For Members: A Letter Explaining Your InterNACHI Home Inspector Certification

 by Nick Gromicko, CMI®, Jim Troth and Kate Tarasenko

It occasionally comes up that a member will request a letter that explains his InterNACHI certifications and training "officially" and succinctly.  (We do this in our custom marketing materials for members, but sometimes a letter is more appropriate.)  Perhaps the request comes from a Realtor, or someone interested in hiring the member for a job.  This may be the case more frequently in states where home inspectors are not required to be licensed.

Below is language that you can cut-paste, and customize as appropriate, that explains what InterNACHI is and what the basic requirements are for certification, as well as what you must do in order to maintain your membership in good standing.  This should be printed on your own letterhead, or the letterhead of the person acting as author (such as your employer, etc.).

It will help allay the hesitation of anyone who has never heard of InterNACHI, or who thinks that you should belong to another association in order to prove your competence.

To Whom It May Concern:

[YOUR NAME], CPI, is a Certified Professional Inspector® trained by InterNACHI—the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (www.NACHI.org)—which is the world's largest nonprofit association of residential and commercial property inspectors, and provides education, training, certification, benefits and support for its members. All InterNACHI-Certified Professional Inspectors® are required to pass an Inspector Exam, follow a comprehensive Standards of Practice, abide by a strict Code of Ethics, and take accredited Continuing Education courses each year in order to maintain their membership in good standing.

[YOUR NAME] has acquired extensive home inspector training through InterNACHI’s rigorous Continuing Education curriculum, which includes dozens of live classroom, online, and video training courses, written by experts in their field, which have received more than 1,400 accreditations by state and governmental agencies throughout North America.

In order to become certified, [YOUR NAME] was required to take inspection courses related to the interior and exterior of the home, including the common and major areas of concern for home buyers, such as the foundation, heating and cooling, roof, plumbing, and electrical systems.  

Here is the list of InterNACHI courses required for initial certification:

• Safe Practices for the Home Inspector
• 25 Standards Every Inspector Should Know
• Residential Plumbing Overview for Inspectors
• How to Perform Residential Electrical Inspections
• How to Perform Roof Inspections
• How to Inspect HVAC Systems
• Structural Issues for Home Inspectors
• How to Inspect the Exterior
• How to Inspect the Attic, Insulation, Ventilation and Interior
• How to Perform Deck Inspections
• How to Inspect for Moisture Intrusion
• How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys

IF YOUR STATE DOESN'T REQUIRE LICENSING, USE THIS PARAGRAPH:

The State of [YOUR STATE] does not require licensing of home inspectors; however, the certifications and Continuing Education required by InterNACHI are more than adequate training for the certified inspector so that he can provide sufficient and accurate information regarding a home’s condition.

IF YOUR STATE REQUIRES LICENSING, USE THIS PARAGRAPH:

Although the State of [YOUR STATE] requires licensing of home inspectors, the certifications and Continuing Education required by InterNACHI serve as additional in-depth training for the certified inspector so that he can provide sufficient and accurate information regarding a home’s condition.

If you any have further questions, please let me know.

Sincerely,

[YOU OR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE/EMPLOYER WRITING ON YOUR BEHALF]

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