Michael1942's Blog

I recently read a news paper article written by an Illinois resident who spent in excess of 1000.oo in pursuit of a plumbers license. This situation is not unique to the plumbers. I spent well over 1500.00 (including classes and testing fees)to get a Home Inspectors license. I took the course twice (once in person and once by correspondence). The correspondence course had no monitoring system to track your progress and no periodic tests or reviews that one could gauge your progress yet required an 10 hour lab course in which the instructor gave hands on instruction in what to look for in heating, electrical and plumbing. There was a test at the end going over what was covered. During the lab session the instructor regaled us with his exploits as an inspector and how the State licensing board was established along with their debate as to which of them would get the first license (#001). At the establishment of the State licensing board , any existing Inspectors were grandfathered in without any further testing. Then there was a final exam (you paid again for this “privilege”), this exam read more like a math exam and to me was unrelated to the material covered and some instances the wording was ambiguous at best. I protested to the School and was given an opportunity to take the entire course again at no charge.I declined this great opportunity after speaking to the college president about the lack of monitoring (his response was that we never monitor). I elected to try a different route and pursued this ambition with another State approved outfit, after completing this course and receiving the required certification of completion, I took the State mandated test twice and failing by 1 point each time. I am of the opinion that these so-called State mandated tests have the purpose of keeping the licensed pool low enough to let current license holders exist with less competition.