FIELD MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
We have developed the premier field mentoring training program that stands unrivaled. Our team of Field Training Inspectors (FTIs) are all full-time professionals in home inspection, each contributing a unique skill set. Ranging from multi-firm managers and multistate license holders to members of home inspector associations and even BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER INSPECTORS, our diverse group ensures a wealth of field training opportunities. Their collective expertise guarantees you’ll gain the comprehensive knowledge necessary to thrive in this field.
Before their first training inspection, STUDENTS are required to read and adhere to both the N.J. Admin Code § 13:40-15.16 and the NJAHI® Student Field Mentoring Guidelines provided below. A link to N.J. Admin Code § 13:40-15.16 can be found below. This page must also be read in its entirety & adhered to, as it contains additional information regarding the NJAHI® Student Field Mentoring Program and the submission of field training reports. Failure to follow the Field Training Instructors (FTI) onsite instructions, N.J. ADMIN CODE § 13:40-15.16 or the NJAHI® STUDENT FIELD MENTORING GUIDELINES on any field training inspection is grounds for removal from the program.
STUDENTS MUST READ & ADHERE TO THE NJ STANDARDS of PRACTICE (SOP) PRIOR TO PERFORMING THEIR FIRST FIELD TRAINING INSPECTION.
FIELD MENTORING REQUIREMENTS AS PER THE NJ STANDARDS OF PRACTICE (SOP)
Per NJ Admin Code 13:40 - 16.6, all students must complete 40 hours of field training, which shall include not less than 40 hours of unpaid field-based inspections in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a NJ licensed home inspector. The inspections shall be provided by the school administering the approved course of study. This field training fulfills the mandated prerequisites.
To receive credit for field training inspections, students must submit a home inspection training report for each inspection completed. For licensing, students will need to include 3 to 6 of these training reports with their application. All field-based inspections must be conducted in the presence of and under the direct supervision of an NJ licensed home inspector.
DEFINITIONS AS PER THE NJ STANDARS OF PRACTICE
“Home Inspection” means a visual, functional, non-invasive inspection conducted for a fee or any other consideration and performed without moving personal property, furniture, equipment, plants, soil, snow, ice, or debris, using the mandatory equipment and including the preparation of a home inspection report of the readily-accessible elements of the following components of a residential building: structural components, exterior components, roofing system, plumbing system, electrical system, heating system, cooling system, interior components, insulation components and ventilation system, fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances, or any other related residential housing component as determined by the Board, in consultation with the Committee, by rule, but excluding recreational facilities and outbuildings other than garages or carports.
“Home Inspection Training Report” means a written report prepared by a trainee pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.6(a)4, which:
1. Discloses those systems and components which are designated for inspection pursuant to this subchapter and are present at the time of the inspection, as well as those which are present at the time of the home inspection but are not inspected and the reason(s) they are not inspected;
2. Describes systems and components as specified in the rules N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.16
3. States what material defects are found in systems or components;
4. States the significance of findings; and
5. Provides recommendations as to the need to repair, replace or monitor a system or component, or to obtain examination and analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman or service technician.
Students must complete a MINIMUM of 12 field training inspections to satisfy the requirement as per NJ Admin Code Section 13:40-15.2 (4) which defines a “Home Inspection” as seen below.
****Please note that the requirements for a “Home Inspection Training Report” and a “Home Inspection Report” are identical.****
Students should use home inspection software to create their home inspection training reports for each training inspection they attend. Reports must be completed before conducting another inspection. Waiting until multiple inspections are completed before finishing reports is problematic and not reflective of how professional home inspectors operate. This practice increases the inspectors liability and does a disservice to the client because it can lead to inaccuracies, and forgotten or overlooked details.
Students should purchase or obtain a training version of home inspection software. We recommend using the 3D Inspection System and have provided a link to their website and other software that students can try at https://nj-ahi.com/software/. If using a training version of home inspection software, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the software they are using allows them to create a complete home inspection report.
The 3D Inspection System provides students with a link to use a fully operative version for 10 weeks. It is also available for purchase, along with the 3D Master Inspector Home Inspection Formset, which includes over 17,000 home inspection narratives and disclaimers. The cost is significantly discounted and only available to students from our school.
SCHEDULING FIELD TRAINING INSPECTIONS
At the NJ Academy of Home Inspectors, our priority is you! To simplify the process of scheduling training inspections, we utilize SuperSaas, an intuitive online scheduling platform.
Before receiving SuperSaas, students are required to complete at least five weeks of classes. This prerequisite ensures students possess a comprehensive understanding of what to observe and assess during a home inspection.
After completing five weeks of classes, students will be equipped with a username (which will be their student email address) and password for SuperSaas. Detailed instructions will be provided on how to login and schedule inspections.
