How to Become a Home Inspector in Your State
Every state has unique guidelines regarding professional standards for home inspection. Some states regulate home inspection and mandate specific requirements including pre-licensing course hours, state licensing and renewals, field training, and even continuing education. Others do not regulate home inspection and have no formal requirements in place.
Do you know your state’s requirements?
To prepare for your career, click on your state and find out now.
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Alabama Building Commission
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Annual
Hours of Education: 120 Hours (35/100)
Field Experience: 35 Home Inspections
Examination: NHIE & ASHI
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Alabama Building Commission
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Alaska Statutes
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: AZ State Board of Technical Registration
License Required: Yes
License Renewal:
Hours of Education: 84 Hours
Field Experience: 0
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Arizona State Board of Technical Registration
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Arkansas Home Inspection Registration Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Annual
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: 0
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Arkansas Home Inspector Registration Board
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: 0
Examination: 0
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: 0
Examination: 0
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Code of Colorado Regulations
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 40
Field Experience: 100 Inspections
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Connecticut Government, Chapter 400f
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation Board of Home Inspectors
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 140
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Delaware
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 120
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE/FABI/InterNACHI FL/CI-HPI
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Home Inspectors – Florida
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0 (Columbia County exception)
Field Experience: No
Examination: No (Columbia County exception)
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: State of Hawaii – Postsecondary Education
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Idaho Office of the Administrative Rules Coordinator
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: 2 Years
Hours of Education: 60
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE plus an Illinois-specific section
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Illinois Home Inspection
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency – Home Inspectors Licensing Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 60
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Indiana Home Inspectors Licensing Board
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Iowa College Aid Postsecondary School Authorization
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: The Kansas Board of Regents
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Kentucky Office of Occupations and Professions – Board of Home Inspectors
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 64
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every Year
Hours of Education: 90
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: The Louisiana Home Inspector Licensing Law
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Maine Department of Education
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: MD Commission of Real Estate, Appraisers, and Home Inspectors
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 72
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Maryland Department of Labor
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: MA Board of Registration of Home Inspectors
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 75 Hours
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Statues and Regulations (Home Inspectors)
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: Michigan, The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: —
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Mississippi Home Inspector Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 60
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Mississippi Home Inspector Division
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: —
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Montana Department of Labor and Industry
License Required: Registration Required
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 40 Hours OR Pass NHIE Exam
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Montana Department of Labor and Industry
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: No
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: —
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Nevada Real Estate Division: Department of Business and Industry
License Required: “Inspectors of Structure” Certification
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 150
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Nevada Real Estate Division Inspectors of Structures
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: New Hampshire Board of Home Inspectors – Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: 2 Years
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs – Home Inspection Advisory Committee
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 180 Hours OR 250 paid inspections with a licensed home inspector
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: EBPHI
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department – Home Inspector Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 3 Years
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: New Mexico Home Inspectors
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: New York Division of Licensing Services
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 140
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: New York State Home Inspector License
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: North Carolina Department of Insurance – Home Inspector Licensure Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every year
Hours of Education: 120
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: North Carolina Home Inspector Exam
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: North Dakota Secretary of State
License Required: Registration
License Renewal: Every Year
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: North Dakota Home Inspectors
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Ohio State Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 3 Years
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Ohio Home Inspector Program
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every year
Hours of Education: 90
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Oklahoma Home Inspectors Industry
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Oregon Construction Contractors Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 60
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Oregon Home Inspectors
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Regulated by Statute: Pennsylvania Trade Practice Act (Act 114 of 2000, Title 68)
License Required:
License Renewal:
Hours of Education:
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: PA Board of Private Licensed Schools
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: State of Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE OR South Carolina Exam
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: South Dakota Real Estate Commission
License Required: Registered Home Inspector (Can License after 1 year/100 inspections)
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 40
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Texas Real Estate Commission
License Required: Yes – 3 Levels – Apprentice, Real Estate and Professional R.E. Inspector
License Renewal:
Hours of Education: See complete details at the link to Texas Real Estate Commission
Field Experience:
Examination:
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Texas Real Estate Commision
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 90
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Tennessee Home Inspector Licensing Program
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal: —
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience: No
Examination: No
Continuing Ed: No
Link to State Site: —
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Vermont Secretary of State
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE or membership in NAHI or ASHI
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Vermont Secretary of State
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 35 or 70
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Washington Department of Licensing
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every 2 Years
Hours of Education: 120
Field Experience: Yes
Examination: Pass a National Exam with a Washington specific section
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Washington State Department of Licensing
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office
License Required: Yes
License Renewal: Every Year
Hours of Education: 80
Field Experience: No
Examination: NHIE
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: West Virginia Home Inspector Certification
State Regulated: Yes
State Regulating Body: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
License Required:
License Renewal:
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience:
Examination: NHIE and state-specific exam
Continuing Ed: Yes
Link to State Site: Wisconsin Gov Home Inspectors
State Regulated: No
License Required: No
License Renewal:
Hours of Education: 0
Field Experience:
Examination:
Continuing Ed:
Link to State Site: