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Real Estate & Property

How to Verify a Home Inspector License

Home inspector licensing is fragmented — roughly a third of U.S. states have no statewide licensing requirement. Where licensing exists, it is typically administered by a state real estate or consumer protection agency. Here is how to determine what applies in your state and how to verify an inspector's credentials.

· 7 min read

Quick answer

First check whether your state requires home inspector licensing. In licensed states, verify through the state real estate commission or consumer protection agency. In unlicensed states, verify professional association membership — ASHI (homeinspector.org) and InterNACHI (nachi.org) are the two most credible. Always separately verify errors and omissions (E&O) and general liability insurance.

States with licensing vs. states without

Approximately 36 states and Washington D.C. require home inspectors to be licensed or registered. About 14 states have no statewide licensing requirement (including Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin as of 2025).

State home inspector licensing portals (selected)

  • Texas: Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) — trec.texas.gov; Inspector Search
  • Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Home Inspector
  • New York: NYS Department of State — dos.ny.gov; Home Inspector License Search
  • Pennsylvania: PA State Real Estate Commission — dos.pa.gov; Home Inspector Certification Search
  • Virginia: Virginia DPOR — dpor.virginia.gov; License Lookup; Home Inspector
  • North Carolina: NC Home Inspector Licensure Board — nchilb.com; License Lookup
  • Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov/LicenseLookup; Home Inspector
  • Washington: Washington State DOL — secure.lni.wa.gov; Home Inspector License

For states not listed, search “[State] home inspector licensing board” to find the relevant agency. In states without statewide licensing, some cities or counties may have local requirements.

ASHI and InterNACHI membership verification

In states without licensing requirements, professional association membership is the primary credentialing indicator. The two most widely recognized associations are:

ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)

ASHI offers three membership tiers: Associate, Inspector, and Certified Inspector (ACI). Certified Inspector status requires completion of 250 paid inspections and passing the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). ASHI enforces a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

Verify at: homeinspector.org → Find an Inspector (searchable by name, zip code, or ASHI member number)

InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors)

InterNACHI is the largest home inspector association by membership. Certified Inspector status requires passing an online exam, meeting experience requirements, and completing continuing education. InterNACHI's online exam is less rigorous than the NHIE, but InterNACHI members are widely accepted across the industry.

Verify at: nachi.org → Find a Certified Inspector (search by name or member ID)

The NHIE: national home inspector examination

The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is administered by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). It is the most rigorous standardized exam available for home inspectors and is used as the licensing exam in most states that require one.

Passing the NHIE indicates a higher standard of exam preparation than association-only credentials. Candidates must pass a proctored exam with 200 questions covering building systems, inspection procedure, and report writing.

NHIE passage can be confirmed through the inspector's state license record (in states where it is the licensing exam) or by requesting a score report directly from EBPHI.

Insurance verification

Home inspection involves significant liability risk. Before engaging a home inspector (or hiring one as a contractor or employee), verify:

  • Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance: Covers claims arising from missed defects or inspection errors. Most states that license home inspectors require E&O. For unlicensed states, require it contractually. Standard minimum is $100K per claim.
  • General Liability insurance: Covers bodily injury or property damage during an inspection. Typical minimum $300K–$500K per occurrence.

Request a certificate of insurance (COI) directly from the inspector's insurer. Verify the policy is active and not expired. Several home inspector associations (ASHI, InterNACHI) have affiliated insurance programs, but membership does not guarantee the inspector maintains active coverage.

Verification checklist

  • 1. Determine whether your state requires home inspector licensing
  • 2. In licensed states: search the state real estate commission or licensing board portal by name or license number
  • 3. In unlicensed states: verify ASHI or InterNACHI certified membership at homeinspector.org or nachi.org
  • 4. Confirm Active status and no disciplinary history on the license or membership record
  • 5. Request and verify current E&O insurance certificate
  • 6. Request and verify current general liability insurance certificate
  • 7. Set renewal reminder — state licenses typically renew every 1–2 years

Verify construction and trade program accreditation

Home inspectors with construction or engineering backgrounds may have degrees or credentials from trade schools and vocational programs. Use VerifyED to confirm their training institution was accredited.

Search Schools and Accreditation →