With a surging housing market and new technologies for scheduling, billing, and sending reports, the barriers to entry to becoming a home inspector are lower than ever. We’ve updated our home inspection licensing map for 2023. Click on any of the states below to see a breakdown of their requirements and any helpful links you may need during the licensing process. If you're considering a career change as a home inspector, Spectora also has a state-by-state comparison of the best markets to be a home inspector in.
Every state has different requirements, but getting a home inspection certification is always going to give a new inspector an edge. Spectora partners with ICA – Inspection Certification Associates, the largest and most reputable home inspection training provider to meet all of your training needs in both the United States and Canada.
Home inspectors are regulated in Alabama and must renew their license annually. As of 2021, Alabama Home Inspectors must complete 15 hours of approved continuing education annually. The Alabama Division of Construction Management is the regulating body.
License Requirements:
1). Complete 120 hours of approved home inspector education and participate in 35 home inspections OR complete 35 hours of approved home inspector education and participate in 100 home inspections.
2). Complete and file a notarized home inspector application and mail it to:
ATTENTION: HOME INSPECTORS REGISTRATION SECTION
Department of Finance/Division of Construction Management
P. O. BOX 301150
MONTGOMERY, AL 36130-1150
Or, complete the application and pay online.
3). Show proof of compliance with the American Society of Home Inspectors Standards and Ethics Examination, and show proof of compliance with the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors National Home Inspector Examination. Both tests must be completed 18 months before submitting an application.
4). Provide proof of drafting of 25 home inspection reports, 10 of which must be reviewed by a qualified home inspector.
5). Proof of insurance coverage in the amount of $250,000 for errors and omissions, and proof of liability insurance in the amount of $20,000 for injury or damage to property, $50,000 for injury or damage to any one person, and $100,000 for injury or damage, including death, to more than one person.
6) $300 registration fee payable by cashier check, money order, or bank check
Contact Info:
Phyllis Stallworth, Departmental Program Manager (334) 242-4802 phyllis.stallworth@realproperty.alabama.gov
Mailing Address
P O Box 301150
Montgomery, Al 36130-1150
Alaska home inspectors are regulated by the Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Licenses are to be renewed every 2 years and continuing education is required — 4 hours every year, or 8 hours every two years.
Inspectors in Alaska must also obtain an Alaska Business License. You can register as a new home inspector, existing home inspector, or joint registration.
The Alaska licensing application must be completed to obtain the appropriate certification.
There is a bonding requirement of $10,000 for home inspectors, effective January 1, 2015.
Home inspectors are regulated in Arizona with annual renewal. Continuing education is required – 14 hours in 1st year and 7 hours each year after.
A minimum of 84 hours of training pre-licensing is required, as well as experience requirements (30 parallel home inspections for an “inspector-in-training” license, and 100 home inspections for a home inspector license).
You must pass the National Home Inspection Exam (NHIE) to become a certified home inspector in the state.
The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration has an application fee of $175. Application forms and more info can be found here.
Inspectors are regulated in Arkansas. The Home Inspector Registration Board is the governing body and license renewal is needed annually. 80 pre-licensing hours are required, as well as 14 annual hours of CE.
As of January 1, 2023, prospective home inspectors are also required to complete an apprenticeship prior to becoming licensed. The apprenticeship training must include a minimum of three home inspections totaling no less than 10 hours. Find a list of current board-approved home inspector trainers here.
You must attend a home inspector training school with a curriculum approved by the Board, and 80 hours of classroom training. Correspondence courses or online courses are not acceptable. The Board authorized a list of schools to teach the “pre-registration” curriculum.
Read the Arkansas code law regulating the practice of home inspection in Arkansas.Licensing requirements have been updated and are effective starting January 1, 2023.
We have a free guide on how to become a California home inspector.
California home inspectors are not state-regulated. However, the California Trade practice act (enacted in 1996) prohibits unethical home inspection practices.
The law encourages courts to consider the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of ASHI and CREIA (California Real Estate Inspection Association) when determining whether an inspection meets the required standard of care.
More info can be found at the California Contractors State License Board.
24 Hour Licensing & Consumer Information: 1-800-321-2752
Home Inspectors are not regulated in the state of Colorado. A 2017 bill was narrowly shot down to require licenses. Clients and agents will want to see customer reviews and some type of training/certification.
That said, it's a competitive state and there's a lot more to starting a business than a license. Read our guide on how to become a home inspector in Colorado here.
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection, with renewal required every 2 years. 40 hours of pre-licensing is required, as well as 20 hours of CE. They list their approved home inspection schools and pre-licensing courses available.
To be eligible for a home inspector license, an applicant must:
1) Have successfully completed high school or its equivalent;
2) Have earned a home inspector intern permit and performed not less than 100 home inspections in accordance with subsection (c) of section 20-493b;
3) Have passed an oral, written, or electronic competency examination administered by the department; and
4) Paid a fee of $290.
