Funny, you have electricians here talking about needing 1.2 to 2.0 (1 CEU = 10 hours) CEU's, every one to two years. As an inspector in the state of CA we're required to have 4.5 CEU's every three years.
Here all J-men need 15 hours code class each 3 years, plus 6 hours of 'related' class which can be a first aid course, or a OSHA class, or training on new equipment etc.
Inspectors are required to hold a licenses as well so they have to do the above to keep up their license and are required an amount of inspector specific classes, I don't know how many hours or what the class consist of.
I can see both sides of this, on one hand you are installing a new breaker why not get the right one. On the other hand a branch circuit is not being installed and you are citing them about a branch circuit requirement.
Is your area requiring AFCIs on panel swaps? I do not know what MA is doing, I still have not touched an arc fault breaker.