1. Complete 80 Hours of a New Mexico-Approved Home Inspection Course

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department mandates that all home inspectors must obtain a license. The first step in obtaining a New Mexico Home Inspector License is completing the required 80-hour New Mexico 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.

2. Pass the National Home Inspector Exam

After completing your home inspector education, the next step in establishing yourself as a trusted expert is passing the National Home Inspector Exam. The 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.

Fun Fact: Veterans taking the National Home Inspector Exam are eligible for reimbursement through the GI Bill. Those who choose to exercise this benefit must complete a VBA-22-0803-ARE form and submit it with the receipt to the VA for reimbursement.

3. Complete 80 Hours in the Field With 30 Parallel Inspections

The next step in acquiring your New Mexico Home Inspector License is completing the required 80 hours in the field with 30 parallel inspections. This experience provides you with invaluable, real-world, hands-on training that will make your transition into the field seamless.

4. Complete a National & State Background Check with Fingerprinting

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department requires applicants to submit to a national and statewide background check with fingerprinting. It’s important to note that a criminal record does not necessarily disqualify an applicant from licensure unless they have committed a disqualifying felony.

5. Provide Proof of E&O Insurance of $250,000 in Aggregate

Making mistakes is a part of human nature, and it happens to the best of us. All home inspectors in New Mexico must legally purchase an errors and omissions insurance policy with at least $250,000 in coverage.

6. Apply and Pay $250 Application Fee Plus $1,000 3-year License Fee

The final step is to send in your application with the $250 application fee and the $1,000 3-year license fee. All payments must be made in the form of a cashier’s check or personal check to the New Mexico Home Inspectors Board. Veterans who can prove they’ve been honorably discharged within the last three years are eligible to have their initial application fees waived.