How to Become a Home Inspector in Texas

Are you ready to become a home inspector in the Lone Star State? Look no further; this guide will walk you through how to become a home inspector in Texas. 

Unlike many other states, there is a highly regulated process to become a home inspector in Texas, which is set by the Texas Real Estate Commission, or TREC. TREC ensures that home inspectors in Texas have adequate training, education, and experience before they become independent home inspectors or start their businesses.

Prerequisites to Becoming a Home Inspectors in Texas

To become a home inspector in Texas, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Meet TREC's qualifications for a Fitness Determination (FD)

Types of Home Inspector Licenses in Texas

Before you work to become a home inspector in Texas, you must determine which license type you are pursuing. There are three home inspector license types in Texas. In most — but not all — cases, it makes the most sense to start as an apprentice and work your way up to the next two licenses over time.

The three license types are:

1. Apprentice Inspector
2. Real Estate Inspector
3. Professional Real Estate Inspector

While all three license types will allow you to perform home inspections, each license type requires the inspector to have different levels of education, training, and supervision. 

The biggest difference between each license type is how autonomously they allow home inspectors to operate. Apprentice Inspectors must work under direct supervision, Real Estate Inspectors can work under indirect supervision, and Professional Real Estate Inspectors can work without supervision. 

How to Become an Apprentice Inspector in Texas

An Apprentice Inspector license is an entry-level license for a home inspector in Texas. As an Apprentice Inspector, you can conduct and be paid for supervised home inspections. 

To become an Apprentice Inspector, you'll need to meet TREC's requirements for field education, classroom training, and pass a background check. 

What can an Apprentice Inspector do?

Apprentice Inspectors are relatively limited. They can only inspect homes under the direct supervision of a Professional Real Estate Inspector license holder.

What are the steps to becoming an Apprentice Inspector?

There are a few steps to complete before you are officially an Apprentice Inspector in Texas:

Step 1: Find a Sponsor 

Because Apprentice Inspectors can only complete inspections under direct supervision, every Apprentice Inspector will need to find and work with a licensed sponsor. TREC provides a list of license holders in Texas, which can help you locate one. 

Step 2: Apply for Your License

Even Apprentice Inspectors performing supervised inspections need a license to operate in Texas. You'll need to apply for your license through TREC and pay a $60 fee.

Step 3: Pass a Background Check

TREC requires that inspector license holders at all levels are properly vetted. You'll need to get your fingerprints taken and pass a background check.

Step 4: Submit Proof of Insurance and Proof of Financial Responsibility 

Proper insurance coverage is vital for a home inspector, and TREC ensures that inspectors at all levels are adequately protected. You can submit proof of insurance or financial responsibility by sending the TREC Certificate of Insurance form or Proof of Financial Responsibility form to documents@trec.texas.gov.

How to Become a Real Estate Inspector in Texas

While you can be an Apprentice Inspector forever, many home inspectors prefer to move to the next license level of Real Estate Inspector to operate more autonomously.

Real Estate inspectors need additional education and field training on top of what they may have already completed as an Apprentice Inspector.  

What can a Real Estate Inspector do?

Unlike an Apprentice Inspector, a licensed Real Estate Inspector can work under the indirect supervision of a professional home inspector. In practice, this means you can conduct inspections on your own, but you cannot own or operate your own home inspection business.

What steps do I need to take to become a Real Estate Inspector?

Whether you are an Apprentice Inspector in the state of Texas or not, here are the steps you'll need to complete to become a Real Estate Inspector:

Step 1: Complete Field Training

Field training is required for prospective Real Estate Inspectors. You'll need to work for three months and complete 25 home inspections under the direct supervision of your sponsor or a real estate inspector. In most cases, you can and will fill this requirement as an Apprentice Inspector. 

Step 2: Apply for your License

Even if you already hold an Apprentice Inspector license, you'll need to apply for a separate license to become a Real Estate Inspector. Your next step towards becoming a Real Estate Inspector in Texas is to fill out the application and pay a $100 fee.

Step 3: Complete 90 Hours of Approved Coursework

In addition to field training, you'll also need to fulfill a classroom education requirement and complete 90 hours of coursework from an approved school (you can do this after you apply for your license, though).  You can find a list of TREC-approved courses here.

Step 4: Complete the Texas Real Estate Inspector Exam

When you have met education and training requirements, and you have gotten approval from TREC, you will have to take and pass the Texas Real Estate Inspector Exam and the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE). 

The Texas Real Estate Inspector Exam can be taken at any Pearson Vue testing center. Visit their website to find a location near you and sign up to take the exam. Enrolling in exam prep courses can help ensure you are adequately prepared and increase your chances of passing the 30-question exam on your first attempt. 

