How to Become a Home Inspector in North Carolina

Learning the ins and outs of becoming a licensed home inspector in North Carolina is a question we get all the time here at NCLHIA. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in. As we begin, you should note that there are 3 steps to obtaining your license and starting your new career or part-time hustle as a home inspector. We’ve compiled a list of resources for each step to help you get started.

Before beginning, you should check the requirements for a license at the NC Home Inspector Licensure Board.

However, if you learn better when you have more accountability and the opportunity to ask questions right at the moment, and you want to simply knock out your training in a predetermined block of time, then in-person training may suit you. NCLHIA has partnered with Inspection Certification Associates (ICA) as our exclusive provider for pre-licensing education. Contact ICA to learn about their offerings.

Now that you’ve completed your course work and the foundation has been laid, it’s time for the fun to begin.

In a Lab or In the Field?

Depending on who you choose to work with for your field training, it could be in a lab or on real-life inspections. The advantage of field training in a lab is that you’ll be able to see a lot more scenarios that you might encounter in the field, such as different HVAC systems. If you do your field training during real inspections, then you will only encounter what each inspection has to offer. So, you may not experience as many of the scenarios an inspector may see in the field. But, during the real inspections, you’ll have the benefit of seeing how your instructor works, his/her workflow and maybe even how they work with clients and agents. As with any business you need the fundamental knowledge in place, but what will ultimately determine your success is how you work with people. After all, people are hiring you to communicate to them the condition of the property. Polish those people skills.

NCLHIA has partnered with Inspection Certification Associates (ICA) to provide field training. ICA offers field training courses in various locations in the NC. Contact ICA to learn about their offerings.

Now that you’ve completed. your course work and field training it’s time to take the final exam. The exam is administered in Raleigh and you have to apply to take the exam. Refer to the exam schedule and requirements on the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s website. 

It is imporant that you read over all of the requirements before applying and sitting for the exam. The process has 3 steps

So there you have it; all the steps required to becoming a Licensed Home Inspector in North Carolina. Now get out there and get started!