License rules checked October 2026 · Business counts from Census (2023) and BLS (2025) · Updated by StartBusinessByState
37 states require home inspectors to hold a state license, registration or certification13 states and DC have no state license. There are about 30,905 building inspection businesses in the U.S., and 75.7% of them are one-person operations with no employees.
Short answer: Whether you need a license to be a home inspector depends on the state. Most states with a license require a set number of training hours, often between 40 and 140, plus an exam, usually the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). Some only require registration and insurance. This page lists each state’s rule with a link to the official board or statute, and shows how many inspection businesses each state has.
Key facts for reporters
- 37 states require a state credential to work as a home inspector (license, certification or registration). No state license: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wyoming. Iowa and Pennsylvania set qualifications in statute (such as membership in a national inspector association) without issuing a state license.
- Recent changes: a 2025 Iowa law (SF 460) set who may issue a home inspection report, and a 2025 Montana law (HB 225) revised that state’s statute, which now requires a license. Utah’s licensing division now issues a private home inspector license that requires a national certification.
- Training rules vary widely. North Carolina requires 120 classroom hours plus 80 hours of field training; Delaware requires 140 hours plus 75 supervised inspections; Alaska, Nebraska and North Dakota set no education hours.
- Census counted 23,409 self-employed building inspection businesses (2023) and 7,496 with employees (2023). Most of these are home inspectors, but the category also includes other building inspection services.
- Payroll jobs at building inspection firms averaged 26,636 in 2025, +11.6% from 2019 (BLS QCEW). Average weekly pay was $1,397.
- States with the most inspection businesses per 10,000 owner-occupied homes: Florida (6.2), Montana (5.1), Texas (4.7). Fewest: Iowa (2.0), Massachusetts (2.2), Pennsylvania (2.3).
- License and no-license states have similar numbers of inspection businesses per home (medians of 3.1 and 3.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes).
Home inspector license requirements by state
Each row comes from the state’s licensing board, agency, statute or administrative code; the link goes to that page. “Not verified” means we could not confirm the rule on an official state source. For states with no license, that usually means no official source states plainly that none is required. Rules change, so check the official source before you apply. “NHIE” is the National Home Inspector Examination.
| State | State credential | Regulator | Education and experience | Exam | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | License | Alabama Division of Construction Management | 120 hours + 35 supervised inspections, or 35 hours + 100 | NHIE + ASHI Standards & Ethics exam | Official source | Yes |
| Alaska | Registration | Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing | None set; exam required | NHIE or other listed national exam (ICC exams for new homes) | Official source | Yes |
| Arizona | Certification | Arizona State Board of Technical Registration | 84 hours + 30 parallel inspections | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Arkansas | Registration | Arkansas Home Inspector Registration Board | 80 hours (64 instruction + 16 field) | NHIE + ASHI Standards & Ethics exam | Official source | Yes |
| California | No state license | None (Business and Professions Code 7195-7199 set practice standards) | None set by state | None | Official source | Yes |
| Colorado | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Connecticut | License | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Home Inspection Licensing Board | Board-approved training program + 100 supervised inspections as an intern | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| Delaware | License | Delaware Board of Home Inspectors | 140 hours + 75 supervised inspections | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| District of Columbia | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Florida | License | Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation | 120 hours | State-approved exam | Official source | Yes |
| Georgia | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Hawaii | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Idaho | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Illinois | License | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | 60 hours (includes field inspections) | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| Indiana | License | Indiana Home Inspectors Licensing Board | 60 hours | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Iowa | No state license | None (Iowa Code 558A.4A says who may issue a home inspection report) | National association membership (or other listed license) | Set by the association | Official source | Yes |
| Kansas | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Kentucky | License | Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors | 64 hours (includes 16 field hours) | Board-approved exam | Official source | Yes |