Students will receive 12 credits and will ONLY be able to schedule 3 inspections at a time. One credit is used for each reservation made. To log into SuperSaas click the above link. It is there that you will see a list of FIELD TRAINING INSPECTORS (FTI). Select an FTI to see his schedule. Find a date, time, and location of an inspection that works for you and simply click on it. Then click “Make Reservation”. You will then receive an automated email that will have the specifics of the inspection including the name and phone number of the FTI you will be working with.
WAIT LIST: If an inspection is full, you can still make a reservation, which will put you on a “WAIT LIST” for that inspection ONLY. Should there be a cancellation, and provided you are next on the list, you will be notified. Being on the “WAIT LIST” does not mean you are scheduled for the inspection. You must receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, DO NOT attend the inspection, as you are not scheduled. Those who attend an inspection while on the “WAIT LIST” will be SENT HOME.
CANCELING AN INSPECTION: If a student cancels an inspection for any reason, credits are not automatically returned to their account. Students will need to email training@nj-ahi.com, the email must include the student and inspectors names, the address, date, and time of the inspection canceled to receive credit restoration.
Hours credited towards the forty (40) hour requirement is dependent upon time spent completing the inspection(s) and should be a minimum of twelve (12) or more inspections.
Reports are reviewed weekly and may be subjected to class review for training purposes.
Please note that NJAHI® does not provide preferential treatment to any student when scheduling field training inspections. It is the student’s responsibility to check SuperSaas daily and ensure their availability for field training inspections. NJAHI® shall not be liable for any student’s failure to attend field training inspections within their nine (9) month allotted time frame due to their unavailability. This policy is strictly enforced and is applicable to all students without exception.
SUBMITTING TRAINING REPORTS
It is the STUDENT’s responsibility to obtain all needed information for their report at the time of inspection from the FIELD TRAINING INSTRUCTOR ONLY.TO RECIVE CREDIT FOR REPORTS ALL REPORTS MUST INCLUDE:
1-STUDENT NAME
2-INSPECTION ADDRESS
3-DATE of INSPECTION
4-BUYER NAME
Pictures should be included in ALL training reports. STUDENTS MUST have with them something to document theirs findings, a GFCI tester, camera and a flashlight.
NAMING THE REPORT
The report’s name must include the sequential inspection number, the student’s last name, the address of the inspection (house number, street and town only), and the inspection date.
1-lastnamehousenumberstreettown9-5-20.pdf
EXAMPLE: 1-Smith270HamiltonRdSomerset4-5-20.pdf
Remember, the number is specific to the inspection, NOT when you turn in your report! Reports or questions about the field mentoring program should be emailed to training@nj-ahi.com. DO NOT SEND TO OR CC ANY OTHER SCHOOL EMAIL.
SENDING REPORTS IN FOR CREDIT
Students should email six (6) reports at a time to training@nj-ahi.com. Please be aware emails are checked weekly, not daily. Reports 1 through 6 should be attached to one email, and then 6 through 12 should be attached to a second email. If the reports are too big to send, the reports can be sent in multiple emails. Reports that have a downloadable link will NOT be accepted. All reports must be attached to an email in PDF format. There are no exceptions. Students may opt to download reports to a thumb drive and mail or bring them to the school.
Emails MUST include STUDENT’s full name. For convenience, STUDENTS can click on the below button to generate an email to submit report(s).
***To receive credit for training inspections, students must submit a training report for each inspection completed. For licensing, students will need to include 3 to 6 of these training reports with their application.***
ALL emails sent to training@nj-ahi.com are reviewed only on Sundays during normal class dates and times.
Please direct all questions regarding the Field Mentoring Program to training@nj-ahi.com. This ensures your inquiries are promptly addressed and allows us to effectively track and manage all field mentoring program communications. Please do not send or CC inquiries to any other email address.
CERTIFICATION OF DIRECT ON-SITE SUPERVISION FORM ("PAGE 9")
The Students must fill out the Student Field Mentoring form, available for download by clicking the link below, in addition to the Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”). This form is in the form of an Excel spreadsheet and must be completed and submitted along with the Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”). The spreadsheet must be submitted as a functional Excel spreadsheet. If you do not have access to Excel, you can fill it out using Google Sheets, which is free. Instructions on how to do this can be found by clicking the link below.form (“page 9”) is needed to apply for your Home Inspection License and for students to receive their course certificates.
It is the STUDENT’s responsibility at the completion of the STUDENT’s field training to fill out the Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”) in its entirety for EACH TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (FTI).
Each FTI needs a separate Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”), and each form should pertain to the specific field training inspections carried out with that particular FTI. For example, if a student conducts twelve (12) inspections under the guidance of two (2) different field trainers, they will need to fill out two (2) Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”) in total – one for each trainer.
The student should ensure the form is signed at the conclusion of their FINAL field training inspection with that specific FTI. You can view the “Page 9’s” forms and a sample of how to correctly complete them by clicking below.
ALL REPORTS AND CERTIFICATION OF DIRECT ON-SITE SUPERVISION FORM(s) (PAGE 9) MUST BE SCANNED, SUBMITTED IN PDF FORMAT (NO CELL PHONE PICTURES). NO CERTIFICATES WILL BE COMPLETE UNTIL REPORTS, AND PAGE 9’s ARE RECEIVED. ALL PAGE 9’s MUST BE “WET” SIGNED.
REQUIRED SUBMISSION OF STUDENT FIELD TRAINING LOG
Students must fill out the Student Field Mentoring Training Log, available for download by clicking the link below, in addition to the Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”). This form is in the form of an Excel spreadsheet and must be completed and submitted along with the Direct On-Site Supervision form (“page 9”). The spreadsheet must be submitted as a functional Excel spreadsheet. If you do not have access to Excel, you can fill it out using Google Sheets, which is free. Instructions on how to do this can be found by clicking the link below.
OUTSIDE FIELD MENTORING
According to the New Jersey Administrative Code 13:40 – 16.6, all students are required to complete 40 hours of field training to meet the field mentoring requirement. This training includes a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid field-based inspections, conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed home inspector. To receive credits for the inspections they MUST be provided by the school administering the approved course of study.
If students wish to use an outside Field Trainer Instructor (FTI), they can do so provided there is no cost to the school and the FTI is vetted and approved by NJAHI® prior to their first inspection.
To use an outside FTI, students will need to have the prospective FTI fill out the NJAHI® OUTSIDE FIELD TRAINING INSTRUCTOR AUTHORIZATION FORM. This form, available for download through the below link, must be filled out completely signed with a “WET” signature, and submitted to the school IN PDF FORMAT before the first inspection with the outside FTI.
All inspection reports, along with corresponding “Page 9’s”, must be submitted to NJAHI®. This is a prerequisite for receiving their Field Training Certificate.
HOME INSPECTION SOFTWARE
Students should use home inspection software to create their home inspection training reports for each training inspection they attend. Reports must be completed upon completion of each inspection. Waiting until multiple inspections are completed before finishing reports is problematic and not reflective of how professional home inspectors operate. This practice increases the inspector’s liability and does a disservice to the client because it can lead to inaccuracies, and forgotten or overlooked details.
Students should purchase or obtain a training version of home inspection software. We recommend using the 3D Inspection System and have provided a link to their website and other software that students can try by clicking the button below. If using a training version of home inspection software, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the software they are using allows them to create a complete home inspection report.
The 3D Inspection System provides students with a link to use a fully operative version for 10 weeks. It is also available for purchase, along with the 3D Master Inspector Home Inspection Formset, which includes over 17,000 home inspection narratives and disclaimers. The cost is significantly discounted and only available to students of NJAHI®
GETTING YOUR CERTIFICATES
To obtain your certificates from the school, you must complete all classroom and field mentoring training, and submit all field training reports and page 9’s. Once submitted, the school will review all the documents/reports, approve them, and update your information in the new IGX system. This process must be completed before we can generate your certificates, and it typically takes between one and two weeks after submitting all your documentation.
To ensure your application is reviewed by the HIAC, you must submit all documentation to the HIAC at least 10 business days in advance. It is essential to plan accordingly, as we will be unable to generate your certificates if you submit the required documents just days before the HIAC meeting. If you aim to submit your application to the HIAC, all page 9’s and reports must be submitted to the school four weeks prior to the HIAC meeting that you want your application reviewed at. This allows enough time for the school to process your paperwork, generate your certificates, send them to you, and enable you to submit your application in a timely manner to the HIAC for review.
NJAHI® STUDENT FIELD MENTORING GUIDELINES
It is important to note that we will be teaching you while you are shadowing us. We will be talking with you about our inspection process, what defects we see, and other important tips of the trade. Please hold onto any questions until the end of the inspection or a natural pause in the action. Asking the inspector multiple questions during the inspections can disrupt the inspector’s flow. Our field training is designed so that all your questions should be answered during the course of the inspection, so just wait to see if your question gets answered. If not, ask at the end of the inspection. We recommend that you write your questions down. Also, remember to never ask questions in front of the client or realtor. They sometimes feel it detracts from them and the inspection.
Make sure you dress professionally (no t-shirts with a sports logo, offensive content, etc.). You are representing yourself as a home inspector, but you are also representing the company. Looking the part is an important skill to develop to be successful. If you take the job seriously, then your clients will too.
The inspector may quiz you while you are shadowing, so be ready! The course is interactive!
Learn as much as you can. Experience is the best way to learn how to be a home inspector. Make sure you come away with something new every time. We are here to help you out!
