| (a) Education requirements. (1) To be accepted for inspector licensing, a course must meet each of the following requirements. (A) The course was devoted to a subject listed in Texas Occupations Code, Section 1102.001(5) or this section; provided, however, no more than 30 cumulative classroom hours in course credit may be accepted by the commission for inspection-related business, legal, report writing or ethics courses. (B) The student was present in the classroom for the hours of credit granted by the course provider, or completed makeup in accordance with the requirements of the provider, or by applicable commission rule. (C) Successful completion of a final examination or other form of final evaluation was a requirement for receiving credit from the provider. (D) The daily course presentation did not exceed ten hours. (E) The course was offered by one of the following providers: (i) a school accredited by the commission; (ii) a school accredited by an inspector regulatory agency of another state; (iii) a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association, such as the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or its equivalent, or by a recognized national or international accrediting body; (iv) a unit of federal, state or local government; (v) a nationally recognized building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire code organization; (vi) a professional trade association; or (vii) an entity whose courses are approved and regulated by an agency of this state. (2) The term "code organization" means a non-profit organization whose members develop and advocate scientifically based codes and standards relating to one or more of the systems found in an improvement to real estate. The term "professional trade association" means a nonprofit, cooperative, and voluntarily joined association of business or professional competitors that is designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or professional problems and in promoting the common interest of its members. (3) Except as provided to the contrary by this section, the review and acceptance of correspondence courses or courses offered by alternative delivery systems such as computers will be conducted in the manner prescribed by §535.62 of this title (relating to Acceptable Courses of Study). Correspondence courses are acceptable only if offered by an accredited college or university. (4) Providers may obtain prior approval of a classroom course by submitting the following items to the commission: (A) a course description, including the number of hours of credit to be awarded; (B) a timed course outline; (C) a copy of any textbook, course outline, syllabus or other written course material provided to students; (D) a cross reference to the course material which demonstrates in a manner that is satisfactory to the commission where the required subject matter is covered in the course; and (E) a copy of the written final examination which measures a student's mastery of the course. (5) The following subjects shall be considered core real estate inspection courses for purposes of additional education requirements under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section. (A) Foundations, which shall include the following topics: (i) site analysis/location; (ii) grading; (iii) foundations; (iv) flat work; (v) material; (vi) foundation walls; (vii) foundation drainage; (viii) foundation waterproofing and damp proofing; (ix) columns; and (x) under floor space. (B) Roof Systems, which shall include the following topics: (i) review - rafters, roof joist, ceiling joist, collar ties, knee walls, purling, trusses, wood I joist, roof sheathing, steel framing (ii) roof water control; (iii) skylights; (iv) flashing; (v) ventilation/non-ventilation; (vi) attic access; (vii) re-roofing; (viii) slopes -step roof/low slope/near flat; (ix) materials -asphalt, fiberglass, wood shake, wood shingle, slate, clay tile, concrete tile, fiber cement (asbestos cement, mineral cement), metal, roll, build up, modified bitumen, synthetic rubber (EPDM), plastic (PVC); and (x) valleys. (C) Framing, which shall include the following topics: (i) flashing; (ii) wood frame - stick/balloon; (iii) roof structure - rafters/trusses; (iv) floor structure; (v) porches/decks/steps/landings/balconies; (vi) doors; (vii) ceilings; (viii) interior walls; (ix) stairways; (x) guardrails/handrails/balusters; (xi) fireplace/chimney; (xii) sills/columns/beams/joist/sub-flooring; (xiii) wall systems/structure -headers; (xiv) rammed earth; (xv) straw bale; (xvi) ICF; (xvii) panelized; (xviii) masonry; (xix) wood I joist; (xx) roof sheathing; (xxi) wood wall; (xxii) steel wall; (xxiii) wood structural panel; and (xxiv) conventional concrete. (D) Electrical Systems, which shall include the following topics: (i) general requirements, equipment location and clearances; (ii) electrical definitions; (iii) services; (iv) branch circuit and feeder requirements; (v) wiring methods; (vi) power and lights distribution; (vii) devices and light fixtures; and (viii) swimming pool. (E) HVAC Systems which shall include the following topics: (i) heating; (ii) ventilation; (iii) air conditioning; and (iv) evaporative coolers. (F) Plumbing, which shall include the following topics: (i) water supply systems; (ii) fixtures; (iii) drains; (iv) vents; (v) water heaters (gas and electric); (vi) gas lines; and (vii) hydro-therapy equipment. (G) Building Enclosure, which shall include the following topics: (i) review of foundation and roofing relation; (ii) review of flashing; (iii) cladding; (iv) windows/glazing; (v) weather barriers; (vi) vapor barriers; (vii) insulation; (viii) energy codes; and (ix) ingress/egress. (H) Appliances, which shall include the following topics: (i) dishwasher; (ii) food waste disposer; (iii) kitchen exhaust hood; (iv) range, cooktop, and ovens (electric and gas); (v) microwave cooking equipment; (vi) trash compactor; (vii) bathroom exhaust fan and heater; (viii) whole house vacuum systems; (ix) garage door operator; (x) doorbell and chimes; and (xi) dryer vents. (I) Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics, which shall include the following topics: (i) review of general principals; (ii) inspection guidelines for structural systems; (iii) inspection guidelines for mechanical systems; (iv) inspection guidelines for electrical systems; (v) inspection guidelines for optional systems; (vi) ethics; and (vii) legal (J) Standard Report Form/Report Writing, which shall include the following topics: (i) required use of report form REI 7A-0; (ii) allowed reproductions; (iii) allowed changes; Cont'd... |
