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A home inspector is a professional who evaluates the condition of a home and provides a report to the prospective buyer. The report includes information on the condition of a home’s major systems, such as the roof, plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling. Home inspectors may also look for signs of pests, such as termites and mold.
Home inspections are important because they can help homebuyers avoid buying a property with major problems. It can also provide them negotiating power with the seller, such as getting them to make repairs or lowering the selling price to offset the cost of repairs.
Personally, I always hire a home inspector before closing any of my real estate transactions. It helps me to understand the property better and make sure that there are no hidden surprises.
Even if a home owner is not planning to sell their house, some may still want to get a home inspection to ensure that their property is in good condition. They may also provide valuable information about energy efficiency, safety concerns, and maintenance tips.
So if you’re thinking of becoming a home inspector in South Carolina, this is the perfect career guide for you.
To become a home inspector in South Carolina, the candidate must be at least 18 years old, complete the 120 hour of home inspector education, pass the National Home Inspector exam, and submit an application and fee to the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (SCRBC).
South Carolina Residential Builders Commission is the State agency that issues licenses to qualified home inspectors, sets standards for the profession, and oversees and regulates the home inspection industry.
To save you time, I read through all the home inspector licensing rules on the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission website and did extensive research on this career.
In this article, you’ll learn the steps to becoming a certified home inspector in South Carolina, income updates, and FAQs on this profession. I’m confident this will give you a better idea of whether being a home inspector is right for you.
Before we start, I want to disclose that the information in this post is for general information only and is not intended to provide any advice. Although I tried my best to obtain the info as accurately as possible, they are subject to change without any notice and are not guaranteed to be error-free. You should always follow your State Laws and home inspection best practices.
Table of Contents
- 5 Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in South Carolina
- Career Advice from a Licensed South Carolina Home Inspector
- FAQ on the Home Inspector Profession in South Carolina
- How long does it take to become a home inspector in South Carolina?
- How much does it take to become a home inspector in South Carolina?
- What’s next after you become an South Carolina Certified Home Inspector?
- How much do home inspectors make in South Carolina?
- Is there a demand for home inspectors in South Carolina?
- Is there any other alternative way to obtain the SC home inspector license?
- (Video) South Carolina Home Inspector License Requirement
- Other Helpful Resources:
The first step to begin in this career is to equip yourself with the necessary home inspection knowledge and obtain the Home Inspection Certification. ICA has years of experience in providing high-quality home inspection training. Here’s the link to their classes. (**)
5 Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in South Carolina
Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirement
- At least 18 years old
- Have a valid Social Security card
- Have a valid Driver’s License/ State Issued ID, Passport or Military ID
Step 2: Complete the home inspection education
In South Carolina, home inspector license applicants are required to complete 120-hour of home inspection education. It should guide you through the entire inspection process and equip you with adequate skills and knowledge in performing home inspections.
Typically speaking, the course package will cover the following key components of a home inspection:
- Structural
- Exterior
- Roofing
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Heating
- Cooling
- Interiors
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Fireplaces & Wood-burning appliances
- Pools & Spas
- Irrigation Systems and Environmental Issues
- Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics
- Business Practices
- Risk Management Tips for Home Inspectors
Step 3: Pass the Home Inspector Exam
The Commission needs to ensure you have adequate home inspection knowledge, so the next step is to pass the required test.
There are two ways to do it, you can either pass the:
- National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) OR
- South Carolina-specific exam plus the South Carolina Business Management and Law Exam
I will focus more on the National Exam as this is a more common one across the State. So if one were to transfer their home inspection license to another state in the future, I’m guessing it would be relatively easier to do.
But if you wish to explore the State-specific exams, you may find more info here.
So going back to the National Home Inspector Exam, it is a 4-hour exam consisting of 200 multiple choice questions (25 are pretest questions and will not be scored)
It covers 3 major domains, including:
- Property and Building Inspection/Site Review (63%)
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting (25%)
- Professional Responsibilities (12%)
The National Home Inspector Examination is “scale scored” from 200 to 800, with 500 as the passing score.
The exam is maintained by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI) and administered by PSI. There’s an exam fee of $225.
Step 4: Register with the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (SCRBC)
To get certified, you must complete and submit the Home Inspector Application to the SCRBC. Most of the questions on the application are pretty straightforward, where you will provide basic info such as your full name, date of birth, phone number, and mailing address.
Also, to ensure that the applicant is trustworthy, there are disciplinary questions. If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may need to provide further supporting documents or go through a background check.
The completed application needs to be notarized by a notary. The application fee of $80 and can be paid by a check/money order made payable to SCRBC.
In addition to the application and fee, you also need to provide a copy of your Social Security Card, a copy of your Driver’s License/State Issued ID/Military ID/Passport.
Once you have all the necessary document, you may submit them online or may mail them to :
- SC Residential Builders Commission, PO BOX 11329, Columbia, SC 29211
If you have any questions about the home inspection license registration, you may contact the SCRBC at:
- ContactLLR@llr.sc.gov
- 110 Centerview Dr, Columbia SC, Columbia, SC 29210
- Tel: (803) 896-4300
Step 5: Renew the license
All licensed home inspectors in South Carolina must renew their licenses every two years before June 30th. Typically speaking, the Commission will mail you a renewal notice around April.
But to avoid interruption of your home inspection practice, it’s better to put the renewal due date in your calendar. (Just set it on your phone or laptop.)