Students are not permitted to fly drones during inspections.
STUDENTS must remember that it is not uncommon for dates and times of home inspections to change or even be canceled. This happens for a variety of reasons and is beyond the control of the school.
It is the STUDENT’s responsibility to check SuperSaas.com daily for changes, and STUDENTS must check SuperSaas the DAY OF THE INSPECTION IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO LEAVING to ensure that the inspection is still scheduled.
1) All inspections are subject to cancellation, this does not happen often but does happen for various reasons and is beyond the control of the school. It is the STUDENTS responsibility to check SuperSaas.com the DAY OF THE INSPECTION to ensure that the inspection is still scheduled.
2) STUDENT should bring Notebook, Pen, Flashlight, Camera & GFCI Outlet Tester **STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN INSPECTION PICTURES**
3) STUDENT should arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the inspection is scheduled. STUDENTS arriving late reflects badly on the school, the FTI company, and is disruptive to the inspection. STUDENTS should make they allow adequate travel time. THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARRIVE LATE FOR AN INSPECTION WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
4) STUDENT should wait in their car until the FTI arrives. STUDENTS ARE NOT TO APPROACH CLIENT OR REALTOR.
5) PARKING – STUDENTS SHOULD NOT park in front of the home. Spots are reserved for the FTI, the clients, realtors, workers etc.
6) STUDENT is responsible for obtaining the buyer’s name at the time of inspection. This information is required for your NJ license application. This should be obtained from the FTI ONLY! STUDENT SHOULD NOT ask client or realtor for any information.
7) STUDENT SHOULD NOT talk to the real estate agents, buyers or sellers unless told to do so. STUDENTS shouldn’t be answering questions about the home inspection while shadowing. It is important to learn as much as you can and talking to the clients about the inspection can disrupt the FTI while on the job. Please refer all questions to the FTI if you are questioned by clients.
8) If a STUDENT needs to cancel their reservation for any reason they must cancel it in SuperSaas. If they are canceling THE DAY OF the inspection, they MUST notify the FTI via PHONE/TEXT and cancel in SuperSaas. If a STUDENT does not show up for their reservation 2 times WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE, they will lose all credits and will be unable to reserve inspections on their own. STUDENTS will then have to email a request to training@nj-ahi.com to make a reservation from that point on. Should the STUDENT not show up for a schedule inspection a third time WITHOUT NOTIFYING ANYONE will be grounds for removal from the Field Mentoring Program.
9) A Training Report must be completed that meets the requirements of the N.J. Home Inspector Standards of Practice (N.J. A.C.13:40-15.2.) for each inspection. It should be noted that each training report must include the STUDENTS NAME, FULL SITE ADDRESS, DATE OF INSPECTION & CLIENTS NAME. All training reports should be sent via email to training@nj-ahi.com and must be attached in PDF format. Reports that have a downloadable link will not be accepted.
10) STUDENT should follow the FTI’s direction throughout the inspection process. Only assist with the inspection at his explicit request. STUDENT should work with or behind the FTI NOT in FRONT.
11) STUDENT acknowledges that attendance of this field training is done at STUDENTS own risk and agrees to follow safe inspection practices.
12) STUDENT is not allowed to climb ladders or put themselves in an unsafe situation. If STUDENT feels they are in an unsafe situation then they must immediately inform the FTI of such.
13) STUDENT must return all systems and components to their original position/status before they leave the location. This includes restoring thermostat settings, GFCI outlets, panel covers, furnishings, clothes, belongings, etc.
14) STUDENT MUST clean any spills, dirt, messes that they make at the location before leaving the location.
15) STUDENT WILL NOT Smoke, eat, drink, or use a cell phone while at the inspection site.
16) STUDENT WILL NOT ask realtors for their business cards or any other information. The realtor is the FIELD TRAINERS point of contact. The field trainer is allowing STUDENTS as a courtesy to be on THEIR inspection. STUDENTS are not on inspections to market themselves or solicit business.
17) STUDENTS are not permitted to fly drones during inspections.
18) NJAHI has a ZERO tolerance for the use of Alcohol or Drugs. If a STUDENT is found to be under the influence of Alcohol or Drugs during an inspection they will immediately be removed from the program. No exceptions.
STUDENT has six (6) months from the time they receive access to the Field Training Online Scheduler to complete their field mentoring inspections. All STUDENT’S will receive an additional three (3) month grace period to complete their required training inspections. During the three (3) month grace period, STUDENT’s will be required to pay $50 per inspection. If after nine (9) months from the time STUDENT’S have received access to the Field Training Online Scheduler, the STUDENT still has not completed the Field Mentoring Training Program, they will receive an incomplete and removed from the program unless STUDENT applies for an extension. Any requests for extensions must be made in writing prior to the end of their three (3) month grace period. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
