Complete 40 Hours of a South Dakota-Approved Home Inspection Course

The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation requires a license to work as a home inspector, and choosing the right training will set you apart and help you build your brand as a reputable inspector. The 40-hr. recommended South Dakota-approved home inspector course aligns with topics on the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE).

Complete the National Home Inspector Exam

After completing your home inspector education, the next step is to register for (and pass) the National Home Inspector Exam. This exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions (25 of which are not scored). Test takers are given 4 hours to complete the exam, and each attempt costs roughly $225, depending on your location. This test is known to be difficult, and enrolling in Exam Prep is an excellent way to fully prepare for your exam.

Complete a Federal & State Background Check With Fingerprints

Before you take your exam, you’ll need to get a federal and state background check done, as well as updated fingerprinting. You can visit the South Dakota Attorney General’s website to start this process. The fees to complete these requirements come out to $43.25 and can be submitted as a check or money order.

Provide Proof of Insurance

South Dakota home inspectors are not required to obtain any insurance, but many local real estate boards and home inspector business franchises do require their members to have certain coverage. Be sure to check with any organization you’re affiliated with to see if you need to obtain insurance.

Although no insurance is required, it’s in your best interest to obtain Errors and Omissions insurance. E&O insurance helps cover claims of negligence, errors in your services, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, omissions, and violations of good faith and fair dealing.

Pay $200 Application Fee & Apply

Once you’ve completed your 40-Hr. South Dakota home inspector course and passed the National Home Inspector Exam, you’ll move on to apply for your license. To do this, you’ll need to submit an application and pay the $200 application fee.

After Working for One Year and Performing at Least 100 Home Inspections, Upgrade Your License to Licensed Home Inspector

Submit a completed experience log to the South Dakota Real Estate Commission. You can choose to work on your own or for a multi-inspector firm while you gain experience; these inspections do not have to be supervised. Keep in mind that in South Dakota, you must first apply to be a registered home inspector. Once licensed, there is no distinction between the duties and responsibilities of a licensed home inspector and those of a registered home inspector.