you are looking to hire or refer to your clients.
- How many continuing education hours do you submit every two-years for your license?
- Who is providing your continuing education classes? Are they on-line based or classroom?
If they answer 14-hours and on-line only, you know that inspector is not part of an association dedicated to educating its members. They are short changing you, their clients, and more importantly themselves. They are providing the bare minimum and only what they are required to do. Often the on-line classes they are taking have nothing to do with inspecting or building homes here in Florida.
With full disclosure: I am a Florida Continuing Education Provider for both Contractors and Home Inspectors, a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI), the Chairperson for the FABI – West Coast Chapter, a Florida Certified Roofing (CCC) & Residential (CRC) Contractor, a Florida Licensed Home Inspector (HI), a FABI Registered Professional Inspector (RPI), an American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Certified Inspector (ACI), and an International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) Certified Master Inspector (CMI). I enjoy educating my clients, my referral agents, and my fellow professionals. “Knowledge is Power, but only if you share it”
This post was written by: G Stephens & Associates Inc.
