Home Inspection FAQs
Pre-Course Questions
AHIT has been in business since 1993 and has trained over 50,000 inspectors. We are the largest and most recognized training provider in the country, and real estate agents and mortgage companies recognize AHIT quality and know that you were trained properly. We have the best instructors in the trade and are proud of having the most graduates in the industry.
In addition to our classroom and online training, AHIT offers more than our competitors as we teach you how to start and market your business. We provide unlimited business and technical support to our students and graduates. This service is free of charge for your entire career as a Home Inspector, whether you are going through the training or need support down the road, we are here to help.
Each state has different education requirements. Some states allow online training while others require some form of live classroom/field training. AHIT customizes its classes by state to ensure we meet all the education requirements.
Absolutely not! We have students from all different “first careers” that do very well in this field. We train you from the ground up! Previous experience in the trades is helpful but not necessary.
No, quite the opposite! In most parts of the country, Home Inspectors continue to be in high demand. AHIT training will help you differentiate yourself from your competitors and help you stand out amongst the competition.
Experts are projecting an eight percent increase in jobs for Home Inspectors and related professionals to 2024.[1] Home inspectors can rely on people are always purchasing homes for upgrades, down-sizing, investing and relocating.
It depends if you will be working full-time or part-time. Typically, a full-time inspector makes an average of $50,000 – $75,000 their first year. Most inspections pay between $300 and $500.
Residential and light commercial (salons, apartment complexes, condos, strip malls, fast-food restaurants etc.) as well as foreclosures.
Women are becoming more and more prominent in the industry every year. Working with the numerous female real-estate agents and lenders provide some great advantages to women in the home inspection field.
Common tools of the trade include mirror, flashlight, electrical testers, gas detector and laser thermometer, and a ladder. We provide a start-up tool kit at a low cost to our students. You will also likely want an app that will save you time writing your inspection reports. We offer the Home Inspection Pro (HIP) reporting software that will make your life easier and more convenient for your clients.
You can find testimonials on the website, in our catalog, and on our Facebook page. While we can’t provide direct contact information for our alumni, we certainly can get you in touch with one of our instructors who can answer any questions you may have.
We don’t have a set deadline—registration for online class is always open and registration for live training is on a “first come, first served basis.” We recommend that for live training you enroll as soon as possible to assure yourself a seat in the class, and to make sure you have enough time to read through all the course books and online materials.
The online course includes 14 modules, or lessons, and typically takes about 120 hours to complete.
Online courses must be completed within twelve (12) months of enrollment date. If you are unable to complete your course within the initial twelve (12)-month period, then you may extend your course access, for a fee, for up to eighteen (18) months total, when allowed by the regulatory body.* The cost of extension is twenty percent (20%) of the current retail price of the course for each thirty (30)-day extension or partial thirty (30)-day extension, in the event that the course expires prior to the end of the final thirty (30)-day extension. Access to the course after thirty (30) days from initial expiration requires re-enrollment at a discounted fee of fifty percent (50%) of the current retail cost and no progress will be kept.
*The Louisiana AHIT course must be completed within six (6) months of purchase date. No extensions are allowed.
Live classes and field training expire according to the class dates and attendance is required. Missing any scheduled days will result in forfeiture of tuition and require re-enrollment in an upcoming class at a discounted fee of fifty percent (50%) of the current retail cost.
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We go above and beyond our competitors by offering unlimited business and technical support, teaching business and marketing. Our online course – including our textbook – addresses current industry standards to best meet state pre-licensing requirements and prepare you for a fruitful career in home inspection. We are the largest and most recognized trainer of Home Inspectors in North America. Other schools simply don’t have the man power to provide this level of education and support to their students.
We have live training across the country and currently hold over 200 live classes a year. We are always updating our live class offerings, but we typically set the schedule for all live classes at the end of each year. Check the schedule here.
Although live training can last anywhere between three and 19 days, live courses typically last three to five days.