To be eligible for a permit as a home inspector intern, an applicant must:
1) Have successfully completed high school or its equivalent
2) Have enrolled in and completed a board-approved training program
3) Have an identified supervisor who is licensed as a home inspector, is in good standing, and has agreed to perform the supervisory functions required
4) Have paid a $220 fee
The application can be found here.
Home Inspectors in Delaware are regulated by the state. The requirements differ whether you have an active license in another jurisdiction or are applying new.
To become a home inspector in Delaware, you have to apply to be a home inspector trainee if you don’t have a current license in another jurisdiction. If you are currently a licensed inspector, you can apply by endorsement.
Once you have completed a minimum of 75 inspections under supervision, you can take the exam to become licensed.
Contact Info:
Division of Professional Regulation
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, Delaware 19904
Phone – (302) 744-4500
Fax – (302) 739-2711
customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov
Florida is such a special state, we made a whole article to explain its licensing requirements!
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Pre-license requirements:
Continuing education requirements include 14 hours of board-approved education each biennium and a $105 fee.
Contact Info:
Home Inspectors Licensing Program
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Phone: 850.487.1395
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/contact-us/
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Georgia.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
But even without regulation, there's still tons of work if you want to get your business started. We've made a full guide here specific to Georgia.
There is currently no state licensing requirement to become a home inspector in the state of Hawaii.
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Idaho.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
The requirements to become a licensed home inspector:
Contact Info:
Division of Professional Regulation
320 W. Washington St.
Springfield, IL 62786
Telephone: (217) 785-0800
Fax: (217) 782-7645
See our guide for becoming an Illinois home inspector for more tips and information.
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Home Inspectors Licensing Board (Part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency).
Licensing Requirements:
Contact Info:
Tracy Hicks, Board Director
Marianna Kassenbrock, Assistant Director
E-mail: pla12@pla.IN.gov
Phone Number: (317) 234-3031
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Iowa.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Kansas.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors in Kentucky are regulated by the Board of Home Inspectors within the Office of Occupations and Professions.
Contact Info:
Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors
656 Chamberlin Avenue, Suite B
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-782-0563
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors.
They have a very helpful how to get licensed page that gives the following requirements:
Contact Info:
Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors
5211 Essen Lane, Suite 9
Baton Rouge, LA. 70809
Phone: (225) 248-1334
Email: Contact Form
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Maine.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
An applicant for a home inspector license must:
Contact Info:
500 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone: 410-230-6363
Email: appraiser@dllr.state.md.us
Home inspectors in Massachusetts are regulated by the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors, specifically the Division of Professional Licensure and the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors.
Directions on how to become an Associate Home Inspector can be found here, and include:
Directions on how to become a licensed Home Inspector can be found here, and include:
Contact Info:
Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 272-4459
Email: homeinspectorsboard@mass.gov
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Michigan.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Minnesota.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors in Mississippi are regulated by the Mississippi Home Inspector Board.
Licensing requirements and qualifications include:
Contact Info:
Mississippi Home Inspector Board
Lefleur’s Bluff Tower, Suite 300
4780 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39211
Telephone: (601) 321-6970
Email: info@mrec.state.ms.us
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Missouri.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors in Montana are regulated by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry as of January 01, 2020.
Licensing requirements and qualifications include:
Contact Info:
Montana Department of Labor & Industry
Registration Section
PO Box 8011
Helena, MT 59604
Telephone: (406) 444-7734
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Nebraska.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors in Nevada are regulated by the Nevada Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry.
Initial certification requirements include:
Contact Info:
Inspectors of Structures
Telephone: (775) 684-1904
Home Inspectors in New Hampshire are regulated by the Board of Home Inspectors – Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Requirements are listed on their application as follows:
Contact Info:
Office of Professional Licensure & Certification
7 Eagle Square
Concord NH, 03301
Customer Support:
Phone: 603-271-2152
New Jersey Home Inspectors are governed by the Home Inspection Advisory Committee.
Requirements to become a home inspector in New Jersey:
Contact Info:
Keith Miller
Executive Director
P.O. Box 45043
Newark, New Jersey 07101
Home Inspectors in New Mexico are licensed and regulated through the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.
The licensing application can be found here.
Contact Info:
Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
5500 San Antonio Dr., Albuquerque, NM 87109
Telephone: (505) 476-4500
Email: Contact Form
Home Inspectors are licensed and regulated through the Division of Licensing Services.
The qualifications and documents required are as follows:
Contact Info:
Mailing Information:
NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services
PO Box 22001
Albany NY 12201-2001
Phone Information: (518) 474-4429
For more details, check out our guide on how to become a home inspector in New York.
