How to Obtain a Building Inspector's Certificate

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, building inspection first became a licensed, regulated profession in the mid-1970s. Building and home inspectors work in the residential and commercial markets, inspecting homes and buildings to ensure compliance with building codes. To become a certified building inspector, you need to choose a certifying agency and meet their minimum qualifications. You may need to have certain work experience, and you may need to pass a test in order to meet this certification criteria.

Instructions

1. Contact your state licensing office to find out what its certification requirements are. Some states have their own certification programs for building inspectors. In these jurisdictions, you must become certified by the state to act as a building inspector. You can also obtain additional certification from one of the independent professional organizations, but state certification is not optional.

   If your state has its own certification program, you will usually have to take a state exam that tests your knowledge of building codes and regulations specific to the jurisdiction.

   The amount of education you will need to become certified may also vary depending on the state. In some cases, a high school diploma is sufficient as long as you have work experience in the construction industry. In other states, an associate's or bachelor's degree is required. You should check with the licensing agency in your state to find out specific requirements to become a building inspector within your jurisdiction.

2. Choose a professional building inspectors organization. These organizations offer their own building inspectors certification program. The National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers is one major certifying body within the United States (see References).

   If you want to become certified by this agency, you will need a bachelor's degree in engineering, a minimum of 4 years of experience in building inspection and a passing score on state board exams. To pass the exam, you will need to understand building codes and be able to identify structural weaknesses caused by construction defects.

3. Become nationally certified. The International Code Council (ICC) is another agency that certifies building inspectors (see References). You need to pass a national certification exam to become certified by the ICC. The exam tests your knowledge of public safety, electrical codes, building codes and other construction laws and regulations. In most cases, there are no minimum education or experience requirements to be eligible to take the exam. You can bring in approved reference materials on the day of the exam and take the exam on computer or in traditional paper format.

Tips & Warnings

• Certification is usually only good for a limited period of time. Most jurisdictions require you to renew your certification annually. You may need to satisfy continuing education requirements or take additional exams to demonstrate that you have learned any updates to the building codes

References

• National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers
• International Code Council