You can also take the NHIE at any Pearson Vue testing center. The NHIE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions (175 of which are scored, 25 of which are unscored). The test is comprised of three sections:

1. Property and Building Inspection/Site Review
2. Analysis of Findings and Reporting
3. Professional Responsibilities

If you both the TREIE and the NHIE at the same time, you'll have 4 hours to complete the national portion and 45 minutes to complete the Texas-specific portion. The combined cost of exams, when taken together, is $199.  

Can I become a Real Estate Inspector without an Apprentice Inspector License in Texas?

According to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), you may become a Real Estate Inspector without first being an Apprentice Inspector. However, you will need to complete 64 extra hours of coursework, which you can find here.

How to Become a Professional Real Estate Inspector in Texas

If you are interested in a career as a home inspector for perks like owning and operating your own business, you'll need to become a licensed Professional Real Estate Inspector.

Even if you have already been an Apprentice Inspector and a Real Estate Inspector, you'll need to complete additional field training and classroom education to get your Professional Real Estate Inspector license.  

What can a Professional Real Estate Inspector do?

Professional Real Estate Inspector is the highest level of home inspection licensure you can achieve in Texas. As such, Professional Real Estate Inspectors have no license restrictions; you can own your own business, hire inspectors, sponsor inspectors, and of course complete inspections with no supervision. 

What do I need to become a Professional Real Estate Inspector?

Step 1: Complete Field Training (one year and 175 inspections)

To complete the field training required to become a Professional Real Estate Inspector, you'll need to work for one year and complete 175 home inspections under the direct supervision of your sponsor or a professional home inspector.

During this time, you can work without direct supervision (so long as you have your Real Estate Inspector license), but it's important to note that inspections without direct supervision will not count towards your Professional Real Estate Inspector license.

Step 2: Apply for your License

Once again, to become a Professional Real Estate Inspector you will have to apply for your license and pay a $120 fee. 

Step 3: Complete 84 Hours of New Coursework

Lastly, to become a Professional Real Estate Inspector in Texas, you'll need to complete another 84 hours of new coursework. TREC does prefer that you complete coursework from the same approved program you have previously used for coursework with other licenses.

Can I become a Professional Real Estate Inspector without a Real Estate Inspector license in Texas?

Just as is the case with becoming a Real Estate Inspector in Texas, it is possible to become a Professional Real Estate Inspector without first being a Real Estate Inspector and an Apprentice Inspector, but requires lots of extra coursework.

You have to take 60 extra hours of coursework, which you can find here.

Helpful Resources for Becoming a Home Inspector in Texas

Becoming a home inspector in Texas. Here are the key resources you might need to become a home inspector in Texas:

• Qualified Professional Home Inspectors in TREC: https://www.trec.texas.gov/education/qualified-sponsoring-professional-inspectors
• Apprentice Application: https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/application-apprentice-inspector-license
• Qualified Education Providers: https://www.trec.texas.gov/education/qualifying-inspector-courses
• Real Estate Inspector Application: https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/application-real-estate-inspector-license
• Professional Real Estate Inspection Application: https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/application-professional-real-estate-inspector-license
• Exam and Test Sign Up: https://home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers.aspx

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Home Inspector in Texas

Does prior work experience count towards TREC licensing in Texas?

You can potentially receive credit for prior work experience when you're working towards becoming a home inspector in Texas. According to TREC's website, you may receive credit for two, 40-hour "Property and Building Inspection" courses if you have 3 years of personal experience in a field directly related to home inspection and provide two affidavits from persons who have personal knowledge of your experience.

If you do have directly relevant experience, we highly recommend you submit it for credit. That's 80 hours that you can knock off your 174 hours of coursework. That's nearly half, so it would be a significant time saver.

Do I have to start out as an apprentice to become a home inspector in Texas?

You do not have to become an Apprentice Inspector before becoming a Real Estate Inspector or a Professional Real Estate Inspector in Texas. However, it is worth noting that becoming an Apprentice, then a Real Estate Inspector, and then a Professional Real Estate inspector is the traditional and most straightforward route.  

If you wanted to forgo the traditional route, here are the steps to take:

1. Fill out the application for a Professional Real Estate Inspector and pay the associated fee.
2. Complete 194 hours of coursework, covering everything you would have to complete for both Real Estate Inspector and Professional Real Estate Inspector licenses, plus the additional courses that substitute for your hands-on experience.
3. Take and pass the Texas Real Estate Inspector Exam and the National Home Inspector Exam. 
4. Get your fingerprints taken and pass a background check.
5. Submit proof of professional liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility.