At one time, home inspector licensing didn’t exist. Little by little, more and more states have come around to the idea. That was bound to happen as the fledgling industry matured. Virginia is one of the most recent to adopt licensing requirements. It’s safe to assume that more will join the ranks.
What happens if this happens in your state? Not to worry. Chances are, you’ll have plenty of advance notice and ample direction for how to become compliant.
Here’s what the process usually looks like and how to find out more.
Understand What Drives Licensing Throughout the Industry
The most logical and common of all reasons for home inspector licensing is consumer safety. In states without licensing, almost anyone can decide to be a home inspector and go to work. The ease with which someone can work as an inspector puts both the inspector and the public at risk.
Licensing, on the other hand, standardizes service. It’s also accomplished through home inspector association memberships. In states without licensing, a membership that requires adherence to a well-developed code of ethics and inspection standards of practice helps keep inspectors informed and on the right path. But almost no one is required to join an association. Pennsylvania is an exception, says ICA School. It does license inspectors, but the main requirement is an association membership. Members automatically get a state license.
Tap Into the Conversation About Licensing in Your State
If you don’t belong to a home inspector association, it’s a good time to think about joining. Associations aren’t just for support and guidance in your work as an inspector. Most associations make it their business to know about anything that affects the industry, such as new legislation that comes down the pike.
In some cases, association officials take an active role. They might head up state-level committees or work as lobbyists when new home inspector regulation legislation comes up for debate. But the bottom line is that associations are the best place to learn about new legislation. If you don’t have a membership, you might still find public information at an association website.
Online home inspector education lets you learn at your convenience.
Think About Your Education
In most, but not all states, licensing and education requirements go hand in hand. That’s reasonable since a license implies that the home inspector knows his or her stuff. If you’re a new home inspector and haven’t taken any industry-related coursework, a home inspector education course is probably in your future. But there may be other options.
Most states allow work experience to stand in for a formal education. With enough inspections under your belt, years in the industry or both, you might not need to take classes. The same applies to inspectors who transfer in from out of state. If you have experience elsewhere, education might be a non-issue. This varies by state.
Plan for the National or State Home Inspector Exam
If you’re required to obtain home inspector education credits, you’ll probably be required to sit for and pass an exam before the state will issue a license. Most states use the National Home Inspector Exam. Some states have their own version with state-specific details.
If you enroll in an education program, your exam prep is largely taken care of. Not only will you learn most of what you need to know while in training, with the possible exception of state-related material, you’ll probably have access to national exam prep materials. When you’re ready, then you can register.
Licensing is considered by many to be a step forward for the home inspection industry. It pulls inspectors together in a more uniform way and gives consumers more confidence in the industry. That’s what a professional home inspection reporting app does, too.
If you’re in the market for something, new, why not try a top-rated, easy-to-use reporting app that gives professional results every time? Download the Report Form Pro home inspection app for Android or get it for your iPhone today.