Home Inspection Certificate

This course equips you with basic skills to inspect roofing systems in residential homes as a professional home inspector. It focuses on the following roofing components of a residential dwelling:

• Sloped and flat roof coverings
• Steep and flat roof flashings
• Flashing details and common problems with intersections 

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Examine roofs and know what to watch for.
• Assess roof coverings installation and deterioration.
• Explain problems, causes and implications for common roofing materials.
• Understand how the components of a roof system function and perform.
• Describe defects observed at the roof system to a client.
• Inspect and report on the different types of residential roofing.

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to professionally inspect all of the structural elements of a building. It explores:

• Footings components, configurations and the basics of construction foundation
• Various types of floor systems and materials
• Wall systems and the key components that make up a wall
• Different roof framing systems
• Investigation of causes and implications of common problems

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify elements of good construction of all the structural elements of a building.
• Detect the common problems found with foundations, floor, wall and roofing systems.
• Evaluate the seriousness of the conditions and the implications of non-repair.
• Inspect and report on residential structural systems as a professional home inspector.

This course provides the necessary skills to professionally inspect electrical components in residential homes. You do not need an electrical background to take this course. It covers the following concepts:

• Residential electricity
• The distribution system of electricity to end-use points in homes
• Service drops, service entrance wires and service size
• Service box grounding and panels

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the basics of electricity to perform a professional home inspection.
• Examine the configuration of service boxes and the operation of grounding systems.
• Identify common concerns related to distribution panels.
• Assess the branch circuit wiring systems of a typical house.
• Recognize safe distribution of electricity to switches, lights, outlets and receptacles.
• Inspect and report on residential electrical systems as a professional home inspector.

This course introduces you to residential heating systems, providing the knowledge to inspect them as a professional home inspector. It focuses on:

• Furnaces types, components and efficiency
• Distribution systems
• Different types of fuels used in furnaces
• Combination heating systems
• Hot water boilers controls, efficiency, distribution and combination systems

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify elements of furnaces and boilers.
• Understand how to perform operational tests and identify common failure modes.
• Estimate life expectancies of the various systems covered.
• Inspect and report on residential heating systems as a professional home inspector.

This course builds upon your basic knowledge of residential heating systems and equips you with the necessary skills to perform inspections as a professional home inspector. It focuses on:

• Inspection strategies, test procedures and problem identification
• The functioning and components of wood, steam and electric heating systems
• Types of wall and floor furnaces, room heaters and gas fireplaces
• Chimneys, vents and installation

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize common heating systems and how they work.
• Investigate common problems found in each type of heating system and boilers.
• Explore how to find common conditions in each type of system.
• Evaluate the seriousness of these conditions and the implications of non-repair.
• Inspect and report on residential heating systems as a professional home inspector.

This course trains you how to perform professional air conditioning and heat pump systems inspections in residential homes. It focuses on:

• Common types and components of air conditioning units and heating pumps
• Air conditioning and heating systems operations
• Typical performance related problems
• System life expectancies and coefficient of performance

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the basic principles of air conditioning and heating systems operations.
• Explore how the systems fail.
• Inspect and report on common air conditioning systems and heat pumps in residential buildings.

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to inspect supply plumbing systems as a professional home inspector. It explores:

• Exterior components of a residential plumbing
• Supply piping, water heaters, waste piping and plumbing fixtures
• Detecting how systems work and common failures
• Public and private services

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Examine the four major exterior components of a residential plumbing system.
• Define supply pumping, water heaters, drain, waste and vent components, plumbing fixtures and faucets.
• Understand the basic principles of water physics.
• Inspect and report on residential plumbing systems.

This course will teach you the basic tools required to perform professional building exterior inspections. It covers:

• Diverse architectural styles
• Types of exterior cladding
• Exterior structures such as porches, decks, balconies and garages
• Surface water control

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify common architectural categories, house styles and building features.
• Recognize and inspect exterior cladding systems.
• Examine attached structures to buildings.
• Assess lot water control with respect to roof water, window wells, walks, driveways, retaining walls and other landscaping conditions as they pertain to buildings on a property.
• Inspect and report on residential exteriors.

This course teaches you how to perform a professional inspection on home insulation, interior and ventilation systems. It explores:

• Types of thermal insulation, vapor barriers and ventilation systems
• Heat movement and how to control heat and moisture flows
• Building envelope issues
• Floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, basements, doors, windows and other interior elements

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will able to:

• Recognize types of insulation, air and vapor barriers and how they affect heat movement.
• Understand how insulation is installed in finished and unfinished areas.
• Explore indoor air ventilation systems.
• Determine inspection procedures for typical components of a residence’s interior.
• Inspect and report on all interior elements of a house.

This course teaches you effective communication skills to better serve your clients when inspecting residences as a home inspector. It helps you develop the following:

• Verbal communication skills
• Report writing skills
• An understanding of the steps required to complete a home inspection
• Professionalism when conducting an inspection

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Clearly explain the home inspection process to clients.
• Serve diverse groups of people.
• Provide well written reports.
• Understand what defines good customer service for a home inspector.
• Evaluate your verbal and reporting skills.