US Home Inspector Licensing & Requirements
A State-by-State Guide to Home Inspector License Requirements, Fees, and Renewals
Do you need a license to be a home inspector in the U.S.? It depends on your state. 37 states require a state license or registration, which usually means pre-licensing training, an exam, insurance, and continuing education. The other 13 states don't issue an inspector license, though professional certifications and business registration still set the working standard.
Either way, the rules change. Fees update, statutes get amended, and aggregator sites fall behind. This page is maintained against current state board sources. Click your state below for the requirements you need to start, renew, or stay compliant, plus the software 12,000+ inspectors trust to run their business.
Select Your State to See Requirements
Home inspector requirements by state
37 states require a state license or registration to work as a home inspector; 13 do not. The table summarizes each state's training, exam, insurance and continuing education requirements. Select a state for fees, application steps and the licensing board.
| State | License required | Pre-licensing training | Exam | Insurance | Continuing education | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | 35 hrs + 100 insp, or 120 hrs + 35 insp | NHIE ($225) + ASHI Standards & Ethics | E&O $250K, or $10K surety bond, or GL 20K/50K/100K | 15 hrs / year | See state page |
| Alaska | Yes | Not required | NHIE ($225); ICC exams for new construction | GL $20K/$50K/$100K + $10K surety bond | 8 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years ($150) |
| Arizona | Yes | 84 hrs + 30 parallel inspections | NHIE ($225) | E&O $200K agg/$100K occ, or $25K bond/net assets | 30 hrs / 2 yrs | See state page |
| Arkansas | Yes | 80 hrs classroom + 3-insp apprenticeship | NHIE ($225) + ASHI Standards & Ethics | General liability $100K minimum | 14 hrs / year | See state page |
| California | No | Not mandated | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Colorado | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Connecticut | Yes | 40 hrs + 100 supervised (or 1 yr/200 paid) | Board-approved competency exam | Liability $250K + E&O $50K | 20 hrs / 2-yr cycle | June 30 of odd years ($250) |
| Delaware | Yes | 140 hrs + 75 supervised inspections | NHIE ($225) | GL $250K + E&O $50K | 40 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years (Aug 31, odd years) |
| Florida | Yes | 120 hrs | DBPR-approved incl. NHIE (Pearson VUE) | Commercial GL $300K minimum | Required; hours not stated (10-yr exemption) | Every 2 years ($100 + $5) |
| Georgia | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Hawaii | No | Not mandated | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | Not required | See state page |
| Idaho | No | Not mandated | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Illinois | Yes | 60 hrs + 5 supervised inspections | NHIE + Illinois state law section | General liability $300K minimum | 12 hrs / 2-yr cycle (2026 split rule) | Every 2 years |
| Indiana | Yes | 60 hrs + 12 hrs field training | NHIE ($225) | General liability $100K minimum | 32 hrs / 2-yr cycle (tiered) | Every 2 years (Oct 1, odd years; $50) |
| Iowa | Yes | Via association membership | Psychometric exam e.g. NHIE | E&O + GL, each $100K/occ, $500K agg | Association-required CE; hours not stated | See state page |
| Kansas | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Kentucky | Yes | 64 hrs (16 field) + 3 unpaid inspections | Board-approved (NHIE) | General liability $250K minimum | 14 hrs / year (28 per 2-yr cycle) | Every 2 years (even years) |
| Louisiana | Yes | 90 hrs + SOP seminar; 30 hrs + 10 live insp | NHIE ($225) | E&O $300K + GL $300K + $25K surety bond | 20 hrs / year | Annually |
| Maine | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | No mandate (assoc. 16-20 hrs/yr typical) | See state page |
| Maryland | Yes | 72 hrs on-site classroom | NHIE ($225) | General liability $150K minimum | 30 hrs / 2-yr cycle (after 1st renewal) | Every 2 years |
| Massachusetts | Yes | 75 hrs + 25 supervised (Associate); 100 total | NHIE ($225) | E&O $250K minimum | Required; hours not stated | Board-set schedule (not specified) |
| Michigan | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | No mandate (assoc. 16-20 hrs/yr typical) | See state page |
| Minnesota | No | Not required | None (TISH cities may require NHIE) | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Mississippi | Yes | 60 hrs | NHIE ($225) | GL $250K/occ + E&O $250K/occ | 20 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| Missouri | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
| Montana | Yes | 40 hrs, or pass approved national exam | Optional national exam (alt. to 40 hrs) | E&O $125K + workers' comp/ICEC | Not required | Annually on anniversary ($80) |
