On January 30th, 2009, the British Columbia government announced that it would be the first province in Canada to license home inspectors. As of March 31st, 2009 anyone wishing to practice as a home inspector in British Columbia will require a license. To operate as a home inspector and be licensed in BC, home inspectors will need to meet one of the following qualifications:
1) National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors - Candidate or National Certificate Holder
2) Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (BC) (CAHPI BC) - Associate Member or Registered Home Inspector
3) Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC) - Provisional Certified House Inspector, Certified House Inspector or Certified Property Inspector
* As well, all licensed home inspectors will require a criminal record check and carry mandatory insurance.
To date, the home inspector profession in Canada has been unregulated and training has been voluntary. This leaves the home buyer in a situation where they do not know if their home inspector is qualified to do the job he/she was hired to do. In B.C., following consultations with consumers and the industry, the Province opted for licensing under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) and developed a model that will minimize paperwork and costs to help maximize compliance.
While most inspectors are dedicated professionals, under the current system, they may have little or no qualification, which can create problems for legitimate real estate transactions. Requiring inspectors to be licensed provides sellers and buyers with confidence that every inspection will be carried out by a qualified professional.
The regulations incorporate input from all three home inspector organizations in B.C. An estimated 300 to 400 home inspectors currently operate in the province, and most are members of at least one professional association. Effective March 31, the BPCPA will help protect the buyer's interests, by:
* Assessing the qualifications of, and requiring mandatory licences for, home inspectors. * Receiving and responding to complaints from consumers.
* Monitoring compliance through inspections and enforcement, with penalties that can range as high as $5,000.
As B.C. moves to license home inspectors, it is expected that Alberta and Ontario will follow shortly. The frame work has been set by legislation in B.C. and this legislated model is expected to be the benchmark for the rest of Canada. So where does that leave the Ontario inspector and how do you prepare for possible licensing?
If this licensing benchmark is adopted in Ontario, Ontario inspectors will have three choices.
· Follow the education requirements of CAHP-Ont.
· Follow the education requirements of the National Certification program
· Join PHPIO. PHPIO's goal is to help inspectors obtain their NCH status and provide a supportive infrastructure to help inspectors promote their business and improve their skills.
PHPIO's Mission Statement;
PHPIO is committed to offering every home inspector in Ontario, regardless of their past or present affiliation, a clear path to the National Certification. PHPIO offers a provincial voice to represent Ontario inspectors, guidance in their application for National Certification, individual voting rights for every member and a fair representation of PHPIO values for every Ontario home inspector.
As licensing unfolds across Canada you are encouraged to visit our website for up-to-date information and directions as how PHPIO can help!
http://www.phpio.ca 
'Working with you every step of the way'
