REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME AN FLORIDA HOME INSPECTOR

• You must complete a 120-Hr. home inspection course.
• Students can choose between four different state-approved exams.
• Applicants must submit to a background check with fingerprints, but a criminal record doesn’t exclude candidates.
• New Inspectors must carry 300K in GL insurance and Errors and Omissions Insurance (WE PROVIDE INSURANCE!)
• The average inspector in Florida makes between 60-180K according to indeed.
  Average Florida Home Inspector Salary

FLORIDA CONTINUEING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

• 14 hours every two years

FLORIDA STATE LICENSING BOARD

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation  is in charge of licensing new Florida Home Inspectors

FULL EXPLAINATION OF WHAT THIS MEANS

Ready to become a home inspector in Florida? No Problem, we have got you covered. These are the steps you need to follow to be an inspector in FL. Just follow the list below to meet the Florida home inspector education requirements. Having these requirements is great for our industry for a couple reasons. Even though it is a bit of a pain for you briefly it limits your competition as others will not put forth the energy to meet these requirements. This means fewer home inspectors and an ability for you to charge more for your services with less competition.

Other than meeting Florida’s home inspector education requirements there are no pre-requisites.

Florida simply requires education, an exam, application and a fingerprinting /background check.

• Complete a Florida approved 120 Hour Home Inspection Course (Offered by US-Home Inspector Training)
  120 hours is the coarse hour credits for completing the various training courses and may not actually take this long to complete. Also completing training from our established and well known organization will help set you apart from inspectors that complete training with other organizations. Our training will prepare you to be confident in your work and allow you to excel as an inspector. These courses will also prepare you for any national or state exam requirements.
• Take and pass your examination
  You may choose any 1 of these 4 exams:
  • Association of Construction Industry’s Certified Home & Property Inspector Examination (CI-HPI)

       The ACICP website does not list the number of questions on the exam, but it does state that students have 2 hours to complete the test. Test takers can choose to take the exam in person for $250 or online for $150.

• • InterNACHI Florida Home Inspector Licensing Examination – (Recommended)

        This exam consists of 120 questions. Test takers have 1 hour to complete the exam, and each attempt costs $125. The test is offered in person and can be taken at one of several proctored locations.

• • National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE)

This exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions (25 of which are not scored). Test takers are given 4 hours to complete the exam, and each attempt costs roughly $225 (depending on your location).

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  >Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI)

This exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions covering the various areas of home inspection. Test takers have 2 hours to complete the exam, and each test costs $200. The test is only offered in person. Testing site locations are available after registration.

If you do not pass the exam you will have to wait 30 days and then you are allowed to re-take it. So practice re-taking tests and quizzes while waiting for the exam. We also recommend taking the exam asap after completing training.

• Complete a background check with fingerprints.

Florida requires all Home Inspector applicants submit to a criminal background check. The screening costs about $55. The state reviews applications on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with a criminal record are not automatically rejected but it may require some additional explanation and paperwork.

• You must Provide Proof of General Liability Insurance of at least $300,000  we insure all of our inspectors as part of your membership. This is why many choose us! We got you covered. Our membership cost is less than you would pay simply buying insurance on your own! With us you are insured for general liability and errors and omissions. This is also a valuable sales tool to use. It lets Realtors and customers know you are a serious inspector and if anything bad happens you have a safety net in place.

Accidents and mistakes happen, it’s part of life. To protect you and us from large and career ending lawsuits Florida requires insurance. Also you will find in all states new home builders and large condo complexes require inspectors to be insured just to come onto their property and provide proof.

• Apply Online or send in a Physical Application

The first step in getting your Florida Home Inspector License is to submit your application.

Florida Online Application

The application is sent to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They allow you to apply online or mail in an application. Registration fees are $230, waivers of fees can exist for low-income, active military and veterans.

Florida Application Checklist

People ask “what are the requirements to become an inspector in Florida”? Well now you know it all.

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A DELAWARE HOME INSPECTOR

• Delaware home inspection education hours: 140 hours
• Exam required: NHIE
• Home Inspections: 75 under “active oversight”
• Insurance Requirements: E&O insurance equal to or greater than $50,000, and liability insurance equal to or greater than $250,000
• Notarized application and background check are required
• Fingerprints are not required
• No minimum age requirement
• High School Diploma or GED is required

Home Inspection License Expiration: 8/31 every two years (odd)

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CONNECTICUT HOME INSPECTOR

• Connecticut home inspection education hours: 40 hours
• Exam Required:  NHIE
• Home Inspections: 100, with first 10 being directly supervised
• Application Fee: $220 (intern permit)/$290 (license) (other fees may apply)
• Insurance Requirements: E&O insurance equal to or greater than $50,000, and liability insurance equal to or greater than $250,000
• Notarized application is required
• Background is not required, but need to disclose
• Fingerprints are not required
• No minimum age requirement
• High School Diploma or GED is required

Home Inspection License Expiration: 6/30 every two years (odd)

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A COLORADO HOME INSPECTOR

• There are no current requirements to become a home inspector in Colorado
• Home Inspection License Expiration: N/A

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CALIFORNIA HOME INSPECTOR

• There are no current California home inspector license requirements, however many inspectors elect to join the California Real Estate Inspection Association.
• Home Inspection License Expiration: 6/30 every two years (even) for CREIA members.

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME AN ARKANSAS HOME INSPECTOR

• Arkansas home inspection education hours: 80 hours
• Exam Required: NHIE and ASHI
• Application Fee: $250.00 per year (for applications received between July 1 and December 31, the fee is $375) (other fees may apply)
• Insurance Requirements: General liability insurance of at least $100,000
• Notarized application is required. Background is not required but need to disclose.
• Fingerprints are not required
• High School Diploma or GED is required

Home Inspection License Expiration: Annual, expires December 31st (file by December 1st)

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME AN ARIZONA HOME INSPECTOR

• Arizona home inspection education hours: 84 hours
• Home inspections required for certification: 30 parallel inspections
• Exam Required: NHIE
• Application Fee: $100 (other fees may apply)
• Insurance Requirements: E&O insurance of $200,000 in aggregate and $100,000 per occurrence. Bond: $25,000.
• Notarized application is not required
• Background check is not required; however, applicant should disclose
• Fingerprinting is required

Home Inspection License Expiration: Annually from day after issuance

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A ALASKA HOME INSPECTOR

• Home Inspector Registration Application Packet
• Exam Required: ASHI/NHIE/ICC (depending on what you want to inspect)
• Application Fee: $300 (other fees may apply)
• Insurance Requirements: Surety bond:  $10,000; Liability insurance: $20,000 property damage, $50,000 injury or death to one person, $100,000 injury or death to more than one person.
• Notarized application is required
• No background check, but need to disclose, and fingerprints are not required
• No minimum age requirement

Home Inspection License Expiration: 6/30 every two years (even)