| Nebraska | No | Not required | None | General liability $250K minimum (required) | Not mandated (assoc. 16-20 hrs/yr typical) | Every 2 years (registration) |
| Nevada | Yes | 40/50/60 hrs by tier + 25 observed insp | NV Inspector of Structures exam | E&O $100K + GL $100K | 20 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| New Hampshire | Yes | 80 hrs | NHIE ($225) | Liability required; amount not specified | 20 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years (birth month) |
| New Jersey | Yes | 180 hrs (40 field) or 250 paid supervised | NHIE ($225) | E&O $500K per occurrence | 40 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| New Mexico | Yes | 80 hrs + 30 parallel inspections | NHIE ($225) | E&O $250K minimum | 60 hrs per cycle (6 ethics); period not stated | See state page |
| New York | Yes | 140 hrs (40 field) or 100 supervised insp | NHIE ($225) or NY State exam | GL $150K/occ, $500K aggregate | 24 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years ($100) |
| North Carolina | Yes | 120 hrs + 80 hrs field (10 site visits) | NC State exam ($80, 70% pass) | GL $250K + $5K bond/$5K assets/$250K E&O | 12 hrs / year | Annually |
| North Dakota | Yes | Not required | ASHI, NHIE, InterNACHI, or ICC exam | E&O $100K minimum | Not state-required | Annually by June 30 ($50) |
| Ohio | Yes | 80 hrs + 10 parallel (or 40 hrs + peer review) | NHIE ($200) | GL $100K/occ or $300K aggregate | 14 hrs / 3-yr cycle | Every 3 years |
| Oklahoma | Yes | 90 hrs | NHIE ($225) | General liability $50K CSL minimum | 8 hrs / year | Annually |
| Oregon | Yes | 20 points (~60 hrs) | NHIE ($225) | Via CCB business: $10-20K bond + GL $100-500K | 30 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | No | Via association membership (100+ insp) | Association-accepted (e.g., NHIE $225) | E&O + GL, each $100K/occ, $500K agg | See state page | See state page |
| Rhode Island | Yes | 50 (Assoc) or 100 insp | RI Home Inspector Exam (via PSI) | GL $500K + E&O $500K | 12 hrs / renewal cycle | Every 2 years (fee covers 2 yrs) |
| South Carolina | Yes | Approved course (hrs not stated) + 1 yr/50 insp | SC technical exam (100 Q, 70% pass) | E&O required; amount not stated | See state page | Every 2 years (June 30, even years) |
| South Dakota | Yes | 40 hrs | Commission exam (Registered); NHIE (Licensed) | Not required by state | 24 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years (by Nov 30) |
| Tennessee | Yes | 90 hrs | NHIE ($225) | GL $500K + E&O (sufficient amount) | 32 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| Texas | Yes | 154 hrs (Inspector) / 194 hrs (Professional) | NHIE + TX state law ($199) | Liability $100K/occ & agg, or surety bond | 32 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| Utah | Yes | Via approved certification (ASHI/ICC/InterNACHI) | NHIE | GL $500K + E&O $500K | See state page | See state page |
| Vermont | Yes | 80 hrs | NHIE ($225) or OPR-approved equivalent | Liability + E&O required; amount not stated | Energy Goals module; hours not stated | Every 2 years |
| Virginia | Yes | 35 hrs + 25 ride-along inspections | NHIE ($225, 500+ scaled) | GL $250K per occurrence | 16 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years |
| Washington | Yes | 120 hrs + 40 hrs field (5 inspections) | NHIE + WA section ($300) | See state page | Required; hours not stated | Every 2 years (2nd birthday) |
| West Virginia | Yes | 80 hrs | NHIE ($225) | General liability $250K minimum | 16 hrs / year | See state page |
| Wisconsin | Yes | 40 hrs (20 hands-on) | NHIE + WI Statutes & Rules exam ($75) | Not state required | 40 hrs / 2-yr cycle | Every 2 years (Dec 14, even years) |
| Wyoming | No | Not required | None | Not required; GL $100-300K, E&O $250-500K advised | See state page | See state page |
License vs. certification: what's the difference?
A license (or state registration) is issued by a state board and is legally required to work as a home inspector in that state. A certification is issued by a professional association, such as InterNACHI's Certified Professional Inspector (CPI) or the ASHI Certified Inspector credential. Certification is voluntary in most states, but it signals training and a code of ethics to clients and real estate agents.
- Licensed states: you need the state license first. A certification can be added on top.
- States without a license: there is no state requirement, so most inspectors earn an association certification and carry insurance to build credibility.
- Association-based states: a few states, such as Pennsylvania, require membership in an approved association instead of a state license.
Check your state in the table above for the exact requirements.
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Disclaimer: This page is intended as a general informational resource and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing requirements, fees, and procedures are subject to change. Always verify current requirements. Information last reviewed November 2026.