Class Descriptions
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Illinois        Licensed Continuing Education Provider: License #452.0000135

                Illinois home inspectors currently require 12 CE Hours per two year renewal period, obtained by
                  November 30 of even numbered years.
        
Indiana       Licensed Continuing Education Provider: License #CE10600376
                  Indiana home inspectors currently require 32 CE Hours per two year renewal period, obtained by
                  September 30 of odd numbered years.

 

Wisconsin  License act requires 20 CE hours of education relating to the general subject matter of home
                  inspection during each calendar year, for a total of 40 CE hours per two year renewal period, 
                  obtained by December 14 of even numbered years. Education providers do not require a license.
 

Note: These classes are all designed for licensed home inspectors in order to comply with the requirements of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin licensed continuing education.  They move quickly and cover a lot of material in a short time. Nevertheless, they are not comprehensive courses, and instead focus on a few key inspection issues within each discipline. Please contact us if you are interested in more extensive training than these courses offer. 

 

Each class includes a booklet of the presentation slides. Illinois students are required by state law to complete a 25 question quiz at the conclusion of each course. A minimum score of 70% (18 correct answers out of 25) is required to earn the CE hours.

You’ll see 200 to 300 (or more!) crystal clear photos on our giant screen in most of these sessions. Handouts of the complete presentations are provided. These are the premier home inspection CE classes in North America. Our hundreds of past students know that nobody else offers courses of this quality or with this much information.

 

All classes are written and presented by Steve Preins.

Air Conditioning, including High Velocity, Ductless & Heat Pumps:  A “how to do it” course developed by home inspectors for home inspectors that offers a real-life step-by-step approach to properly and thoroughly inspect forced air cooling, including high velocity systems, ductless or "mini split" systems and air source heat pumps. New refrigerants, new natural gas units, and geothermal heat pumps are included. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: Varies with class location)

Commercial Inspections Lite: While the idea of inspecting large commercial and industrial properties can seem intimidating to most home inspectors, there are many opportunities to inspect light commercial properties that are very similar to residential. This course provides an overview of inspecting light commercial properties, and offers an in-depth discussion of the ASTM Standards of Practice, environmental issues, and the similarities and differences between residential inspections and commercial inspections. A detailed look at what makes a commercial property “light” is included, as is an overview of some of the more common defects specific to commercial properties.  The course concludes with a look at reporting, marketing and pricing light commercial inspections. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Electrical Inspection Tune Up: You'll have a clearer understanding of how and why grounding of electrical systems actually works after learning Electrical Theory for Home Inspectors, with a focus on proper grounding and bonding of service and sub panels. This course also includes a refresher on basic defect recognition of wire sizing, double taps, polarity, GFCI and AFCI locations, and required clearances at panels, disconnects and service drops. Hundreds of clear photos are utilized to illustrate common electrical issues which home inspectors encounter on a daily basis. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Forced Air Heating and Boilers:  A “how to do it” course developed by home inspectors for home inspectors that offers a real-life step-by-step approach to properly and thoroughly inspect both gas and electric forced air heating and boilers. Many issues are examined in detail, including combustion air requirements, return air requirements, proper clearances, proper installation, filters and heat exchangers. The operating sequences and characteristics of gravity, circulated and steam boilers are discussed. Gas leak detection and carbon monoxide testing are examined. Hundreds of clear photos are utilized to illustrate common heating issues which home inspectors encounter on a daily basis. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

 

New Technologies in Residential Construction:  This constantly revised course examines new products in electrical, heating, cooling, foundations, framing, insulation, ventilation, and plumbing. The driving forces behind the development of each new product as well as specifically what the home inspector needs to know about these products are also discussed. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours, Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Old House Inspections - Pre 1950's: Old houses present a different set of challenges for the home inspector. This course examines many, many issues, including obsolete systems, environmental issues, sorting out possible structural issues, "pre-cut" and kit houses, Lustrons, added systems, amateur or improper alterations, safety considerations vs. building codes, and more. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Plumbing Inspection Tune Up: Inspecting plumbing requires more than just looking  for leaks.  This class focuses on cross connections; water heaters; water piping materials and installation;  waste and drainage piping materials and installation; gas piping materials and installation; and fixtures. The new FVIR water heaters are examined. Hundreds of clear photos are utilized to illustrate common plumbing issues which home inspectors encounter on a daily basis. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Report Writing and Claims Management: You need to protect yourself!! Properly written inspection reports should provide clear and concise information for the client while simultaneously minimizing liability for the home inspector. The report should cover what was inspected as well as what was not inspected, and why it was not inspected. This course discusses what to tell the client on the telephone when setting up the inspection appointment, what to tell the client when starting the inspection, how to review the contract with the client, report writing issues, and the critical steps to take if a client is unhappy with the inspection or alleges that something was missed. A review of the Standards of Practice, pre-inspection agreement language and report formats is included. The course concludes with a look at several case studies of actual claims against home inspectors. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category II CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Reading the House with Roofing and Siding: Really two courses in one. "Reading the House" is a method of putting together clues from the exterior of the house to yield information about the interior of the house. This technique is utilized by the best inspectors to develop a "virtual house" in their minds and anticipate problem areas before they find them. Roofing materials, roofing and siding failures and class action lawsuits, hail damage, and fire ratings are discussed. Drainable EIFS and other new and unusual siding and roofing materials are included. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

 

Structural Inspection: Structural issues are among the most confusing and potentially costly for home inspectors. This course examines both basic and advanced structural concepts and relates these concepts directly to actual inspection issues. Structural repairs, including underpinning, buttressing and grouting are examined. A discussion of how to determine if the house is still moving or stable is included. (Illinois: 3 CE hours; Indiana: 4 Category I CE hours; Wisconsin: 4 CE hours)

Supercharged Marketing: This is your chance to get a real piece of the home inspection action in your area. This session covers marketing with and without Realtors, turning telephone calls into jobs, working less and making more, the four-letter word that prevents success, increasing your inspection business without spending money, getting in the door and being invited back, fatal marketing mistakes to avoid, small town and rural marketing, hidden marketing opportunities, and much more. We teach actual proven techniques, not just textbook theory. Illinois licensed as Professional Practice I and Professional Practice II. (Illinois: 6 CE hours; 8 Indiana Category II CE hours; Wisconsin: 8 CE Hours)