(a) General requirements for education offerings.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors may approve or disapprove all course offerings for qualifying education and continuing education.
   2. (B) The approval process shall apply to course content, facilities, text, course delivery mechanism, and other materials utilized in the offering and instructors.
   3. (C) The board may, at its sole discretion, employ the services of an advisory education panel for the purpose of reviewing educational offerings for quality, content, and qualifications of instructors.

2. (2) Time requirements for the purpose of all educational offerings include:

   1. (A) A class hour defined as sixty (60) minutes, of which at least fifty (50) minutes are instruction attended by the student; and
   2. (B) The prescribed number of class hours includes time for examinations.

3. (3) Credit for class hour requirements may be obtained only from the following providers:

   1. (A) Colleges or universities;
   2. (B) Community or junior colleges;
   3. (C) Home inspector or home inspector-related organizations;
   4. (D) State or federal agencies or commissions;
   5. (E) Proprietary schools;
   6. (F) Providers approved by the board; or
   7. (G) The American Society of Home Inspectors.

4. (4)

   1. (A) Distance education is defined as any education process based on the geographical separation of student and instructor.
   2. (B) Components of distance education include synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid.
   3. (C)

(i) In synchronous educational offerings, the instructor and students interact simultaneously online, video chat or live webinar, or web-based meeting.

1. (ii) Synchronous courses provide for instruction and interaction substantially the same as onsite classroom courses.

   1. (iii) Synchronous courses meet class hour requirements If they comply with subdivisions (a)(2) and (3) of this section.

   2. (D)

      1. (i) In asynchronous educational offerings, the instructor and student interaction are nonsimultaneous; the students progress at their own pace and follow a structured course content and quiz/exam schedule.
      2. (ii) An asynchronous distance education course is acceptable to meet class hour requirements if:

(a)

1. (1) (a)(1) The course provides interaction.
2. (2) (2) Interaction is a reciprocal environment where the student has verbal or written communication with the instructor; and

(b)

1. (1) (b)(1) Content approval is obtained from the board or an accredited college, community college, or university that offers distance education programs and is approved or accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

2. (2) (2) Nonacademic credit college courses provided by a college shall be approved by the board; and

   1. (c) (c) Course delivery mechanism approval is obtained from one of the following sources:
3. (1) (1) A college or university that qualifies for content approval in subdivision (a)(4)(D)(ii)(b) of this section that awards academic credit for the distance education course; or

4. (2) (2) A qualifying college or university for content approval with a distance education delivery program that approves the course design and delivery that incorporates interactivity.

   1. (iii) If the certification of the course delivery mechanism expires prior to the board’s expiration date of the course, the course will not be accepted for credit until the provider can provide an updated certification.

   2. (E)

      1. (i) Hybrid courses, also known as blended courses, are learning environments that allow both in-person and online (synchronous or asynchronous) interaction.
      2. (ii) Hybrid courses meet class hour requirements if each of its sessions meet the requirement for the delivery method employed:

(b) (b) Synchronous course sessions meet subdivisions (a)(2) and (3) of this section; and

1. (c) (c) Asynchronous course sessions must meet subdivisions (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4)(D) of this section.

2. (5)

   1. (A) A list of approved education providers and courses is available on the board’s website.

   2. (B) If a course is taken that is not on that list, it may be submitted to the board for individual consideration by submitting the following:

      1. (i) A course completion certificate;
      2. (ii) A timed outline provided by the education provider; and
      3. (iii) A course description from the education provider.

3. (6)

   1. (A) Education course approval by the board is initially granted for a period of two (2) years provided no substantive changes in course content is made.
   2. (B) Approval may be extended by an additional two (2) years on the written request by the provider.
   3. (C) Failure to timely request an extension will result in automatic termination of the education offerings approval status.
4. (7) A provider shall apply for course approval no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of expiration of the original course approval.

