SYLLABUS: ISS999 – Home Inspector Training Program

Full program fee is $999 (Individual courses may be taken) Register at:  http://www.inspectsupport.com/education.htm
Program Overview - About Us
The ISS - Home Inspector Training Program is based on a combination of practical experience and knowledge shared by three veteran home inspection professionals. The course instructors have been instrumental in providing ongoing college level training and mentoring for those looking at entering the home inspection field. Their training experience spans well over 10 years, and with one instructor previously employed for over 25 years as a college professor in the School of Engineering Technologies and Architecture Program Coordinator. The courses have been "officially" approved for delivery in both Ontario and BC. 
The courses in the program are established college level courses that have been mapped to the National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors in Canada. The courses have been modularized into weekly units of study that will help you acquire both the general and technical knowledge to perform this vital service to consumers for a home inspection. Each course syllabus provides the participant with a schedule of studies. 
The program is offered mainly on a “web-based platform” and provides both an introductory overview of the home inspection field (ISS100) as well as a greater depth of detailed study in the more advanced courses that focus on the major systems of residential construction. In addition to the accessing the courses online, participants will be required to spend several hours or possibly more per week in “mandatory” interactive sessions offering “direct instruction” with the course instructor via pre-arranged Skype based webinars. 
Courses in the ISS – Home Inspector Training Program 
The following courses are offered: Direct Instruction noted (*# #) 
• ISS100 Intro to Home Inspections (40 hrs *15) 
• ISS101 Plumbing (80 hrs *28) 
• ISS102 Electrical (80 hrs *28) 
• ISS103 HVAC (80 hrs Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning *28) 
• ISS104 Structures (80 hrs Canadian Wood Frame House Construction *28) 
• ISS105 Building Science (80 hrs Dynamics of the Building Envelope *28) 
• ISS106 Reporting & Ethics (40 hrs (*15) 
The total training hours equates to 480 hours of which *170 hours are dedicated and delivered through Skype webinars. Courses begin the first full week of January, April, July and October. (4 semesters)
  • Intro & Welcome File

    Document provides information for "Getting Started" in the course. 

  • Syllabus: ISS999 - ISS-Home Inspector Training Program File

    This program is designed with a series of 7 courses that will assist students in combining essential technical home inspection theory with the everyday understanding of the home inspection and reporting process. The courses are specifically targeted at the major areas of study (system and various components) that provides the necessary knowledge of the house as a system. It will also emphasize the vital importance of the inspection standards, inspection protocol, occupational health and safety, use of home inspection tools, and the onsite home inspection process, and significance of conveying home inspection information to clients in a precise and professional manner.

    This web-based blended learning home inspection program allows the participant to participate at your convenience on your computer. The various courses provides basic and more detailed technical content covering all parts of the home inspection process . The Building Science course includes building dynamics to help inspectors attain a better understanding of what causes many problems in a home. The Ethics & Reporting course covers ethics, legal and reporting obligations. Each course is complimented with webinar-based direct instruction sessions. This allows face-to-face interaction between the instructor that provides the participants the opportunity to review case studies and practical home inspection topics, as well as get feedback or review of course materials directly from the instructor.

    This program of study meets and exceeds the academic education requirements National Certification Program requirements offering 480 hours of home inspection education. The prerequisite to the program: ISS100 - Intro to Home Inspection (This course provides a broad overview of a career in home inspections. While knowledge of residential construction is helpful, it is not mandatory.)

    Program fee is $999.00 (Skype required for webinar sessions)

Available courses

Intro to Home Inspection

Home Inspections began in the early 1970's as a consumer service in direct response to the growing demand for learning about the condition of a house prior to purchase. This course is an introduction to how the Home Inspection field is organized, the different areas of expertise required to conduct a successful Home Inspection, including plumbing, electrical and heating systems, residential construction, inspection techniques, report writing and the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

Plumbing

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
An introduction to residential plumbing systems, including common terms and definitions, residential materials, material evolution, plumbing fixtures, faucets, hot water tanks, water distribution systems, drain waste and vent systems, septic tank systems, water wells and water well pumps. The advantages, disadvantages and common failures of the above shall be examined. Key inspection points are included.

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Intro to Home Inspection

Electrical

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

This course provides an overview of electrical terms, materials and systems as they apply to residential dwellings. Emphasis will be placed on the identification of proper installation techniques, including the application of the appropriate code. Identifying incorrect installations, significant defects and making recommendations to resolve the problem (s) is included.

