How Do I Become a Home Inspector in Virginia?
A home inspector examines a property to see if there are any problems or defects with the structure, roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling systems or any other feature considered a permanent part of the home. Once an inspection is complete, the inspector writes a report detailing the trouble areas. This report is given to the prospective buyer. Despite economic downturns, as long as homes are being purchased, there will always be a need for home inspectors. The process to become a home inspector in Virginia is fairly straightforward, but will require careful record-keeping.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Home inspector classroom training
- 50-100 home inspections
- General liability insurance
Instructions
-
-
1
Take an in-person home inspection class. Though some states do allow you to take online courses to fulfill your classroom hours, Virginia isn't one of them. According to the Virginia Certified Home Inspector Regulations handbook, you must complete 35 or 70 hours worth of hands-on classroom education. The number of classroom hours required depends on the number of home inspections you later complete.
-
2
Conduct a minimum of 50 to 100 home inspections. If you've completed 35 hours of classroom instruction, you'll have to do a minimum of 100 home inspections to become officially certified. However if you have at least 70 classroom hours, you only have to complete 50 inspections to obtain certification.
You may complete the inspections through employment with a home inspection company. In this case, a supervisor will need to verify your experience. Though if you opt for self employment, be prepared to provide a comprehensive list of the inspections you've completed.
-
-
3
Take the National Home Inspectors Examination. You must prove that you've passed this exam to receive your home inspector certification in Virginia. You will take it through a nationwide testing facility called Pearson VUE. You can find the nearest test location on the National Home Inspector Examination website (See references).
-
4
Provide evidence that you have at least $250,000 worth of general liability insurance. Check with a local insurance company that works with businesses, or call and gather recommendations through a home inspectors association, including the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors or the American Society of Home Inspectors.
-
5
Complete and mail the Home Inspector Certificate application. The application and mailing address is located on the Virginia Depart of Professional and Occupational Regulation website. It basically asks you to outline your educational and work experience. You'll also need to provide proof that you've passed the National Home Inspectors Examination, proof of general liability insurance and an application fee.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you already have at least 10 years worth of experience as a home inspector in another state, you may not need to complete the required classroom hours. Pending board approval, your experience may count toward Virginia certification. So in this situation, simply complete the application to see if your experience can count towards certification.
References
- Photo Credit construction, woman, quality image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
