PE Home Inspection · Continuing Education

Course Catalog › Decks & Stairs

Elective · Decks & Stairs · 4 CEU Hours

Decks, Stairs, Guardrails, and Garages: Code, Safety, and Defect Inspection

Deck structure, ledger attachment failures, guardrail and stair code requirements, deck deterioration, attached garage fire separation, door openers, and reporting language. Taught by a licensed forensic & structural Professional Engineer.

4CEU Hours
$44Flat Rate ($11/hr)
LiveIn-Person or Remote
Same DayCertificate Issued

⚖ How This Course Fits Your NJ License Renewal

New Jersey requires 40 continuing education units per biennial renewal period. Eight of those must be the mandatory in-person Report Writing and Ethics & Rules units; the remaining 32 may be elective courses like this one. This course provides 4 elective CEUs toward your 40-unit requirement.

Authority: N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.14(a) and N.J.S.A. 45:8-78. Inspectors first licensed in the second year of a biennial period complete a prorated 20 units — the same 8 mandatory in-person units still apply.

Requirements Met: Elective — Decks & Stairs (4 of 32 Elective CEUs)

This is an elective course — it counts toward the 32 elective units of your biennial requirement. It does not replace the mandatory core: pair your electives with our Report Writing and Ethics & Rules courses (4 CEUs each, in-person) to cover all 8 mandatory units.

What This Course Covers

Deck structure, ledger attachment failures, guardrail and stair code requirements, deck deterioration, attached garage fire separation, door openers, and reporting language.

Curriculum below is organized in 15-minute Advisory Committee filing blocks; a detailed session agenda is available on request.

Module 1: Deck structure

60 MIN
  1. Attached garage fire separation

Module 2: Ledger attachment failures

60 MIN
  1. Door openers

Module 3: Guardrail and stair code requirements

60 MIN
  1. Reporting language

Module 4: Deck deterioration

60 MIN
  1. Applied field identification and NJ-compliant reporting language for this topic

What's Included

  • Signed attendance verification certificate, issued same day — with your name, NJ license number, course title and date, and CEU hours, ready for your renewal records and any CE audit.
  • Sponsor record retention — we keep copies of your attendance per NJ regulations, so your proof of completion is never lost.
  • Instruction by a licensed P.E. — forensic and structural engineering perspective on why defects matter structurally and legally, not just what to write.
  • Group scheduling available — sessions for 5+ inspectors at your office or a venue of your choice.

Your Instructor — Zoey (S.Y.) Tham, P.E.

Zoey is a licensed Professional Engineer specializing in forensic and structural engineering, with hands-on experience inspecting residential and commercial properties throughout New Jersey. Her courses bridge the gap between field inspection and engineering reality — helping inspectors understand why defects matter structurally and legally, not just what to write down.

Common Questions

How many CEU hours do NJ home inspectors need?
40 continuing education units each biennial license renewal period, under N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.14(a). Of those, 4 units must be Report Writing and 4 units Ethics & Rules — taken in-person through a Committee-approved course. Inspectors first licensed in the second year of a biennial period complete a prorated minimum of 20 units (the 8 mandatory in-person units still apply).
Does this course count toward the mandatory units?
No — this is an elective course. The 8 mandatory units come only from in-person Report Writing and Ethics & Rules courses. This course counts toward the remaining 32 elective units of your 40-unit biennial requirement.
Can I take this course via live remote?
Elective courses may be offered via live remote where scheduling allows; distance-learning credit is capped at 32 units per biennial period. Note your preference in the booking request and we'll confirm the format.
What documentation do I receive for my renewal records?
Same day as the course, you receive a signed attendance verification certificate listing your name, NJ license number, course title, date, and number of CEUs. Keep it for five years — the Committee performs random CE audits. We also retain sponsor copies as required by NJ regulations.
Can extra CEU hours carry over to my next renewal period?
Yes, with limits. If you complete more than the 40 required units, you may carry over up to 10 additional units into the next biennial period — but only if those units were earned in the last six months of the preceding period.
What's the most commonly cited deck ledger attachment failure?
Ledger boards attached with nails instead of lag bolts or structural screws, and missing or improperly flashed ledger-to-house connections, are the leading cause of deck collapse and a primary focus of this course.
What garage-to-house fire separation requirements are covered?
Minimum 1/2-inch drywall (5/8-inch on garage ceilings under living space) and self-closing, fire-rated doors between an attached garage and living space are reviewed, along with common violations found in older homes.
$44 Decks & Stairs · 4 CEUs
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