Become a Home Inspector in Alabama — Your Six-Step Guide to Alabama Certification

Complete 120 hours of Alabama-Approved Home Inspection Education

The Alabama Division of Construction Management mandates that all home inspectors must obtain a license. The first step in obtaining an Alabama Home Inspector License is completing the required 120-hour Alabama state-approved home inspection course. Professional home inspection training from a reputable home inspection school is key to understanding common business practices as well as establishing yourself as a trusted expert.

Conduct 35 Home Inspections in the Field or Complete 35 hours of Approved Home Inspection Education & Participate in 100 Home Inspections with a Licensed Alabama Home Inspector.

The next step in acquiring your Alabama Home Inspector License is completing 35 home inspections in the field or a 35-hour course with participation in 100 home inspections with a licensed inspector. Then you must complete 25 draft inspection reports for 25 home inspections and have them reviewed and corrected by a qualified home inspector.

This experience provides you with real-world, hands-on training that will make your transition into the field seamless.

Take and Pass the ASHI Exam and the NHIE

After completing your home inspector courses and field requirements, it’s time to take and pass the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) exam . A free Home Inspection Standards of Practice course for the ASHI exam can be found on the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors website .

The National Home Inspector 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.

Provide Proof of Insurance

Making mistakes is a part of human nature, and it happens to the best of us. All home inspectors in Alabama must purchase an errors and omissions insurance policy with at least $250,000 in coverage and a liability insurance policy with $20,000 in coverage for injury/damage to a property, $50,000 in coverage for personal injury/death to a person, and $100,000 in coverage for injury/death to more than one person. Errors and omissions policies for small businesses are roughly $59 per month. To get the best rate and a better idea of what coverage you need, speak with a licensed local insurance agent who has worked with other home inspectors, members of local home inspector trade organizations, or shop for insurers online.

Show Proof of Membership in an Approved Industry Organization, Approval to Conduct Inspections, or a High School Diploma With 1 Year of Experience

According to the Alabama Division of Construction Management , all Home Inspector License applicants must possess membership in one of the following Alabama-approved home inspection organizations:

• American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
• Housing Inspection Foundation (HIF)
• International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
• National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI)

Alternatively, they may provide evidence of certification or approval to conduct home inspections by:

• United States Veterans Administration
• United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Southern Building Code Congress International
• Council of American Building Officials

Finally, applicants may satisfy the requirement by providing their GED or high school diploma and showing proof of 1 year of home inspection experience with the completion of at least 100 home inspections.

Note: Applicants who have held Alabama licensure on or after 1/1/98 as a general contractor, registered professional architect, registered professional engineer, or residential home builder will not be required to repeat proof of such professional licensing and will satisfy this requirement.

Pay $300 Application Fee and Submit a Notarized Application

Once everything has been completed, it’s time to apply for your Alabama Home Inspector License. The application fee is $300, and the application must be notarized upon submission. Candidates can submit their application and pay the associated fees online.