| Louisiana | License | Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors | 130 hours of instruction and field training | Board-approved exam | Official source | Yes |
| Maine | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Maryland | License | Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, AMCs and Home Inspectors | 72 hours (classroom) | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Massachusetts | License | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Home Inspectors | 75 hours + 25 supervised inspections (associate); full license after 1 year + 100 more | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Michigan | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Minnesota | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Mississippi | License | Mississippi Home Inspection Division | 60 hours | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Missouri | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
| Montana | License | Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Home Inspector Program | 40 hours + national association membership | None listed | Official source | Yes |
| Nebraska | Registration | Nebraska Secretary of State | None set | None | Official source | Yes |
| Nevada | Certification | Nevada Real Estate Division (Inspectors of Structures) | 40 hours + 25 observed inspections | State-approved exam | Official source | Yes |
| New Hampshire | License | New Hampshire Board of Home Inspectors | 80 hours | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| New Jersey | License | New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory Committee | Not verified | Not verified | Official source | Not verified |
| New Mexico | License | New Mexico Home Inspector Board | 80 hours classroom + 80 hours field training (30 parallel inspections) | NHIE or proctored InterNACHI exam | Official source | Yes |
| New York | License | New York Department of State | 140 hours incl. 40 field hours, or 100 supervised inspections | NHIE or NYS exam | Official source | Yes |
| North Carolina | License | North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board | 120 hours classroom + 80 hours field training | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| North Dakota | Registration | North Dakota Secretary of State | None set | Accepted national exam | Official source | Yes |
| Ohio | License | Ohio Home Inspector Board (Department of Commerce) | 80 hours + field experience | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Oklahoma | License | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board | 90 hours | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| Oregon | Certification | Oregon Construction Contractors Board | Education/experience points (set in CCB rules) | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | No state license | None (68 Pa.C.S. Chapter 75 sets who may perform inspections) | Full membership in a national home inspection association (or engineer/architect) | Set by the association | Official source | Yes |
| Rhode Island | License | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board | 50 assisted inspections (associate license) | Board-approved exam | Official source | Yes |
| South Carolina | License | South Carolina Residential Builders Commission | 120-hour course + 1 year supervised experience | State exam (PSI) | Official source | Yes |
| South Dakota | Registration, then license | South Dakota Real Estate Commission | 40 hours | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| Tennessee | License | Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance | 90 hours | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Texas | License | Texas Real Estate Commission | 90 hours + 25 supervised inspections as an apprentice (real estate inspector) | Required (Pearson VUE) | Official source | Yes |
| Utah | License | Utah Division of Professional Licensing | National certification (ASHI, InterNACHI or ICC) | No separate state exam | Official source | Yes |
| Vermont | License | Vermont Office of Professional Regulation | 80 hours | National proctored exam (or national certification) | Official source | Yes |
| Virginia | License | Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors | Prelicense course + supervised inspections (points system) | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Washington | License | Washington Department of Licensing | 120 hours + 40 hours field training | State exam | Official source | Yes |
| West Virginia | Certification | West Virginia State Fire Marshal | 80 hours | NHIE | Official source | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Registration | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services | 40 hours (20 hands-on) | NHIE + state law exam | Official source | Yes |
| Wyoming | No state license | None found | — | — | none found | Not verified |
How many home inspectors each state has
No federal source counts home inspectors directly. The closest official count is Census’s building inspection services industry (NAICS 54135), which is mostly home inspectors. We add self-employed businesses (Census nonemployer statistics) to businesses with employees (County Business Patterns), then compare that to the number of owner-occupied homes. Nationally there were 3.6 inspection businesses per 10,000 owner-occupied homes and about 115.7 home purchase loans in 2025 for every inspection business.
