As a home inspector, it’s your job to help your clients make an informed decision on housing by providing them with clear and detailed reporting on all areas of their property. Everything from plumbing and electrical, roofing and structure, you are the expert.
Being a home inspector can be a natural career step for those with experience in trades. Using the knowledge and skills learned on the job helps ensure credibility in home inspection reports. An added benefit of being a home inspector is that your services will be in demand throughout the year. This means no more seasonal work, or irregular shifts, or an uncertain work schedule.
The province of British Columbia recognizes the home inspection courses at Ashton College. As a licensed profession, home inspection in British Columbia was previously supervised by four separate associations, each with its own set of standards. Recent changes to the profession were implemented by Consumer Protection BC, bringing a universal standard throughout the province. The new standards will be under the banner of the CSA (Canadian Standards Association), allowing for improved oversight of the profession, as well as better consumer education.
Home Inspection is a licensed profession. Consumer Protection BC issues licences to individuals who perform home inspection services based on the requirements of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and the Home Inspector Licensing Regulation. To apply for a licence, applicants must meet the necessary requirements, including the education requirement from the designated associations or authorities to operate as a home inspector.
Upon completion of coursework, you will be required to take the Canadian Home Inspection Examination (CHIE ) to get the certification. Exams are administered online but must be taken at an approved test centre. Ashton Testing Services - rated as one of the best test centers in Canada has a long-standing relationship with home inspectors in British Columbia. Ashton Testing Services charges a flat fee of $45.00 for exams that are one to three hours in length.
Until 2009, Canadian home inspectors were not required to obtain licensing. However, this has since changed, and British Columbia became the first province in Canada to implement a mandatory home inspection license.
The Home Inspection program is an excellent program with expert teachers that can prepare you for a rewarding career in home inspection. This program gave me the freedom and the confidence to be in control of my career and it was a great investment in terms of my personal and professional development.
Djordje Lazarevic – Home Inspection, 2012
Ray Toscani has lived in the Lower Mainland since 1992. He graduated with an architectural degree from the University of Manitoba in 1986 and a Master of Urban Planning in 1991. He subsequently worked for Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) for 10 years, in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. Ray acquired further training to become Certified in Real Estate Finance (CRF), a Certified Mold Inspector, an air quality sampler as well as an EcoEnergy assessor administering the EcoEnergy and LiveSmart BC programs.
Ray previously owned a HouseMaster home inspection franchise in the Lower Mainland, and later opened his own firm, 1st Choice Inspection Services Ltd. He is an Accredited Home Inspector (AHI) with Home Inspection Association of BC (HIABC) and licensed in British Columbia with the Consumer Protection Branch.
Sasa Stojanovic is a graduate of both Belgrade University in Humanities and BCIT Home Inspection program. He’s licensed to practice home inspection in the province of British Columbia. A decade of experience in home renovation and maintenance, three years as a home inspector and his teaching background have given him lots of credentials for his current position.
Consumer Protection, BC, licence number 71967.
Licence number PI0528
Sasa Home Inspections LTD, since 2015
Lee Ottewell is the owner of Crest Building Consultancy Ltd. in Victoria. His company undertake building inspections for both residential and commercial clients, as well consulting services to government organizations (including BC Housing, VIHA etc.). He is also a volunteer inspector for the Victoria Heritage Foundation. Lee has been inspecting since 1988 and over that period has inspected thousands of buildings.
Lee is a Licensed Home Inspector with Consumer Protection BC, an Accredited Home Inspector with Home Inspectors Association BC, and a former Chartered Building Surveyor with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Having worked in the UK providing inspection services, Lee also provided architectural, project management, facilities management services for commercial clients, including projects for the refurbishment of Grade II listed buildings.
Lee has numerous academic credentials, including an Honours degree in Building Surveying (Inspecting) obtained in the UK in 1988 (in the Canada the term “building surveying” is known as “building inspecting”), and a Diploma in Building Studies. He is also a graduate of the Carson Dunlop Home Inspection program and CDW Commercial Inspection program.
