Last week, an idea occurred to me - getting into the home energy audit business. There is a real need for this service here. I have been looking into what training is required.

There is a jumble of competing organizations in the home inspection certification business. I took the InterNACHI exam "only 40% pass" and completed with a passing grade while half asleep with no studying or other prep. Surely there is a higher standard?

It appears that in PA, I need home inspection licensing to do home energy audits.

AIA American Institute of Architects
AII American Institute of Inspectors http://www.inspection.org/
AIBD American Institute of Building Design http://www.aibd.org/ Membership $420 per year
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ASHI American Society of Home Inspectors http://www.ashi.org/
ASNT American Society for Nondestructive Testing http://www.asnt.org/certification/generalinfo.htm
BPI Building Performance Institute http://www.bpi.org/index.htm
EPBHI EXAMINATION BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTORS - National Home Inspectors Exam http://www.homeinspectionexam.org/ $225
EEBA Energy and Environmental Builders Association
IICRC Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
InterNACHI - free online entrance exam http://www.nachi.org/nie.htm "only 40% pass!"
LEED Leadership in Energy Efficient Design
NAHI National Association of Home Inspectors http://www.nahi.org/
NACHI National Association of Certified Home Inspectors membership $289 per year
NCQLP National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions
NATE North American Training Excellence
NERA National Energy Rater Association http://www.energyraters.org/
RESNET Residential Energy Services Network http://www.natresnet.org/ HERS Home Energy Rating System

Some training options:

AHIT Distance Learning Master Course $995 http://www.ahit.com/training/conted/index.cfm

Level I Infrared Thermography $1695 http://www.infraspection.com/courses_distance_learning_general.html

Infrared Inspections for NACHI Home & Building Inspectors $500

http://www.accustarlabs.com/training_classroom.php (Radon)

http://www.cmcenergy.com/ http://www.hometuneup.com/

http://www.homeenergy.org/contrainingguide/index.php#pennsylvania

Opinions sought - where does one start? What is the most important/best/most helpful home inspection nonprofit org?