To become a home inspector in North Carolina, you'll have to become licensed. Home Inspectors in North Carolina are governed by the Department of Insurance – Home Inspector Licensure Board.
Home Inspectors must complete the following pre-license requirements:
Contact Info:
Home Inspector Licensure Board
325 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Telephone: (919) 647-0000
Email: Contact Form
Home Inspectors in North Dakota are regulated by the Secretary of State.
To become a registered home inspector you must:
Contact Info:
Secretary of State
600 E Boulevard Avenue Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
Telephone: 701-328-2900
Home Inspectors are currently regulated by the state of Ohio.
The state government voted into law in January 2019 that all home inspectors must be licensed if they are being compensated by clients. This bill became effective in November 2019, and the state began accepting applications in 2021.
To become a licensed home inspector in Ohio, you must:
Contact Info:
Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing
77 South High Street, 2oth Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 466-4100
Home inspectors in Oklahoma are regulated by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.
Requirements include:
Contact Info:
Oklahoma Construction Industries Board – Home Inspector Division
2401 NW 23rd, Suite 2F
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Phone: (405) 521-6550
Home inspectors are regulated by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.
The certification process includes:
Contact Info:
Oregon Construction Contractors Board
P.O. Box 14140
Salem, Oregon 97309-5052
Telephone: (503) 378-4621
Home Inspectors in Pennsylvania are not formally licensed by the state. However, to become a home inspector in Pennsylvania, there are a few steps you must take.
Home inspectors are regulated by the Attorney General’s Office. The state has a rule that to be a home inspector the individual must be a member of a non-profit organization.
Additionally, Pennsylvania home inspectors are required to carry Errors and Ommissions and General Liability Insurance.
See their resources on consumer protection.
Effective July 1, 2013 Home Inspectors in Rhode Island need to be licensed by the Contractors Registration and Licensing Board.
Requirements for eligibility include:
Contact Info:
Contractors Registration and Licensing Board
560 Jefferson Blvd Suite 200
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 921-1590
Home Inspectors in the state of South Carolina must be licensed with the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission.
Application instructions and requirements include:
It's important to note that in South Carolina, licenses expire on June 30th of each even-numbered year.
Contact Info:
South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, SC 29211
Phone: (803) 896-4696
Email: Contact.RBC@llr.sc.gov
Home Inspectors are regulated by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission.
To become a registered home inspector you must:
To become a licensed home inspector you must:
Contact Info:
South Dakota Real Estate Commission
221 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 101
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3600
Email: dlr.realestate@state.sd.us
Home inspectors in the state of Tennessee are regulated by the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
They have a very helpful “How to Get a License” page that gives the following requirements:
Forms and Downloads can be found here.
Contact Info:
Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance
500 James Robertson Pkwy
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2241
Texas is such a special state, we made an entire article to explain its state requirements!
Home inspectors in the state of Texas are regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). They have some of the most thorough oversight and documentation in the country, so you can find links below.
The application to become an Apprentice Inspector can be found here.
The application to become a Real Estate Inspector can be found here.
Contact Info:
Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
P.O. Box 12188
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 459-6544
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by the state of Utah.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors are regulated by the Vermont Secretary of State.
Steps for Applying by Certification:
Steps for Applying by Examination:
1. Submit a completed application and the $100 non-refundable application fee, payable to the Vermont Secretary of State.
2. Submit evidence that you completed 80 hours of education through an approved course provider.
3. Submit evidence that you passed the National Home Inspector Examination, administered through Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP).
4. If applicable, provide Verification of Good Standing from your initial state of licensure and your most recent state of licensure.
Contact Info:
Vermont Secretary of State
(802) 828-3228
Virginia has transitioned from a voluntary certification program to a mandatory licensure program.
Follow this link for training modules, programs, and licensure requirements.
Contact Info:
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive, Fourth Floor
Richmond, VA 23233-1485
(804) 367-8500
dpor@dpor.virginia.gov
Home Inspectors in the state of Washington must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Licensing.
They have a very helpful How to Get Your License page that outlines the following requirements:
Contact Info:
Washington State Department of Licensing
PO Box 3917
Seattle, WA 98124
(360) 664-6487
DOLINTHomeInspectors@dol.wa.gov
Home Inspectors are currently not regulated by Washington D.C.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.
Home Inspectors in West Virginia are regulated by the West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office.
To become a certified home inspector in West Virginia:
Contact Info:
Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety
State Fire Marshal’s Office
1207 Quarrier St, 2nd Floor
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 558-2191
Home inspectors are regulated by the state of Wisconsin, through the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
The requirements to become a Wisconsin home inspector are outlined in Subchapter X:
Contact Info:
Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 266-2112
dsps@wisconsin.gov
Home inspectors are not currently regulated by the state of Wyoming.
Liability insurance and certification through a reputable home inspection training association is recommended.