Our classes run from 8am to 6pm. We have found that the way our courses are structured work out best for our students. Our courses are designed to eliminate as many business days as we can, so if you have a full-time job, you will miss as little work as possible. You will meet all the requirements of your state and get the training done quickly, allowing you to get your license and get your business started as soon as possible.
Although your state may not have any licensing requirements, the real estate agents and banks you will work with want to make sure you have been properly trained. In a state with no requirements, having a certification is crucial for you to differentiate yourself from the competition.
It depends on which state you move to, as our courses are recognized in almost every state. We will apply the tuition you already paid towards additional training if needed in the state you move to. In most cases, you will be covered but may have to take an additional exam. No matter where you move, we can get you the training you need to be successful.
You have a few payment options! We want to help make your training more affordable. That’s why we offer convenient payment plans for live and online courses. These plans allow you to conveniently stretch out your payments in 30-day increments, with your first payment due at purchase. The best part? There’s no credit check or financing. Simply choose the payment plan option at checkout and set up your plan.
Want to finance your training instead? We offer 3-, 6-, and 12-month financing through Affirm. Get more info at this link.
Online Questions
You can call (800) 441-9411, Option 2 to discuss.
In addition to our classroom and online training, AHIT offers more than our competitors as we teach you how to start and market your business. We provide unlimited business and technical support to our students and graduates. This service is free of charge for your entire career as a Home Inspector, whether you are going through the training or need support down the road, we are here to help.
The link to online training is: https://ahit.leaponline.com/login.
If you live in North Carolina, Illinois or Texas, you will need to take your final exam with an approved proctor.
Please see Online Proctoring instructions here.
In-Course Questions
Along with accessing your account and course materials, there are a few more steps to help you get started. Here is our quick guide to help you prepare for both live and online course types:
https://www.ahit.com/ahit-enrollment-next-steps
Texas Students – https://www.ahit.com/ahit-enrollment-texas-next-steps
Shipments of purchases normally arrive within 7-10 business days from your purchase date.
Depending on your state’s requirements, a Completion Certificate will be available online within 72 hours of completing all requirements.
You can inspect in numerous states as long as you meet the requirements. Some states will have more requirements than others. Should you need more training, we will apply the tuition you already paid towards additional training if needed.
In some states, yes. The state in which you live will determine the hours and courses required to maintain your home inspection license.
An AHIT graduate receives unlimited support. Whether you are working through your online training or are in the field 10 years after graduating from our program, our instructors and technical support team are only a phone call away.
We also offer Continuing Education (CE) and Professional Development courses to continue to build your skills. Our lively Facebook Group is followed by current and past students where they have numerous discussions every day. Past instructors are also active on AHIT’s Facebook Group, offering helpful answers and guidance.
We currently do not have a job board, but we recommend that you utilize the business and marketing skills your learned in class, including how to get your own business off the ground and how to market yourself using tested techniques designed to maximize your income potential. Some students choose to start by working for a home inspection company in their area, but we have found this to be the less profitable option.
It depends on your state. We have online continuing education (CE) courses approved in most states.
Typically, your license will have to be renewed every two years (sometimes every year) depending on your state. You can renew your license by completing a certain amount of CE hours (courses), and by re-applying with the state. As a training provider, we make sure we have classes available to meet your state’s renewal requirements. We have an entire library of courses you can take to meet your state’s requirements and add additional services to your business.
Not long at all! Once you obtain proper certification/license and start marketing yourself you will gain momentum. Most students say it takes a few months. Usually after one year of hard work, your business will be up and running well. Some inspectors are doing five inspections or more per week after only a couple of months. It really depends how well you market yourself and how motivated you are to achieve success.
[1] According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for all building and construction inspectors, which includes home inspectors, were expected to grow by 8% between 2014 and 2024 (www.bls.gov).
[2] In the event of an extension or re-enrollment, it is the responsibility of the student to verify with a school representative that the course approval is still active.
HEADQUARTERS
American Home Inspectors Training
5670 Greenwood Plaza Blvd Suite 340W
Greenwood Village, CO 80111