Looking at all states, licensing doesn’t line up with how many inspectors a state has. The median license state had 3.1 businesses per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; the median no-license state had 3.3. Home sales, population growth and how many inspectors also do other work matter too, and this data can’t separate those effects.
| State | Credential | Self-employed (2023) | With employees (2023) | Per 10k owner homes | Payroll jobs 2025 | Jobs vs 2019 | Avg weekly pay 2025 | Purchase loans per business |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | License or certification | 345 | 81 | 2.9 | 207 | +43.8% | $1,253 | 149.1 |
| Alaska | Registration | 42 | 17 | 3.2 | 97 | -10.2% | $2,146 | 128.2 |
| Arizona | License or certification | 461 | 192 | 3.2 | 610 | +32.9% | $1,295 | 145.5 |
| Arkansas | Registration | 270 | 46 | 3.8 | 127 | +24.5% | $1,319 | 122.1 |
| California | No state license | 1,831 | 1,001 | 3.7 | 4,023 | +19.3% | $1,823 | 91.1 |
| Colorado | No state license | 497 | 221 | 4.4 | 726 | +19.4% | $1,416 | 113.6 |
| Connecticut | License or certification | 237 | 60 | 3.1 | 378 | -1.3% | $1,423 | 120.1 |
| Delaware | License or certification | 55 | 24 | 2.6 | 141 | +4.4% | $1,278 | 178.2 |
| District of Columbia | No state license | 23 | 9 | 2.4 | 37 | +27.6% | $1,871 | 171.1 |
| Florida | License or certification | 2,745 | 1,087 | 6.2 | 3,096 | +21.4% | $1,134 | 76.3 |
| Georgia | No state license | 860 | 221 | 3.9 | 846 | +23.7% | $1,380 | 119.8 |
| Hawaii | No state license | 94 | 32 | 4.1 | 88 | +37.5% | $1,497 | 78.8 |
| Idaho | No state license | 179 | 49 | 4.2 | 164 | +49.1% | $1,122 | 128.1 |
| Illinois | License or certification | 692 | 234 | 2.7 | 604 | +4.9% | $1,248 | 136.6 |
| Indiana | License or certification | 357 | 118 | 2.4 | 422 | -3.4% | $1,103 | 184.9 |
| Iowa | No state license | 141 | 48 | 2.0 | 123 | +8.8% | $1,175 | 221.6 |
| Kansas | No state license | 171 | 52 | 2.7 | 86 | -28.9% | $1,146 | 149.2 |
| Kentucky | License or certification | 303 | 61 | 2.9 | 264 | +76.0% | $1,030 | 142.2 |
| Louisiana | License or certification | 413 | 79 | 3.9 | 258 | +24.0% | $1,301 | 83.9 |
| Maine | No state license | 112 | 36 | 3.3 | 100 | +20.5% | $1,084 | 110.8 |
| Maryland | License or certification | 408 | 136 | 3.3 | 489 | -27.0% | $1,375 | 117.1 |
| Massachusetts | License or certification | 271 | 117 | 2.2 | 516 | +14.4% | $1,654 | 161.9 |
| Michigan | No state license | 842 | 151 | 3.3 | 630 | +18.2% | $1,359 | 108.0 |
| Minnesota | No state license | 341 | 127 | 2.8 | 391 | -3.5% | $1,350 | 147.3 |
| Mississippi | License or certification | 198 | 21 | 2.6 | 43 | -18.9% | $1,303 | 137.0 |
| Missouri | No state license | 374 | 124 | 2.8 | 313 | +0.0% | $1,149 | 160.1 |
| Montana | License or certification | 118 | 45 | 5.1 | 65 | +25.0% | $1,087 | 72.2 |
| Nebraska | Registration | 100 | 29 | 2.3 | 92 | +3.4% | $938 | 190.0 |
| Nevada | License or certification | 208 | 81 | 3.9 | 283 | +11.4% | $1,493 | 133.5 |
| New Hampshire | License or certification | 91 | 21 | 2.7 | 156 | -40.0% | $1,454 | 136.5 |
| New Jersey | License or certification | 642 | 155 | 3.5 | 379 | -1.0% | $1,229 | 101.7 |
| New Mexico | License or certification | 114 | 39 | 2.5 | 87 | +13.0% | $1,036 | 148.6 |
