1. Complete a Rhode Island-Approved Home Inspection Course

The Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board requires a license to work as a home inspector. The recommended Rhode Island-approved home inspection course, including ebooks, aligns with topics on the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE).

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. Conduct 50 Assisted Home Inspections With a Licensed Home Inspector

Next, you must perform 50 inspections supervised by a licensed Rhode Island home inspector, to earn your Rhode Island Home Inspector Associate License. Then complete at least one year as an associate and 100 additional home inspections for compensation. These are real-life inspections that will prepare you for what you will encounter out in the field.

4. Provide Proof of a General Liability or Commercial General Insurance Policy

Every Rhode Island licensed home inspector shall maintain, or be covered by, a comprehensive general liability insurance policy or a commercial general liability insurance policy with at least $500,000 in the aggregate and $500,000 for general liability insurance. These policies must have the Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board listed as the holder.

In addition to the general liability insurance, you will also be required to have the following:

• Certificate of Errors and Omission Insurance listing RICRLB as the holder. (min. $500,000)
• Certificate of Worker’s Compensation Insurance listing RICRLB as the holder if you have employees

When you file an initial license application, you will submit a certificate of insurance (COI) from your insurer showing you are covered by a commercial general or comprehensive general liability policy for at least the required coverage.

5. Pay $200 Application Fee and Apply Online

To earn your Rhode Island Home Inspector License, you must submit an application with the required $200 fee. This fee will cover the cost of a license for two years.

You can apply for your license online using the Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board’s new online platform. All applications must be submitted online.

When applying online, first-time applicants seeking a Home Inspector License must select “home inspector associate” in the license category field of the application.