What Certification Do You Need to Be a Home Inspector in Pennsylvania?
A home is the biggest purchase most people make in their lives, and they rely on home inspectors to provide security in the decision to purchase a home. Because of this, a home inspector's competency is critical to a fair home buying practice. To assure buyers that the inspector they choose can find flaws leading to potentially expensive repairs, the state of Pennsylvania requires all home inspectors to meet standards, although obtaining a state certification or license isn't necessary.
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Minimum Inspector Standards
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While Pennsylvania doesn't provide oversight of the home inspection industry, it requires that all home inspectors be members of a nonprofit home inspection association with branches in at least 10 states. The organization must require inspectors to perform at least 100 home inspections under the supervision of a member inspector and pass a written test as condition of membership in the organization. Members must also be required to receive additional training in their field to maintain their membership. As of May 2011, 12 organizations meet Pennsylvania's standards.
Other Requirements
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Inspectors who qualify for membership in an organization must also meet standards set forth in Pennsylvania's Residential Real Estate Transfers Law. The law bars inspectors from performing repairs on homes they inspect for 12 months following the inspection. After an inspector inspects a home, he must provide the homeowner a copy of his report free of charge upon request. Inspectors must also carry insurance against errors or omissions in their inspections, which provides home buyers recourse if they purchase a home with undetected structural problems.
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Certification Testing
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Because Pennsylvania doesn't directly regulate home inspectors' credentials, it doesn't administer a statewide test for inspectors. Qualifying professional organizations can select the organization that provides testing, although the Residential Real Estate Transfer Law requires that testing be administered by an accredited and recognized organization. Inspectors don't need to attend classroom instruction or complete a correspondence course to qualify for their job by Pennsylvania law, although testing services and organizations may have higher minimum standards for membership.
Supervised Inspections
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A home inspector who is directly supervised by another inspector who is a member of a home inspection organization may legally perform inspections in Pennsylvania. These supervised inspections may be part of the inspector's 100-inspection qualifying period or may be performed simply as part of the inspection service's normal operations.
Violation of the Law
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Home inspectors who provide inspection services who aren't members of a qualifying nonprofit organization are in violation of Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law. Violators may be assessed a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per violation by the state's attorney general.
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