| New York | License or certification | 1,244 | 325 | 3.7 | 1,422 | -3.3% | $1,307 | 76.4 |
| North Carolina | License or certification | 881 | 303 | 3.9 | 759 | +16.8% | $1,151 | 126.6 |
| North Dakota | Registration | 44 | 9 | 2.5 | suppressed | n/a | suppressed | 158.0 |
| Ohio | License or certification | 793 | 190 | 2.9 | 898 | +12.1% | $1,436 | 135.3 |
| Oklahoma | License or certification | 344 | 76 | 4.0 | 246 | -24.1% | $1,126 | 112.6 |
| Oregon | License or certification | 284 | 108 | 3.6 | 239 | -13.4% | $1,093 | 112.0 |
| Pennsylvania | No state license | 607 | 240 | 2.3 | 1,171 | -12.3% | $1,353 | 146.0 |
| Rhode Island | License or certification | 53 | 32 | 3.0 | 75 | +4.2% | $1,135 | 124.7 |
| South Carolina | License or certification | 421 | 113 | 3.3 | 288 | +17.1% | $1,296 | 160.0 |
| South Dakota | Registration | 60 | 12 | 2.8 | suppressed | n/a | suppressed | 137.2 |
| Tennessee | License or certification | 580 | 115 | 3.6 | 381 | +24.5% | $1,365 | 131.5 |
| Texas | License or certification | 2,729 | 641 | 4.7 | 3,200 | +37.7% | $1,529 | 105.7 |
| Utah | License or certification | 230 | 95 | 3.9 | 507 | +24.3% | $1,197 | 136.1 |
| Vermont | License or certification | 51 | 14 | 3.1 | 59 | +55.3% | $1,645 | 99.2 |
| Virginia | License or certification | 472 | 152 | 2.7 | 606 | -4.6% | $1,392 | 165.6 |
| Washington | License or certification | 506 | 208 | 3.6 | 429 | -14.4% | $1,396 | 120.4 |
| West Virginia | License or certification | 124 | 15 | 2.5 | 62 | -41.5% | $1,353 | 123.4 |
| Wisconsin | Registration | 390 | 115 | 2.9 | 372 | +16.3% | $1,195 | 132.2 |
| Wyoming | No state license | 61 | 19 | 4.4 | suppressed | n/a | suppressed | 91.5 |
| U.S. total | 23,409 | 7,496 | 3.6 | 26,636 | +11.6% | $1,397 | 115.7 |
Jobs and pay at inspection firms
Payroll jobs at building inspection firms grew +11.6% from 2019 to 2025 nationally and rose in 31 of the 48 states with published data. The biggest gains were in Kentucky (+76.0%), Vermont (+55.3%), Idaho (+49.1%); the biggest declines in West Virginia (-41.5%), New Hampshire (-40.0%), Kansas (-28.9%). Small states can swing a lot because a few firms make up the whole count. These numbers leave out self-employed inspectors, who are about three of every four inspection businesses.
BLS’s occupational survey groups home inspectors with government and private construction and building inspectors (SOC 47-4011). That broader group had 146,720 jobs and a median annual wage of $74,690 in May 2025. It is not a count of home inspectors.
How to become a home inspector
- Check your state’s row above and open the official source.
- If your state requires a license, finish the approved pre-license course and any supervised or “parallel” inspections it requires.
- Pass the required exam. Most license states use the NHIE; some have their own state exam.
- Get the required insurance (general liability and, in many states, errors and omissions) and apply to the regulator.
- Set up the business: register it with your state and get any local business license. See business license requirements by state.
In states with no license, buyers, agents and lenders often still expect training and a national certification, and some cities have their own rules.
