(**) Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning RealEstateCareerHQ.com will get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links, but at no additional cost to you.
The role of a home inspector is to conduct a thorough evaluation of a home before its sale. This inspection allows potential buyers to identify any major problems with the property that could potentially cause costly repairs down the line.
In addition, home inspectors often provide helpful advice on repairs or maintenance that could improve the overall value of the home. Ultimately, a home inspection can give buyers peace of mind knowing that they are making a sound investment.
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.
To become a home inspector in Tennessee, the candidate must:
- Complete 90 hours of home inspector education,
- Pass the National Home Inspector exam,
- Obtain a general liability insurance with $500,000 of minimum coverage
- Get an E&O insurance,
- Submit a home inspector license application and fee to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance is the state department that establishes the home inspector requirement, issues licenses, and sets standards for the profession.
Being a home inspector could be a good career because it offers many job satisfactions. Primarily, home inspectors get to help people. When you’re looking for a career that is both personally and financially rewarding, becoming a home inspector is a great choice.
So if you’re thinking of becoming a home inspector in Tennessee, this is the perfect career guide for you.
To save you time, I read through the home inspector licensing rules and did extensive research on this career.
In this article, you’ll learn the steps to becoming a licensed home inspector in Tennessee, 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, just a brief disclaimer 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
- 7 Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in Tennessee
- Career Advice from a Licensed Home Inspector
- FAQ on the Home Inspector Profession in Tennessee
- (Video) Tennessee Home Inspector License Requirement (Coming soon)
- 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. (**)
7 Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in Tennessee
Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirement
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Hold a high school diploma or general education development (GED) certificate
Step 2: Complete the home inspection education
Home inspector license applicants may complete 40-hour of home inspection courses from an approved education provider. It should equip you with adequate skills and comprehensive home inspection instruction in performing home inspections.
Typically speaking, the course curriculum will cover the following key components of a home inspection:
- Roofing
- Exterior
- Interior
- Structural
- Plumbing
- Electric
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC)
- Insulation
- Fireplace and Chimney
- Ethical Business Practices,
- Professional Standards and Report
Step 3: Pass the Home Inspector Exam
Passing the National Home Inspector exam is another way the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance ensure you have adequate home inspection knowledge.
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: Obtain insurance coverage
It’s always better to be prepared now than sorry later. Insurances help to protect home inspectors financially in the event of an unforeseen circumstance.
During the home inspection business activities, there could be unexpected events which cause financial losses resulting from damages or injuries. General Liability insurance may help protect businesses from these claims.
In Tennessee, all licensees must obtain a General Liability insurance with coverage of no less than $500,000.
Furthermore, as a home inspector, you are responsible for providing accurate and objective information about the condition of a home. Your clients rely on you to help them make informed decisions about buying or selling a home, and if something goes wrong, they may hold you liable.
E&O insurance can help protect you from financial damages that may result from errors or omissions in your work as a home inspector. Depending on the terms and conditions of your coverage, typically speaking, they help cover the cost of your legal defense, as well as any damages that may be awarded, but to a certain maximum.
You are required to obtain E&O insurance. Though there isn’t a minimum coverage requirement, you may select the coverage amount suitable for your business.
Keep in mind that:
- The effective date cannot be TBA. There needs to be an effective coverage dates.
- The policies must state the individual’s name as the “The Insured.” (But you may also include dba/company name.)
- The insurance provider must indicate the Certificate Holder to be the “TN Home Inspector Licensing Program, 500 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243”.
Step 5: Register with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance
To obtain the home inspection license, you must complete and submit an online application through core.tn.gov.
Here’s a video on how to create an CORE account:
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.
There is a $300 application fee. You can send them a check/money order made payable to Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance or pay online.
In addition to the application, you must also provide the following:
- Proof that you are at least 18 years old
- A copy of the high school diploma or GED certificate
- A copy of National Home Inspector Examination result
- Completion proof of 90 hours of home inspection education
- Valid policy numbers of the General Liability insurance and E&O insurance
There is a $300 non-refundable application fee.
If you have any questions about the home inspection license registration, you may contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.
- Home Inspector Licensing Program
- 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1166
- Phone (615) 741-1831
Step 6: Start working as a home inspector
You may work for a company that is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. You can find the list of home inspectors through the TN Verify Home.
I just tried using through the database. There’s no need to input any details. Just select “Home Inspectors” under the “Profession” category. Then it will show you the full list of home inspectors.
However, the list doesn’t show their contact info, you can try reaching out to them through Google Search or LinkedIn. Perhaps, some of them could be hiring and willing to take on trainees.
Alternatively, you may start your own business. Depending on your goal, you may consult an accountant the business structure suitable for you (i.e., 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.
However, you also need to account for other business expenses such as home inspection equipment, gas, car, accounting and legal fees.
Step 7: Renew the license
All licensed home inspectors in Tennessee must renew their licenses ever two years. A renewal notice will be sent to you 60 days before the license expires. 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.)
Actually, the renewal requirement is very similar to the initial licensing. You need to maintain the general commercial liability insurance, E&O coverage, workers’ compensation policy or independent contractor exemption certification.
You must also complete 32 hours of approved continuing education for each licensing term.
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. (**)
Career Advice from a Licensed 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.
FAQ on the Home Inspector Profession in Tennessee
How long does it take to become a home inspector in Tennessee?
It takes about 4 weeks to become a home inspector in Tennessee. This includes the time it takes to complete the 90-hour education, pass the exam and prepare all the necessary documents required by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.
However, the actual duration could vary as it really depends on how long it takes to complete each of the steps as discussed above.
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.
How much does it take to become a home inspector in Tennessee?
It takes approximately $1,145 to become a home inspector in Tennessee, including the application fee, home inspector education and exam fee.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Application fee $300
- Home inspection courses $595 to $795
- Exam fee $250
However, that hasn’t included the premium for the general commercial liability insurance and E&O insurance.
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.
But even so, the startup cost of a home inspection business is significantly lower than many brick-and-mortar businesses.
How much do home inspectors make in Tennessee?
According to ZipRecruiter (Sept 20, 2022), home inspectors in Tennessee make an average yearly income of $59,087. The annual income typically ranges between $45,580 and $69,122. Top earning Tennessee home inspectors make over $80,142
Tennessee home inspector income depends on several factors, including experience, geographical location, size of the property, and the type of inspection performed.
Home inspectors in Tennessee 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 can also expect to make more than those who work in other parts of the state.
>> Be sure to check out our “Tennessee Home Inspector Income Guide“ <<
Is there a demand for home inspectors in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a population of over 6.975 million. When positioning your home inspection business, you may consider areas with solid growth in home sales. According to RedFin, Calhoun, Oakland, Ridgetop, Christiana, and Atoka are some of the cities with the highest competitive score. Typically speaking, those are the areas with great housing demand.
As long as people want to find out more about the home they purchase, there will be demand for home inspectors in Tennessee.
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.
(Video) Tennessee Home Inspector License Requirement (Coming soon)
Other Helpful Resources:
- How Much do Home Inspector Make in Tennessee? (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:
- Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance – Home Inspector Licensing Program (source)
- Home Inspector Application Requirements (source)
- National Home Inspector Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (source)
- ZipRecruiter – Home Inspector Tennessee (source)