5. (8)

   1. (A) All persons or providers requesting approval from the board for an education course shall submit to the board office a completed Education Course Approval Application that is found on the board’s website.

   2. (B) The application must be accompanied by the following:

      1. (i) A timed outline allocating each heading and subtopic;
      2. (ii) A copy of the course materials;
      3. (iii) Instructor resume or resumes;
      4. (iv) All course delivery mechanism approval certificates, if applicable; and
      5. (v) Applicable fees.

6. (9)

   1. (A) Upon approval, the board may assign the course a number.

   2. (B) The course provider may use the course number in the:

      1. (i) Course syllabus;
      2. (ii) All course materials; and
      3. (iii) All written advertising materials for the course.
7. (10) The board may at its discretion adopt and implement various procedures for the auditing of any offerings that have been accepted for qualifying and continuing education approval by the board.
8. (11) Substantial changes, such as a change in the agenda, published course description, or instructor made in any course shall require new approval of that course.

9. (12) Examination proctor qualifications.

   1. (A) The proctor shall not be related to the student by blood or marriage and may not be engaged in any association (personal or business) with the student.

   2. (B) The proctor may be selected from the following professions:

      1. (i) A university, college, or community college professor or instructor; or
      2. (ii) A public or private school professional (superintendent, principal, guidance counselor, librarian, etc.).
   3. (C) Proctors shall be approved in advance by the board.

10. (13) Examination proctor duties.

    1. (A)

       1. (i) The proctor shall be satisfied that the person taking the examination is the person registered for the course.
       2. (ii) This should be verified with a picture ID and another identification document (driver's license, student ID card, etc.).

    2. (B)

       1. (i) The proctor shall be in the room while the student is taking the exam.
       2. (ii) The proctor shall ensure that the student does all the work himself or herself without aids of any kind including books, notes, conversation with others, or any other external resource.
       3. (iii) If the exam calls for mathematical calculations, a nonprogrammable handheld calculator may be used.

    3. (C)

       1. (i) The proctor shall see that the student adheres to the time limit requirement specified for the examination.
       2. (ii) The examination must be completed in one (1) sitting.
       3. (iii) If the examination is interrupted for any reason, the examination can be restarted only by notifying the board that the examination was interrupted and the reason for the interruption, and the board or its designee must approve the request to resume.
    4. (D) Upon completion of the examination, the proctor shall submit a certificate indicating the verification of the identity of the student, that the examination was completed on the date assigned during the time permitted, and that the student has done all the work himself or herself without aids of any kind including books, notes, conversation with others, or any other external resource while taking the examination, including access to internet search engines or web pages other than that displaying the examination.

(b) Criteria specific to qualifying education.

1. (1) Qualifying education course requirements of education providers.

   1. (A) For purposes of this section, “course” means a course of instruction that meets the curriculum requirements of below and shall be at least seven (7) hours in length.
   2. (B) Each course shall conform with the appropriate course curriculum prescribed by subdivision (b)(2) of this section.

   3. (C)

      1. (i) An exit examination of a minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) questions covering all topics in subdivision (b)(2) of this section is required at the end of the qualifying education program.
      2. (ii) The questions shall be either multiple choice or true-false or a combination of multiple choice and true-false.
      3. (iii) Open book examinations shall not be accepted.
      4. (iv) No student shall be deemed to have successfully completed the program unless he or she has scored a minimum of seventy percent (70%) on the exit examination.

   4. (D)

      1. (i) The board shall only grant approval for courses that are part of an overall qualifying education program for a home inspector registration.
      2. (ii) An education provider must have a complete eighty-hour qualifying education program approved by the board.

   5. (E)

      1. (i) In addition to the generic requirements described in subsection (a) of this section, distance education courses intended for use as qualifying education must include a written, closed-book final examination.
      2. (ii) The examination must be proctored in person or remotely by a board-approved proctor.
      3. (iii)

(b) (b) The term “written” as used in this subdivision (b)(1)(E) means an exam that might be written on paper or administered electronically on a computer workstation or device.