Also, at the time I’m writing this guide, there isn’t any continuing education requirement to renew the license. But of course, it doesn’t mean you should stop upgrading your home inspection skills and knowledge.
SC also uses the ASHI Standards of Practice, so be sure to get familiar with them.
Career Advice from a Licensed South Carolina Home Inspector
“Earning potential will vary based on your market and your effort. It really is unlimited. There is plenty of opportunity in this industry….
Do your research, and go on a ride alongs with an inspector to make sure it is going to be the career for you. The overhead is pretty low in this business, but there is somewhat expensive equipment you will want to get that can add up. Plan for growth, and use your resources.“
Ford Shadwell, Home Inspector from National Property Inspections
If you want to know what a day in the life of a home inspector is, the career outlook, and the challenges faced on the job, here’s an exclusive interview I had with Ford Shadwell.
In there, he shared with us his journey and insight about the home inspecting profession. So be sure to check it out.
If you are reading up to this point, I bet you must be interested in the home inspector profession. Your first step is to complete the pre-licensing courses. You should select one that has an excellent reputation and long-term track record of satisfying students. ICA is exactly that! You may click here to check it out yourself. (**)
FAQ on the Home Inspector Profession in South Carolina
How long does it take to become a home inspector in South Carolina?
It takes about 5 weeks to become a home inspector in South Carolina. This includes the approximate time it takes to complete the 120-hour education and 7-10 business days for the SC Residential Builders Commission to complete your application.
However, the actual duration will largely depend on the time you take to complete education requirement and pass the National Home Inspector Exam.
One way to speed up is by taking online courses from an approved education provider. This way, you may study at your own pace whenever and wherever.
To give you an example, if you study full-time (i.e., 8 hours a day), completing the course program should take about 3 weeks. Then the rest will be the time it takes to pass the exam and to go through the certified registration with the SC Residential Builders Commission.
How much does it take to become a home inspector in South Carolina?
It takes $330 to become a home inspector in South Carolina, including the $80 application fee and $250 exam fee.
However, that hasn’t include the home inspection education fee. I’ve seen an approved education provider with a course package of $595.
And if you want greater confidence in passing the exam on the first trial, you may invest in exam prep. Usually, that would be $100 more.
Of course, these are just the entrance fee for obtaining the license. If you want to run a home inspection business, you need to account for other business expenses such as car, gas, phone, offices, websites, marketing, home inspection equipment and software, legal and accounting fees, surety bond and insurance.
What’s next after you become an South Carolina Certified Home Inspector?
You may work for a company that is licensed by the SC Residential Builders Commission.
Alternatively, you may start your own business. On the license application, you’ll also need to state the type of business entity- for example, sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
There are many benefits of running your own home inspecting business. You are in control of your own destiny, you can set your own hours, and you get to be your own boss. You also have the potential to make more money if your business is successful.
On the other hand, it could take time to build a sustainable client base. At the initial stage of the business, you could be spending a significant amount of time prospecting for new business and building relationships with clients and referral partners.
Once again, you also need to account for business expenses as discussed above.
How much do home inspectors make in South Carolina?
According to ZipRecruiter (Sept 20, 2022), home inspectors in South Carolina make an average yearly income of $51,754. The annual income range typically ranges between $41,688 and $63,459. Top earning South Carolina home inspectors make over $74,113.
South Carolina home inspector income depends on several factors, including experience, geographical location, size of the property, and the type of inspection performed.
Home inspectors in South Carolina who have been in the business for several years can expect to earn more than those just starting out. Inspectors who work in areas with a high cost of living, such as Portland, can also expect to make more than those who work in other parts of the state.
>> Be sure to check out our “South Carolina Home Inspector Income Guide” <<
Is there a demand for home inspectors in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a population of over 5.092 million. According to Redfin, in Aug 2022, in just one month alone, there were 6,708 homes for sale in South Carolina. And a home inspection report plays an important role in the home buying process.
As long as people want to find out more about the home they purchase, there will be demand for home inspectors in South Carolina.
Personally, I always hire a home inspector before closing any of my real estate transactions. It helps me to understand the property better and make sure that there are no hidden surprises.
Is there any other alternative way to obtain the SC home inspector license?
As I’m reviewing the SCRBC website, there’s a work experience requirement route, where you’ll work under a supervising home inspector and perform 50 home inspections. (You do need to provide proof of it when submitting the license application.)
It allows you to gain actual field experience beyond textbook learning. You may find an SC Certified Home Inspector in the InterNACHI License Database or the NHIE Database. Alternatively, you may try searching through LinkedIn. This is how I build my connection with many real estate professionals!
There are a couple of different ways the work experience can be used as a replacement to fulfill other requirements. You may read over the Statutory Authority: 1976 Code, Chapter 106-4 Qualifications of Home Inspectors for more details.
(Video) South Carolina Home Inspector License Requirement
Other Helpful Resources:
- How Much do Home Inspector Make in South Carolina? (Complete Income Guide)
- Career Talk with Ford Shadwell (What is it like to be a home inspector?)
- How to Pass the Home Inspector Exam? (coming soon)
(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.
Reference:
- South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (source)
- Residential Home Inspector FAQ (source)
- National Home Inspector Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (source)
- ZipRecruiter – Home Inspector South Carolina (source)
- RedFin – South Carolina Housing Market (source)
Can you recommend a online class for me to attend home inspector school?
Hi Chandrell, you may want to check out ICA. Here’s a review I recently wrote about it. Hope it helps.
https://realestatecareerhq.com/ica/