1. Complete 40 Hours of a Wisconsin-Approved Home Inspection Course
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services mandates that all home inspectors must be certified. The first step in obtaining a Wisconsin Home Inspector License is completing the required 40-hour state-approved home inspection course. At least 20 of those completed hours must come from hands-on instruction in the performance of home inspections and home inspection report writing.
Professional home inspection training from a reputable home inspection school is key to understanding Wisconsin home inspection law. Many home inspection associations and industry professionals agree that this coursework is essential to setting yourself up for success from the start.
2. Pass the National Home Inspector Exam
fter 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 Wisconsin Home Inspector Statutes and Rules Exam
Once you’ve passed the NHIE, it’s time to take the Wisconsin Home Inspector Statutes and Rules Exam (WHIS).
After you’ve scheduled your exam, submit your application for home inspector registration (Form #2466) with the exam fee. When the application has been processed, you will be assigned an exam name, password, and application ID number. You must achieve an 85% or better on the Home Inspector Statutes & Rules exam in order to pass.
4. Complete Wisconsin Form #2466 and Provide Proof of Completion of Your NHIE and WHIS Exams
Once you’ve passed both exams, fill out the rest of Form #2466.
4. Pay the $126 Fee & Submit your Home Inspector Application to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Lastly, pay the $126 application fee and submit your application to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.