Becoming a Home Inspector in Canada

Education

Though there are no rules that mandate what type of education a home inspector must receive--aside from relevant training courses--the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors recommends that individuals obtain their high school diplomas and have prior experience in the residential construction and renovation industries. Once an individual becomes a licensed inspector, he must continue to complete a minimum of 20 hours' training each year. The training must consist of technical workshops, or ethics or business courses. This requirement can also be completed by volunteering with the National Certification Body for 20 hours a year.

Licensing

British Columbia became the first Canadian province to require that its building inspectors obtain a license. Anyone wishing to act as a building inspector after March 31, 2009, must be licensed by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) of British Columbia. You can apply for a license through the BPCPA at BPCPA.ca. In addition to this requirement, individuals who wish to become building inspectors throughout Canada must become credentialed registered home inspectors (RHIs). Though this can be achieved through a few organizations, many become credentialed through the national certification program, which allows individuals to practice in all parts of Canada. To become certified, an individual must register for the program at nca-anc.com, pass the Test Inspection with Peer Review (TIPR), complete 200 hours of an approved training course and 50 hours of in-the-field training.

Course and Exam Providers

There are close to 20 accredited course providers throughout Canada, which include the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Durham College, College Andre Grasset / Institut Grasset, Home Inspectors Institute, Seneca College and Cegep Vanier College. The TIPR exam consists of three parts. The onsite inspection portion tests a candidate's ability to act as an actual home inspector. He must inspect a pre-chosen house exactly as he would if he were a fully certified inspector. The oral exam consists of a question-and-answer section about the home the candidate inspected, including what faults he found with the home, his method of inspection and the tools he used during the inspection. The report review portion allows the individual to complete the home inspection process by filing the inspection report exactly as a certified inspector would.

Resources

• National Certification Program
• Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors