How Do You Become a Home Inspector in Vermont?
Are you ready to lay the foundation for your own home inspection business? We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you cement your new career as a home inspector in Vermont. Follow the steps below to learn more about home inspection courses (and why they’re necessary), taking the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE), networking in your area, the home inspection insurance must-haves, and where to go from here.
Prerequisites:
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Minimum age: 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED required
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Complete 80 Hours of a Vermont-Approved Home Inspection Course
Vermont’s Office of Professional Regulation requires a license to work as a home inspector, and choosing the right training will set you apart and build your brand. Our 80-hr. Vermont-approved home inspection course, including ebooks, aligns with topics on the National Home Inspector Exam.
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Complete the National Home Inspector Exam
After completing your home inspector education, the next required step is 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 exam, and each attempt costs roughly $225 (depending on your location). Due to the unignorable cost of taking the exam, we highly recommend taking an Exam Prep course to greatly increase your chances of passing on the first try. If an individual does not pass, they must wait 30 days before taking the exam again.
Fun Fact: Veterans taking the National Home Inspector Exam are eligible for reimbursement through the GI Bill. Those who choose to exercise this benefit must complete a VBA-22-0803-ARE and submit it with the receipt to the VA for reimbursement.
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Submit the Required Documentation and Apply for Your Vermont Home Inspector License
After completing the NHIE, the next step to earning your Vermont Home Inspector License is to submit the required documentation along with your application and pay the $115 non-refundable application fee.
Applicants must submit evidence that they are certified and have ACI membership through the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
Quick Facts:
- As of March 2022, the average Vermont home inspector salary is $85,639 ($56,839 base pay + $28,800 in commission).
- Each home inspection professional should have a liability and/or errors & omissions insurance policy to protect themselves and their business.
- Home inspectors can operate independently or join a home inspection firm.
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Learn more about how to become a home inspector, getting your home inspection certification, and the average home inspector salary.
Vermont Home Inspector License Requirements
Requirements to Become a Vermont Home Inspector
- Vermont Home Inspection Education Hours: 80 hours
- Exam: NHIE
- Application Fee: $100 (other fees may apply)
- Notarized application, background check, and fingerprinting not required
- Minimum Age Requirement: 18
- High School Diploma or GED required
Home Inspection License Expiration: 6/30 every odd-numbered year
Vermont Home Inspector Continuing Education Requirements
- Effective July 2023, a Vermont energy goals education module is required for each renewal. Property Inspection licensees must complete the module for the renewal cycle that ends on 6/30/2025 and each renewal cycle thereafter.