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. The courses in the program can be completed into 2 semesters. Each course syllabus (outline) provides the participant with a schedule of studies. 
The program is offered mainly on a “web-based platform” and provides both a fundamental 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 (see webinar schedule).
Courses in the ISS – Home Inspector Training Program 
The following courses are offered: Direct Instruction noted (*# #) over 2 semesters
• ISS100 Fundamentals (40 hrs *15 - Semester 1)
• ISS101 Plumbing (80 hrs *28 - Semester 2) 
• ISS102 Electrical (80 hrs *28 - Semester 1) 
• ISS103 HVAC (80 hrs Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning *28 - Semester 1) 
• ISS104 Structures (80 hrs Wood Frame House Construction *28 - Semester 2)
• ISS105 Building Science (80 hrs Dynamics of Building Envelope *28 - Semester 2) 
• ISS106 Reporting & Ethics (40 hrs *15 - Semester 1) 
The total training hours equates to 480 hours of which *170 hours are dedicated and delivered through Skype webinars. Courses begin in January, April and September.

Professional Development / Continuing Education Courses (Open Enrollment)

Available courses

Fundamentals

This course was formerly - Intro to Home Inspections.

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.

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.

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.

Structures

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
This course provides practical construction theory and building science to residential homes. You will learn common terminology and definitions, review residential materials and become more familiar with wood frame construction involving foundations and structural  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.

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.

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 -  Legal Issues, Ethics and Report Writing.


HIP Challenge Exams

The "Challenge Exam" is based on individuals that want to challenge a course or series of courses. Exams are based on the final exam for the ISS Home Inspection Program course series. A pass grade is deemed as 70% minimum on each exam. 

NOTE: The "Challenge Exam" is NOT recognized in BC by Consumer Protection BC for licensing. However, all of the individual courses in the ISS Home Inspection Program completed are accepted with successful completion. 

Starting Your Own Home Inspection Business

Commercial Inspections

This course is approximately 20 hours. The 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 course also references the NRC-Building Condition Assessments. 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. 

NOTE: Participant must purchase ASTME-2018 Standard for reference in this course. 

IAQ-Intro to IAQ

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.

IAQ-Mold (Remediation)

This two-day (14-16 hour) workshop is a useful support for your community’s mold remediation program. If you work in housing, construction, renovations or maintenance, you and your community will benefit from this workshop. You will learn how to safely clean up mold by actually doing the procedures.

 You will learn the basics of mold, why it grows in a home, how it can be prevented and what to do when the home has become moldy. You will learn the importance of a thorough investigation of the home using Industry Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Investigation Procedure. You will learn how to develop an action plan based on the recommendations from the IAQ investigation.

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.


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. This course has been modified for online delivery and includes Skype sessions to highlight the course materials with the instructors. The original target audience was First Nations Building Officers and Program Administrators and updated by funding by CMHC & NRCan.  

Mentoring

This course involves mentoring and site supervised practice (mock) inspections. (Availability depends on participant members and locations)

Just 4 Realtors - Environmental & Insurance Issues

This course covers environmental and insurance 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.