State notes
Show notes for all 51 states and DC
- Alabama: License required, issued by the Alabama Division of Construction Management. Education/experience: 120 hours + 35 supervised inspections, or 35 hours + 100. Exam: NHIE + ASHI Standards & Ethics exam. There were 345 self-employed inspection businesses and 81 with employees (2.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Alaska: Registration required, issued by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Education/experience: None set; exam required. Exam: NHIE or other listed national exam (ICC exams for new homes). There were 42 self-employed inspection businesses and 17 with employees (3.2 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Arizona: Certification required, issued by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration. Education/experience: 84 hours + 30 parallel inspections. Exam: NHIE. There were 461 self-employed inspection businesses and 192 with employees (3.2 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Arkansas: Registration required, issued by the Arkansas Home Inspector Registration Board. Education/experience: 80 hours (64 instruction + 16 field). Exam: NHIE + ASHI Standards & Ethics exam. There were 270 self-employed inspection businesses and 46 with employees (3.8 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- California: No state license. State law: Business and Professions Code 7195-7199 set practice standards. There were 1,831 self-employed inspection businesses and 1,001 with employees (3.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Colorado: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 497 self-employed inspection businesses and 221 with employees (4.4 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Connecticut: License required, issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Home Inspection Licensing Board. Education/experience: Board-approved training program + 100 supervised inspections as an intern. Exam: State exam. There were 237 self-employed inspection businesses and 60 with employees (3.1 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Delaware: License required, issued by the Delaware Board of Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 140 hours + 75 supervised inspections. Exam: NHIE. There were 55 self-employed inspection businesses and 24 with employees (2.6 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- District of Columbia: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 23 self-employed inspection businesses and 9 with employees (2.4 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Florida: License required, issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Education/experience: 120 hours. Exam: State-approved exam. There were 2,745 self-employed inspection businesses and 1,087 with employees (6.2 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Georgia: No state license. A 2026 licensing bill, SB 458, passed the Senate and passed the House in a different version but did not become law, according to LegiScan. Not verified against an official state source. There were 860 self-employed inspection businesses and 221 with employees (3.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Hawaii: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 94 self-employed inspection businesses and 32 with employees (4.1 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Idaho: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 179 self-employed inspection businesses and 49 with employees (4.2 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Illinois: License required, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Education/experience: 60 hours (includes field inspections). Exam: State exam. There were 692 self-employed inspection businesses and 234 with employees (2.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Indiana: License required, issued by the Indiana Home Inspectors Licensing Board. Education/experience: 60 hours. Exam: NHIE. There were 357 self-employed inspection businesses and 118 with employees (2.4 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Iowa: No state license. State law: Iowa Code 558A.4A says who may issue a home inspection report. A 2025 law (SF 460, effective July 1, 2025) set these rules. There were 141 self-employed inspection businesses and 48 with employees (2.0 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Kansas: No state license. Kansas licensed home inspectors until its law expired in 2013. A 2026 bill (HB 2709) to require licensure did not advance, according to LegiScan. Not verified against an official state source. There were 171 self-employed inspection businesses and 52 with employees (2.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Kentucky: License required, issued by the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 64 hours (includes 16 field hours). Exam: Board-approved exam. There were 303 self-employed inspection businesses and 61 with employees (2.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Louisiana: License required, issued by the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 130 hours of instruction and field training. Exam: Board-approved exam. There were 413 self-employed inspection businesses and 79 with employees (3.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Maine: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 112 self-employed inspection businesses and 36 with employees (3.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Maryland: License required, issued by the Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, AMCs and Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 72 hours (classroom). Exam: NHIE. There were 408 self-employed inspection businesses and 136 with employees (3.