1. (iv) Oral exams are not acceptable.

   1. (v) The testing must comply with the examination requirements of this section.

   2. (F)

      1. (i) No approved education provider shall advertise that it is endorsed, recommended, or accredited by the board.
      2. (ii) The education provider may indicate that the course of study has been approved by the board.
   3. (G) Each education provider shall provide a prospective student, prior to enrollment, with information that specifies the course of study to be offered, the tuition, the provider’s policy regarding refunds, any additional fee for supplies, materials, or books, and other matters that are material to the relationship between the provider and the student.
   4. (H) Each education provider shall provide certificates of completion to all students who successfully complete board-approved courses.

2. (2) Qualifying education course curriculum.

   1. (A) Qualifying education course work to obtain a registration as a home inspector shall consist of a minimum of sixty-four (64) hours of instruction and a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of field training.

   2. (B) The content for qualifying education instruction courses shall not be repetitive and shall represent a progression of instruction in that the student’s knowledge is increased in topics that include, but are not limited to:

      1. (i) Exteriors: exterior study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of siding and exterior wall covering material, flashing, and trim, including aluminum, brick, vinyl, steel, asphalt, hardboard, stucco, wood, and exterior insulation finish system;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of gutter and drainage control systems;

   1. (d) (d) Inspection of porches, steps, and railings, including the structural composition; and

(e) (e) Identification and implications of vegetation, grading, and surface drainage, including retaining walls, walkways, and driveways leading to a dwelling entrance;

1. (ii) Interiors: interior study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of step, stair, and railing defects;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of countertop, cabinet, and island defects as they pertain to a kitchen or other type room;

   1. (d) (d) Identification and inspection of interior and exterior door defects;

(f) (f) Identification and inspection of garage door defects, garage door opener defects, and garage structure defects, including fire safety and habitability;

1. (iii) Roofing: roofing study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of the roofing materials used, including asphalt, cedar shake, cedar shingle, tar, residential rolled roofing, clay or concrete tiles, slate, metal, and asbestos;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of skylights and flashing; and

   1. (d) (d) Identification of chimneys and other penetrations, including proper height and composition;

      1. (iv) Plumbing: plumbing study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and description of all drain, waste, and vent systems, including all fixtures and materials;

1. (c) (c) Identification and description of water heating systems;

   1. (d) (d) Identification and description of fuel distribution systems and materials;

(f) (f) Identification of water source and sewer distribution;

1. (v) Electrical: electrical study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of the branch distribution, including fuse boxes, breaker boxes, and subpanels;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of all overcurrent protection devices and wire type identification;

   1. (d) (d) Identification and inspection of installed lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles; and

(e) (e) Identification and inspection of safety devices, including ground fault circuit interrupters;

1. (vi) Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC): HVAC study must include the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of fuel sources and distribution;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of flue pipes and spent gas removal systems;

   1. (d) (d) Identification and inspection of all related safety devices; and

(e) (e) Identification and inspection of installed cooling systems, including central and window mounted systems;

1. (vii) Structural: structural study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of all foundation support systems, including poured concrete, concrete block, brick, stone, and wood, and all related perimeter footing systems;

1. (c) (c) Identification and inspection of water-related or seepage-related sources;

   1. (d) (d) Identification and inspection of flood control devices;

(g) (g) Identification and inspection of insulation and vapor protection systems;

1. (viii) Miscellaneous appliances: appliance study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) Identification and inspection of all major appliances, including but not limited to range, stove, oven, refrigerator, window air conditioner, washer, dryer, trash compactor and garbage disposal, and other appliances that may be part of a transaction; and

1. (ix) Standards of practice: standards of practice study must contain the following, at a minimum:

(b) (b) The current version of the American Society of Home Inspectors Code of Ethics;

1. (c) (c) Required disclosures to a client;

   1. (d) (d) Required report content;