PE Home Inspection · Continuing Education

Course Catalog › Ethics

NJ Mandatory Core · In-Person · 4 CEU Hours

Ethics, Rules, and Professional Responsibility in Home Inspection

NJ ethics framework, conflict of interest scenarios, prohibited compensation, disciplinary case studies, and how ethical obligations translate directly into report integrity. Taught by a licensed forensic & structural Professional Engineer.

4CEU Hours
$44Flat Rate ($11/hr)
In-PersonAs NJ Requires
Same DayCertificate Issued

⚖ How This Course Fits Your NJ License Renewal

New Jersey requires 40 continuing education units per biennial renewal period. Of those, 4 units must be Report Writing and 4 units must be Ethics & Rules — both completed in-person through a course approved by the NJ Home Inspection Advisory Committee (HIAC). This 4-hour course is built to fulfill the mandatory Ethics & Rules requirement in one session.

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: Mandatory Core — Ethics & Rules

This is one of the two state-mandated core courses every NJ licensed home inspector must complete each renewal cycle. It cannot be replaced by electives or online hours. Pair it with our Report Writing course (4 CEUs) to complete all 8 mandatory in-person units — both can be scheduled on the same day.

Course Curriculum — 16 × 15-Minute Blocks

Structured as a detailed 15-minute-block agenda in the format required for Advisory Committee filing per N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.14(g). Built on real New Jersey disciplinary cases and practice scenarios.

Module 1 · Ethics Framework & Impartiality

0:00 – 1:00
  1. Welcome; why ethics matter; NJ HI Code framework
  2. NJ HI ethics framework — statutes, regulations, ASHI/InterNACHI codes
  3. Conflict of interest scenarios
  4. Disclosure and impartiality requirements

Module 2 · Client Duties & Prohibited Conduct

1:00 – 2:00
  1. Confidentiality of client information
  2. Pre-inspection agreement ethics
  3. Referral fees, kickbacks, and prohibited compensation
  4. Marketing & advertising ethics (NJ-specific)

Module 3 · Case Studies

2:15 – 3:00 (15-min break at 2:00)
  1. Case Study — Inspector-contractor financial relationships
  2. Case Study — Repair recommendations and conflicts
  3. Case Study — Real-estate-agent pressure

Module 4 · Integrity, Competence & Discipline

3:00 – 4:00
  1. Reporting integrity — ethical write-ups
  2. Continuing professional competence
  3. Disciplinary cases — lessons learned
  4. Q&A; evaluation; attendance verification

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).
Can I take my NJ home inspector CE hours online?
Partially. Elective units may be earned through Committee-approved distance learning, capped at 32 units per biennial period. The mandatory 4 Report Writing and 4 Ethics units must be completed in-person.
Can I take both mandatory courses on the same day?
Yes. The two mandatory 4-CEU courses (Report Writing, and Ethics & Rules) are commonly scheduled as morning and afternoon sessions of a single day, completing all 8 mandatory in-person units at once. Mention it in your booking request and we'll arrange the schedule.
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.
$44 Ethics · 4 CEUs
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