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Massachusetts: License required, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 75 hours + 25 supervised inspections (associate); full license after 1 year + 100 more. Exam: NHIE. There were 271 self-employed inspection businesses and 117 with employees (2.2 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Michigan: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 842 self-employed inspection businesses and 151 with employees (3.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Minnesota: No state license. Minneapolis, St. Paul and some other cities license Truth-in-Sale of Housing evaluators. Not verified against an official state source. There were 341 self-employed inspection businesses and 127 with employees (2.8 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Mississippi: License required, issued by the Mississippi Home Inspection Division. Education/experience: 60 hours. Exam: NHIE. There were 198 self-employed inspection businesses and 21 with employees (2.6 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Missouri: No state license. A 2026 licensing bill (HB 1832) was referred to committee and did not pass, according to LegiScan. Not verified against an official state source. There were 374 self-employed inspection businesses and 124 with employees (2.8 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Montana: License required, issued by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Home Inspector Program. Education/experience: 40 hours + national association membership. Exam: None listed. A 2025 law (HB 225) revised Montana's home inspection statute. There were 118 self-employed inspection businesses and 45 with employees (5.1 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Nebraska: Registration required, issued by the Nebraska Secretary of State. Education/experience: None set. Exam: None. There were 100 self-employed inspection businesses and 29 with employees (2.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Nevada: Certification required, issued by the Nevada Real Estate Division (Inspectors of Structures). Education/experience: 40 hours + 25 observed inspections. Exam: State-approved exam. There were 208 self-employed inspection businesses and 81 with employees (3.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- New Hampshire: License required, issued by the New Hampshire Board of Home Inspectors. Education/experience: 80 hours. Exam: NHIE. There were 91 self-employed inspection businesses and 21 with employees (2.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- New Jersey: License required, issued by the New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory Committee. Education/experience: Not verified. Exam: Not verified. Not verified against an official state source. There were 642 self-employed inspection businesses and 155 with employees (3.5 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- New Mexico: License required, issued by the New Mexico Home Inspector Board. Education/experience: 80 hours classroom + 80 hours field training (30 parallel inspections). Exam: NHIE or proctored InterNACHI exam. There were 114 self-employed inspection businesses and 39 with employees (2.5 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- New York: License required, issued by the New York Department of State. Education/experience: 140 hours incl. 40 field hours, or 100 supervised inspections. Exam: NHIE or NYS exam. There were 1,244 self-employed inspection businesses and 325 with employees (3.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- North Carolina: License required, issued by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board. Education/experience: 120 hours classroom + 80 hours field training. Exam: State exam. There were 881 self-employed inspection businesses and 303 with employees (3.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- North Dakota: Registration required, issued by the North Dakota Secretary of State. Education/experience: None set. Exam: Accepted national exam. There were 44 self-employed inspection businesses and 9 with employees (2.5 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Ohio: License required, issued by the Ohio Home Inspector Board (Department of Commerce). Education/experience: 80 hours + field experience. Exam: NHIE. There were 793 self-employed inspection businesses and 190 with employees (2.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Oklahoma: License required, issued by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. Education/experience: 90 hours. Exam: State exam. There were 344 self-employed inspection businesses and 76 with employees (4.0 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Oregon: Certification required, issued by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Education/experience: Education/experience points (set in CCB rules). Exam: NHIE. There were 284 self-employed inspection businesses and 108 with employees (3.6 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Pennsylvania: No state license. State law: 68 Pa.C.S. Chapter 75 sets who may perform inspections. There were 607 self-employed inspection businesses and 240 with employees (2.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Rhode Island: License required, issued by the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. Education/experience: 50 assisted inspections (associate license). Exam: Board-approved exam. There were 53 self-employed inspection businesses and 32 with employees (3.0 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- South Carolina: License required, issued by the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission. Education/experience: 120-hour course + 1 year supervised experience. Exam: State exam (PSI). There were 421 self-employed inspection businesses and 113 with employees (3.3 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- South Dakota: Registration, then license required, issued by the South Dakota Real Estate Commission. Education/experience: 40 hours. Exam: State exam. There were 60 self-employed inspection businesses and 12 with employees (2.8 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Tennessee: License required, issued by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Education/experience: 90 hours. Exam: NHIE. There were 580 self-employed inspection businesses and 115 with employees (3.6 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Texas: License required, issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission. Education/experience: 90 hours + 25 supervised inspections as an apprentice (real estate inspector). Exam: Required (Pearson VUE). There were 2,729 self-employed inspection businesses and 641 with employees (4.