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Introduction to Home Inspection

HVAC

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
The course focuses on mechanical equipment. It provides current information on gas, oil, electric heat systems, including wood burning appliances. It also discusses both space and hot water heat for residential applications. The content also includes cooling and ventilation and air filtration systems as well as wood burning appliances.

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Intro to Home Inspection

Structures

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
This course provides practical construction theory and building science to residential homes. You will learn common terminology and definitions, residential materials and become more familiar with wood frame construction involving foundations, platform/balloon framing, post and beam construction and rafter truss systems. It Includes a focus on defects recognition for Canadian Wood-frame structures, including floor, wall and roof and finish systems.

The required understanding of sizing charts and residential construction procedures as well as key inspection points will be covered. Hands on practice to produce a technical building report based on the Canadian Wood Frame House Construction manual along with on-site reviews will be co-ordinated with this course.

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Intro to Home Inspection

Building Science (Building Envelope)

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
This course provides practical theory and building science related to the Building Envelope for residential homes. Building science is the collection of scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings. It traditionally includes the detailed analysis of building materials and building envelope systems. The course content includes defect recognition for the foundation, walls, openings and roofs and the approach of a house as a system.

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Intro to Home Inspection

Ethics & Reporting

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
This course is the study of legal and ethical issues affecting the Home Inspector and the Home Inspection Industry. Home Inspectors develop relationships with many of the parties directly and indirectly involved in a real estate transaction. It is the responsibility of the Home Inspector that these relationships are governed by strong ethical and legal guidelines. To truly become a successful Home Inspector today it is vitally important that the inspector's ethics be unquestionable.

The course is divided into three major sections as follows: Legal Issues, Ethics and Report Writing

Pre-requisite: ISS100- Intro to Home Inspection

Commercial Inspections

This is a sampler of one of upcoming Professional Development courses.

This 3 day (approximately 24 hours) training provides a focus on Commercial Property Condition Assessments. The ASTM E-2018 standards provide guidelines for performing a baseline (PCA) commercial property condition assessments and completing a (PCR) property condition report. The (PCA) property condition assessment is to observe and report, to the extent practicable, on the physical condition of the subject property and consists of: 
1) Document review, interview of maintenance staff, vendors and local building departments. 
2) Conduct walk-through surveys. 
3) Preparation of opinions and probable costs to remedy physical deficiencies. 
4) Property condition report (PCR) per ASTM E-2018 standards. 

Code Stuff

This course provides an overview of "code" related topics that impacts new construction. 

Country Living

In town we take a lot of services and conditions for granted. As an example - open a tap, flush the toilet and presto “instant action”. In the country we do not have this luxury usually country lots are not serviced so when build we need to find water on the property and a place to dispose of waste.


Just 4 Realtors - Environmental Issues

This course covers environmental issues commonly encountered and offered as general information for Realtors.

Just 4 Realtors - Home Inspections

This course discusses an overview of what is a home inspection and why Realtors should be aware of the Standards and expectations of the home inspection process. 

IAQ- Clear the Air

This one-day workshop (approximately 8 hours) is intended for the builder, renovator, architect, health or housing inspector, appraiser and other housing professionals. It provides an overview on indoor air quality in the home and an introduction to the investigative process. It is not intended to train participants to become professional IAQ investigators. Solving complex problems is beyond the scope of this course, but participants will be able to direct homeowners for further information and appropriate services.

IAQ - Mold (Build/Renovate)

This one-day workshop (approximately 8 hours) is intended for the builder, renovator, architect, health or housing inspector, appraiser and other housing professionals. Case studies of mold in new and older houses are presented followed by fundamentals of mold to enable one to understand why mold grows and how to avoid mold problems. 'The House as a System' is important to identify and solve the causes of mold. 
This workshop highlights construction details that work and don't work; with a section on mechanical systems to including different types of ventilation systems, heat/energy recovery ventilators and filtration systems. This workshop is not intended to turn you into IAQ experts.

Inspecting Existing Dwellings

This workshop provides an introduction to inspecting existing dwellings and an advanced component. The course is a 4 day (approximately 32 hour), emphasizing basic construction and renovation practices, provides in-depth discussions about existing building systems and demonstrates how to recognize building defects.