You can become a certified home inspector by navigating a training curriculum accredited by a trade organization that sets certification standards in your jurisdiction, passing an exam, and completing a required number of supervised work hours. In many jurisdictions, home inspectors must be licensed. In that case, you would have to pass the state licensing exam in addition to satisfying any certification requirements established by your governing trade organization. Certification is usually the final stage of graduated membership in a trade organization, requiring you to first navigate lesser levels before you can qualify.
The requirements to function as a home inspector differ by jurisdiction. Since the mid-1970s, there has been a movement in many countries towards standardizing the credentials of professionals working in this field. Inspectors provide a crucial service to home buyers, offering expert advice on what is often a person's biggest investment. The crucial role the home inspector plays in the stability of the housing market has led many jurisdictions to require anyone who wants to operate as an inspector to obtain a license.
Every jurisdiction has a governing trade organization that works in tandem with government regulators to set the standards for the industry. If you want to become a certified home inspector, you should first identify the organization that operates in your jurisdiction. Occasionally, there is more than one option. Pick the organization that provides the most recognized credential with a credentialing process you can both navigate and afford.
The specific requirements to become a certified home inspector will differ by jurisdiction. An example of a typical credentialing process is employed by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in the US. ASHI is perhaps the most reputable trade organization in the country with the most comprehensive credentialing program. It requires education, testing, field work, and navigating through three membership levels before you become certified.
There are no prerequisites to starting ASHI training. If you complete 20 hours of education in approved courses, you are considered an associate member and a fledgling home inspector. The courses include electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems as well as roofing, structuring, and building codes. These courses are typically offered in a traditional classroom setting and through home study.
The next level of membership requires another 20 hours of classwork, passing an exam, and completing 50 supervised inspections in the field as an intern. You must also complete a course on professional responsibility and ethical standards. The final membership level is where you become a certified home inspector.
To become certified through the ASHI, you must complete another 20 hours of course study and 250 inspections in the field under supervision. You must also pass the exam and satisfy the professional responsibility requirement. Once you become a certified home inspector under the auspices of one trade organization, you typically qualify for certification from competing organizations if you choose to apply.