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Utah: License required, issued by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Education/experience: National certification (ASHI, InterNACHI or ICC). Exam: No separate state exam. There were 230 self-employed inspection businesses and 95 with employees (3.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Vermont: License required, issued by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. Education/experience: 80 hours. Exam: National proctored exam (or national certification). There were 51 self-employed inspection businesses and 14 with employees (3.1 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Virginia: License required, issued by the Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors. Education/experience: Prelicense course + supervised inspections (points system). Exam: NHIE. There were 472 self-employed inspection businesses and 152 with employees (2.7 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Washington: License required, issued by the Washington Department of Licensing. Education/experience: 120 hours + 40 hours field training. Exam: State exam. There were 506 self-employed inspection businesses and 208 with employees (3.6 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- West Virginia: Certification required, issued by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. Education/experience: 80 hours. Exam: NHIE. There were 124 self-employed inspection businesses and 15 with employees (2.5 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Wisconsin: Registration required, issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Education/experience: 40 hours (20 hands-on). Exam: NHIE + state law exam. There were 390 self-employed inspection businesses and 115 with employees (2.9 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
- Wyoming: No state license. Not verified against an official state source. There were 61 self-employed inspection businesses and 19 with employees (4.4 per 10,000 owner-occupied homes; U.S. 3.6).
Methods and sources
- Rules: We read each state’s licensing board or agency page, statute or administrative code (linked in the table) in October 2026. A row is marked verified only if the official page we linked contains the rule as stated. Where an official page blocked automated access, we read it through a web reader and kept a copy of the text.
- No license: For states listed as having no state license, we found no state licensing program for home inspectors. Unless a statute addresses it (California, Iowa, Pennsylvania), these rows are marked “not verified.”
- Recent bills: We searched LegiScan for 2025-2026 bills with “home inspector” or “home inspection” in the title to catch recent changes (for example, Georgia SB 458 and Missouri HB 1832, which did not become law).
- Counts: Census Nonemployer Statistics 2023 (NAICS 54135) and County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 541350); BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private ownership, annual averages 2019 and 2025; BLS OEWS May 2025 (SOC 47-4011); ACS 2024 one-year owner-occupied housing units (B25003); HMDA home purchase loans originated in 2025.
- Limits: NAICS 54135 also covers commercial building inspection and some other inspection services. Some inspectors work inside larger firms classified elsewhere, and some have a home inspection side business. Counts are of businesses, not people.
Related data
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Source: StartBusinessByState, “Home Inspector License Requirements by State, Plus How Many Inspectors Each Has (2026),” https://startbusinessbystate.com/home-inspector-license-requirements-by-state/ (updated October 8, 2026).
FAQ
Do you need a license to be a home inspector?
In 37 states, yes: you need a state license, certification or registration. California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wyoming have no state license, though Iowa and Pennsylvania set qualifications in law.
How many hours of training does a home inspector need?
It depends on the state. Among states that set hours, requirements range from 40 hours (for example, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota and Wisconsin) to 140 hours or more (Delaware and New York), with North Carolina requiring 120 classroom hours plus 80 hours of field training.
What exam do home inspectors take?
Most license states use the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). Some, such as Connecticut and Illinois, use their own state exam, and New York accepts either.
How many home inspectors are there in the U.S.?
No official source counts home inspectors directly. Census counted 23,409 self-employed building inspection businesses and 7,496 businesses with employees in 2023, which is the closest official measure.
Which states changed home inspector rules recently?
Iowa (SF 460, 2025) set who may issue a home inspection report, and Montana (HB 225, 2025) revised its home inspection law, which now requires a license. Utah now issues a private home inspector license based on a national certification.
Do licensed states have fewer home inspectors?
Not clearly. The median license state had 3.1 inspection businesses per 10,000 owner-occupied homes, compared with 3.3 in states without a license.
Last updated October 8, 2026 by StartBusinessByState.