How Do You Become a Home Inspector in Texas?
Are you ready to lay the foundation of your own home inspection business? We’ve compiled the steps you’ll need to start your new career as a licensed home inspection professional in the Lone Star State. Follow the steps below to learn more about home inspection courses (and why they’re necessary), taking the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE), and where to go from here. AHIT can help you get your career started with everything you’ll need to meet TREC licensure as a real estate inspector. AHIT offers comprehensive online options with coursework that covers the Texas law and Standards of Practice, the basics of homeowner report writing, business operations, working with real estate agents, and more. Texas does require a 40hr hands on practicum, which AHIT offers in locations across the Texas including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Arlington, and others.
Prerequisites:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
- Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity
- Visit TREC to learn more about Texas home inspector qualifications for each license type
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Complete a Texas-Approved Home Inspection Course
Prospective home inspectors must enroll in a school that offers courses approved for Texas home inspection certification. Some schools offer online courses, while others have live classroom options. All schools must include “practicum” hours that provide you with field training for hands-on inspection experience in real homes. The education program you should select depends on the license level you want to hold. Each license level has different training program requirements.
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Complete Your 40-Hour Practicum
Applicants will need to complete 40 hours of field training with a licensed Texas home inspector, otherwise known as a practicum (or sometimes referred to as the “ride along”). This is an excellent opportunity for fieldwork that will serve you throughout your home inspection career. This field training also fulfills the licensing requirements for inspecting homes under the direct supervision of a licensed home inspector. During this field training, students will learn and use the REI 7-6 correctly and write six inspection reports, just like the real deal. Five of your reports must meet the standard criteria and be good enough to be given to a client!
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Apply for Your Texas Home Inspection License
You should now be ready to apply for your license in Texas! The application fee for a standard Real Estate Inspector License is $100. For the Professional Real Estate Inspector License, the cost is $120. You can find the application on the TREC website. Good luck with your new career!
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Pass the National Home Inspector Exam® and the Texas State Law Exam
Once you have met the experience and education requirements, you will be sent an exam approval notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the Candidate Handbook.
The Texas Real Estate Inspector Law Exam can be taken at any Pearson Vue testing center. Visit their website, find a location near you, and sign up to take the exam. Enrolling in Exam Prep courses can significantly improve your odds of passing the test on your first attempt, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in exam retake fees. You will also be responsible for taking and passing the National Home Inspector Exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions (25 of which are not scored) covering three major domains, or sections, that every home inspector should know. Those domains are:
- Property and Building Inspection/Site Review
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting
- Professional Responsibilities
Test takers are given 4 hours to complete the national portion, and 45 minutes to take the 30-question state portion. If you take both exams at the same time, the cost is $199.
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Submit Proof of Professional Liability Insurance
You must submit proof that you have purchased Professional Liability Insurance. Your policy must provide coverage for violations of Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1102, Subchapter G ($100,000 per occurrence) and $100,000 aggregate annual total of at least $100,000 before you can become a certified home inspector.
Send the TREC Certificate of Insurance form or Proof of Financial Responsibility form to Documents@TREC.Texas.gov. -
Submit Your Fingerprints and Get a Background Check
Applicants are required by law to have fingerprints in the Texas Department of Public Safety database. To complete this step, you’ll need to visit the Texas Division of Real Estate website to learn more about submitting your fingerprints. TREC has set of qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity that you will need to meet. If you’re unsure of your qualifications you can request a Fitness Determination. You should use the fitness determination to find out if a past criminal, civil, or disciplinary action could impact your ability to be licensed.
Quick Facts:
- License renewal is every two years.
- The industry is regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
- Home inspectors in Texas must complete 32 hours of Continuing Education every two years to maintain an active license.
American Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) is an approved qualifying inspector course provider. We offer industry-leading live classroom, field training (Texas Practicum) and flexible online home inspection training in Texas. TREC (TREC QE Provider #4567 and CE #10077)
Request Your Free Catalog & Get Started Today!
Learn more about how to become a home inspector, getting your home inspection certification, and the average home inspector salary.
Texas Home Inspector License Requirements
Requirements to Become a Texas Home Inspector
Texas issues three levels of inspector licenses: Apprentice Inspector, Real Estate Inspector, and Professional Real Estate Inspector. AHIT provides approved training for those seeking to become Real Estate Inspectors and Professional Real Estate Inspectors.
- Texas Real Estate Inspector Education Requirements: 154 hours (includes 40 hours of practicum; exams must be proctored)
- Texas Professional Real Estate Inspector Education Requirements: 194 hours (includes 40 hours of practicum; exams must be proctored)
- Inspections: 40 hours of Texas practicum (field training)
- Exam Required: Both NHIE plus Texas specific exam
- Application Fee: $100 (Real Estate Inspector) or $120 (Professional Real Estate Inspector)
- Minimum Age Requirement: 18
- Proof of Financial Responsibility: Provide proof of Liability Insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence and an aggregate annual total of a minimum of $100,000 using the TREC Certificate of Insurance form or provide proof of a Surety Bond using the TREC Proof of
Financial Responsibility Form. - Must meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (consider requesting a Fitness Determination before
applying for a license) - Fingerprinting is required
- Citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
Home Inspection License Expiration: Every two years from date of issuance
Texas Home Inspector Continuing Education
Requirements
- Home Inspection License Expiration: Every two years from date of issuance
- Inspectors will not receive CE credit for more than 16 hours in one topic in a renewal term
- 32 total hours per renewal cycle
- Must include the 8-hour Inspector Legal & Ethics and SOP Review course.
Texas State Licensing Board
American Home Inspectors Training
- Texas Qualifying Provider: #4567
- Texas Inspector Continuing Education Provider: #10077
TREC-Approved Course Numbers
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting Module – 20 hours – Approval #39923
- Business Operations and Professional Responsibilities Module – 10 hours – Approval #39924
- Property and Building Inspection Module I – 40 hours – Approval #39925
- Property and Building Inspection – Module II – 40 hours – Approval #39926
- Texas Law Module – 20 hours – Approval #39927
- Texas Standards of Practice Module – 24 hours – Approval #39928
- Texas Practicum – 40 hours – Approval #39929