How Does the National Home Inspector Certification System Work?
Home Inspectors Longmont CO is persons who are qualified and authorized by the corresponding real estate regulatory body to inspect homes and assess the state of repair and improvement of the property. Home Inspectors is employed for a variety of purposes, the most common being home inspections and remediation of properties. A home inspection is typically a brief, non invasive examination of the status of a residential property, usually in relation to the sale of that property. Home Inspectors are also commonly asked to provide for inspections or independent professional advice to owners of commercial properties. Home Inspectors is usually employed by the City of home inspections, or by individual homeowners who are concerned about the safety of their family. Home Inspectors are usually required to acquire specific training from an approved educational institute, and are often referred to as Building Inspection Specialists.
Many states in the U.S. require home inspectors to be licensed and in order to qualify for the licensing exam, applicants must pass a test covering all areas of knowledge and experience, as well as interviews and examinations covering subjects such as financial practices, ethics and integrity, and real estate law. Candidates wishing to become home inspectors must pass examinations for their particular state and pass the test when they have reached the age limit to be a certified home inspector in that state. Some states have further requirements for home inspectors, including specific hours of training, and examinations that must be taken on a yearly basis. Home inspectors are generally required to be fingerprinted before becoming certified, and most states require home inspectors to be certified in one area prior to applying for certification.
In addition to providing general home inspections, home inspectors perform a more specialized type of inspection known as 'special inspection'. For example, in New York City, all inspectors are required to be licensed, and must complete an eight-hour training program for that exam. The training program includes information on plumbing, heating systems, electrical systems, interior and exterior construction, building science, and mold remediation.
Most states that regulate the home inspection profession also regulate the inspections of corporations. This is because many corporations will hire home inspectors to inspect their facilities when needed, rather than hiring an in-house employee. In fact, many large corporations are staffed with specialized inspection teams, and many of these teams specialize in just one type of inspection. Some examples of corporations that may use home inspectors include apartment buildings, industrial facilities, office buildings, insurance companies, hospitals, government agencies, schools, and public utilities.
Some states also regulate specialty home inspectors, and although these are not considered part of the general home inspection profession, they are considered an optional part of the exam requirements for those states. These states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The only states that do not regulate specialty home inspectors are Texas and West Virginia. Specialty home inspectors can be licensed through two different methods. One method requires extensive training; the other does not. Both methods, however, will take about four years to complete.
As stated earlier, most states do not regulate the examination itself, but instead regulate the qualifications of those who apply to sit for the National Home Inspector Examination. Candidates for this exam must first complete the state exam. Once a candidate has successfully completed the state exam, he or she can apply to take the national exam. Once the national exam is accepted by the American Society of Home Inspectors, the candidates who successfully pass the national exam will receive a National Home Inspector Association badge. This badge will allow them access to all of the resources the association has to offer.
Although not all states have the same licensing requirements, most of them require potential home inspectors to be at least 18 years old. Some states also require that candidates for their licensing examination take and pass a written proficiency exam. In order to apply for the examination, candidates must first contact their state's department of insurance. It is very important for the prospective home inspector to first obtain a basic understanding of what the home inspector certificate program consists of. It is also a good idea for the home inspector to do his or her research ahead of time to familiarize themselves with the various topics that they will likely cover during their training.
The majority of states require that the home inspectors that have been licensed by the state to participate in the national examination. In addition to taking the exam, home inspectors will also need to undergo an extensive training program. This includes undergoing classroom instruction and completing hands-on training. Candidates who successfully pass the state examination and then continue to successfully complete the training program will receive their national home inspection certification. This certification will allow them to take part in the National Home Inspector Association Examinations.
