NHIE discussion... Real or Fake? National Home Inspector Exam

Okay, looking for input right here on the #1 Forum in the Industry

Seriously, we're second to NACHI and number three is a millennia behind...so far as non-association forums go, dis' is it as they say, so let's chat about this NHIE.

Let me first say I have no dog in this fight, but this is getting ridiculous. Is it an ASHI thing? Is it a licensing thing?

Nick Gromicko says it's a brainless exercise to get a certification from a diploma mill. Scott Patterson says it's the real deal.

What say you?

As a side note to legitimacy and credibility...is there really that much money in a one time test for a small industry?

I don't get it. Someone tell me what I'm not seeing here.

From my perspective, guys who have passed the NHIE just have more knowledge than those who have not. I can only relate to FL, but:
1. NHIE was the only test which qualified home inspectors until Nachi got their dumbed down test approved. Talking 200 questions v. 100 questions. Talking testing at Pearson Vue v. some unknown proctor. Talking an initial pass rate of about 64% v. 99% by Nachi.
2. Inspectors I interview who have passed the nachi test do not know ANYTHING.

Problem with NHIE is it was designed by inspectors in cold weather. Too much emphasis on boilers, furnaces, basements and snow loaded roofs.. Good to know but pretty much irrelevant for Florida. I would like to see them develop a test more specific to climate more in line with building practices on the order of South, Mason Dixon and North. We don't need encapsulated crawls, we don't have basements, and we don't have ice dams.

With weak licensing laws, I like having NHIE and I applaud ASHI for making passing it a requirement to achieve the Master level. At least it is something better than paying $1k to nachi to get their little patch.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/17/2016 07:55 AM EDT

Worthless exam

It helps to pass the exam if you put yourself in the shoes of an old dumb inspector and then answer the questions.

Well there are the two extremes defined.

William, are you saying NHIE is an ASHI holding?

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/17/2016 05:12 PM EDT

I don't think it's awesome, but I don't believe it's irrelevant.

I think it's a good baseline line test to evaluate an individuals general knowledge. I think licensing is inevitable everywhere, and there will always be testing as part of that process.

Troy Pappas wrote:I don't think it's awesome, but I don't believe it's irrelevant.

I think it's a good baseline line test to evaluate an individuals general knowledge. I think licensing is inevitable everywhere, and there will always be testing as part of that process.

Is this the test you would suggest Troy?

It goes without saying that any testing for licensing or entry into an association is by definition going to be passable by the majority and is designed to allow the bottom of the acceptable level of knowledge to pass. This goes for driving tests as well as just about everything else.

The "Awesome" poll answer refers to it being legitimate and you liking it as a standard for the industry I suppose. You don't have to be celebrating its existence each day to select it...

Speaking of celebrating- How do these guys make money again? Is there enough money in it for this war?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/17/2016 11:13 AM EDT

I don't think ASHI "owns" it but ASHI does require passing it to achieve their master inspector level.

I'm just saying it is a lot harder to pass than the Nachi exam approved in FL.

don't know what "war" you are referring to. I think the NHIE was pretty much the standard for some time and now others are trying to cut in, like nachi did and is probably doing everywhere.

I'm not knocking either exam as they both are exactly where they should be. I can pass any test put in front of me (try me). Nathan, I believe that with either test InterNACHI's or The National Home Inspector Exam that the test be stage 1 of becoming a home inspector. Stage 2 needs to be actual hands on experience with 3 different inspection companies; demonstrating that the Inspector can perform the job of a home inspector. Stage 3 needs to be report writing, public speaking, marketing, time management and having a good business plan.

These are just my thoughts on what would take your average Inspector to that next level. So many times (even recently), I've wanted to just give up. I would also add that you'd have to have passion, a burning desire, to make it in this industry. I've spoke with both Juan Jiminez and William Chandler, who have a different view on this particular thread. They both care and encourage them inspectors, like myself. I care a great deal for both of them and I thank them for their sacrifice and service to this great Country.

I'd rather die - failing at trying to make it as a home inspector than to live without giving it everything that I have to make it in our industry.

P. Nathan Thornberry, you and I have bumped heads and shared laughs together. We both love this industry and all of the great Inspectors, regardless of the association. We both have friends in ASHI, NAHI and InterNACHI, as well as VAREI and FABI. Inspectors that are seasoned should help the new guys period, whether it be on a forum, Facebook or phone call. Certain inspectors (like me) don't want to ask for help on a public forum, either no one replies because they don't like you or they have to speak down to you. There are those who go out of their way to help, like Juan Jiminez and William Chandler, Jeremiah Anderson and a couple of others.

Do you know that there are legends in this industry that read message boards like yours, The Inspector's Journal, Inspection News, InterNACHI's forum, etc. that never reply, because all of the nonsense? Imagine if we all worked together ... how much this industry would improve.

A man named Pete Daly Campbell took it upon himself to reach out and to help me to believe in myself again. He asked me questions on my training, how many inspections that I've actually performed and tested my knowledge often, when we spoke. Pete knew that I wasn't the best but he saw something in me and knew that 1 day, I would be one of the best. Honestly, this industry needs more people like Pete Campbell of Guaranteed Inspections. He lived and breathed this industry and so does every other Inspector, who I consider my mentor(s). William Chandler is one of those mentors. He doesn't agree with everything that I do but he believes in me for some reason. I am honored every time we speak.

We need good mentor's to help other's out Nathan, so they can have a chance at teaching other's, as well. After the day I had yesterday, I wanted to give up on everything (life hit me hard). That's why Pete and I talked to help each other in rough times. I can't E-mail, call, message Pete anymore and I miss him at times like this. He always helped me to think clearly and wasn't afraid to tell me what he was thinking. He pissed me off a time or two but I listened to him.

The one thing that has always been there for me and never left, is the home inspection industry. I always learn something new.

There's no money for you in it Nathan. Proctoring companies like PSI give the exam, or you can take it at a local college proctoring center.

Nathan wrote:

Is this the test you would suggest Troy?

I don't believe it's any easier or any harder than the InterNACHI exam. I do think that an exam for professional licensing should be more difficult, but like you said this is an entry level exam for an association. They are not in the business of exclusion.

Is there a link to a sample exam? Passed State contractors tests in multiple states, never bothered with this one.

I can't answer the poll as I don't feel it is awesome, nor do I feel it is completely irrelevant. I would say the NHIE is adequate to determine if an inspector or perspective inspector has an adequate working knowledge of the house system and it's components. I do feel parts of the test reach beyond the "typical" scope of a Home Inspection, however, overall, the test is "Adequate". Could it be better and more relevant? Absolutely.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/17/2016 01:03 PM EDT

Would be awkward to take it now and fail.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/17/2016 01:10 PM EDT

scotbaker wrote:Would be awkward to take it now and fail.

Not true at all. Tests test the ability of someone to take a test. Some people aren't good test takers. I'm quite good at taking tests.

The NHIE has a lot of how would you report this, and what would you do in this situation questions. If you have a different opinion, you could get those all wrong.

You have to think like the test creators to get those right. My guess is that home inspection veterans and retirees wrote the test. For a quite a few of the questions, I answered the way I knew it wanted me to answer, and not what I thought was actually correct.

I owned the test.

Here's the website for EBPHI. http://www.homeinspectionexam.org/ and there are sample questions.

The NHIE was developed in the 1990's (I was part of it) as a minimum competency prove up exam for entry level candidates, mainly for state licensing as the ASHI board saw the need for it, and initially funded it. EBPHI is now, actually for a long time, a separate entity from ASHI and is self sustaining.

We spent long hours sending out role delineation forms to inspectors all over the country (not based upon association membership) and worked with psychometricians and examination experts to develop the NHIE, which is a legally defensible minimum competency national exam based upon consensus of practitioners. It is not regionalized; that would be too expensive. It is the only psychometrically valid, secure, and defensible exam for home inspectors that I know of. That's why most states with regulation use it for their minimum competency required exam.

Could it be better, sure, many will argue that. It is, however, the most valid exam out there for home inspectors and truly third party maintained and secure.