1. Complete 84 Hours of Arizona-Approved Home Inspection Education

The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration requires a license to work as a home inspector, and choosing the right training will set you apart and help you build your brand as a reputable inspector. The 84-hour required Arizona-approved home inspector course aligns with topics on the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE).

2. Pass the National Home Inspector Exam

After completing your home inspector courses, 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 and submit it with the receipt to the VA for reimbursement.

3. Complete the Required Fieldwork

After you’ve passed the NHIE, you’re required to complete 30 parallel inspections. When you apply for your Home Inspector License, you must include a log of your 30 parallel inspections. You’re also required to have a notarized affidavit signed by each parallel inspector, which you will submit along with your parallel inspection log.

4. Obtain an Arizona Department of Public Safety Clearance Card

Arizona Revised Statutes require registered home inspectors to have an active fingerprint clearance card prior to or as a condition of licensure.

5. Provide Proof of Insurance

As a licensed home inspector in Arizona, you must obtain errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O insurance helps cover claims of negligence, errors in your services, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, omissions, and violations of good faith and fair dealing. You’re required to have a policy minimum of $200,000 in aggregate and $100,000 per occurrence or a bond for $25,000. You must include a valid policy number and effective coverage dates.

6. Sign, Date, and Complete an Arizona Statement of Citizenship and Alien Status for Public Benefits Form

You are required to complete the Arizona Statement of Citizenship and Alien Status for Public Benefits form. You will also need to provide a copy of your government-issued photo ID.

7. Disclose Any Prior Disciplinary Action, Charges, or Convictions

If you have had any license or registration disciplined in Arizona or another jurisdiction, you must provide a copy of the order. If you have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense, you’re required to provide a detailed written explanatory statement regarding all instances.

8. Pay $175 Application Fee and Apply to Be an Arizona Home Inspector

Once you’ve taken and passed the National Home Inspector Exam, you can apply for your license. You’ll need to pay a $175 application fee.