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A home inspector is an important career because they help ensure that homes are safe and structurally sound. Home inspectors inspect homes for potential safety hazards and provide buyers with a report of their findings. This report can help buyers make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase a home. Home inspectors can also help sellers identify potential problems with their home that need to be fixed before listing it for sale.
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 Washington, the candidate must complete 120-hour of home inspector education, pass the Home Inspector exam, complete 40 hours of field training, submit a home inspector license application and fee to the Washington State Department of Licensing.
Washington State Department of Licensing is the State agency that issues licenses to qualified home inspectors, sets standards for the profession, and oversees and regulates the home inspection industry.
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 Washington, this is the perfect career guide for you.
To save you time, I read through the home inspector licensing rules on the Washington State Department of Licensing website and did extensive research on this career.
In this article, you’ll learn the steps to becoming a certified home inspector in Washington, 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
- 5 Simple Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in Washington
- Career Advice from a Licensed Home Inspector
- FAQ on the Home Inspector Profession in Washington
- (Video) Washington Home Inspector License Requirement
- Other Helpful Resources:
5 Simple Steps to Become a Certified Home Inspector in Washington
Step 1: Complete 120-hour of home inspection education
In Washington, home inspector license applicants are required to complete 120-hour of home inspection courses from an approved education provider. It should equip you with full knowledge on the fundamentals of home inspection.
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
Step 2: Complete 40-hour field training
The next step is to complete 40 hours of field training and 5 actual inspections with a licensed home inspector. It allows you to gain actual field experience beyond classroom learning.
(On a side note, I just did an interview with Ford Shadwell, a licensed home inspector. He also suggested going on ride-along is a great idea, as this can help you determine whether this is the right career path for you.)
You may find an Washington licensed 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!
I’ve seen some home inspector education providers offering live training, which may be used to fulfill part of the inspection requirements.
Keep in mind that travel time to and from inspections, meals, and report writing time will not be counted toward the field training.
Also, you must keep a detailed training log because you’ll need to provide it when registering for the exam. The supervising inspector also needs to sign the log sheet.
Step 3: Pass the Home Inspector Exam
The State Department needs to ensure you have adequate home inspection knowledge, so the next step is to write the Home Inspector Exam.
The Washington Home Inspector Exam consists of two portions, the state portion and the national portion. If you take them both together, the questions will be mixed together and won’t appear in different sections.
The full examination has 199 multiple-choice questions with 5 unscored pretest items. You’ll have
4 hours to complete it.
The exam covers 3 major domains, including:
- Property and Building Inspection/Site Review (63%)
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting (25%)
- Professional Responsibilities (12%)
The required passing score is at least 70%.
There are two steps to registering for the exam. First, you need to register with the Washington State Department of Licensing.
You may do so online by creating a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account. Therefore, you’ll need to upload:
- Fundamentals of Home Inspection course completion proof
- 40 hours of field training log
Alternatively, you may mail them the completed Home Inspector Examination Application, along with the course completion certificate and a training log to: (Home Inspectors, Department of Licensing, PO Box 9021, Olympia, WA 98507-9021)
After the Licensing Department review your application, they will send you an approval letter with all the necessary info (i.e., assigned ID number.) This way, you may schedule the exam writing with the testing vendor.
The exam is administered by PSI and there’s an exam fee of $300. You may schedule the exam with them online here.
- >> “Real Estate” as the category.
- >> “Washington Home Inspector Program” as the program.
- >> “Home Inspector Examination” as the examination.
- >> “Schedule/Apply for this Exam.” Then you may input the required details such as your Assigned ID# to select your desired testing site.
Once you pass the exam, the testing vendor will provide you a pass report.
Step 4: Register with the Washington State Department of Licensing
To obtain the home inspection license, you must complete and submit the Home Inspector License Application. (Note that your exam result is only valid for one year from the testing date.)
Once again, you may do so online through the SAW system or mail them the necessary documents to the Department of Licensing. Though, there is an additional $5 for DOOL print and mail license. I personally would prefer online submission. It eliminate all the mailing and a lot quicker. Besides, less paper consumption is always better for the environment!
Anyway, 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 legal background questions. If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may need to provide further supporting documents.
The application fee of $680 and can be paid by a check/money order made payable to Department of Licensing.
In addition to the application and fee, you also need to provide the official document that shows you’ve passed the exam.
Step 5: Renew the license
All licensed home inspectors in Washington must renew their licenses every two years. An interesting note is that, unlike most states that use the calendar date, a home inspector license expires on the applicant’s second birthday following the issuance of the license. Therefore, in some occasions, it could result in a shorter licensing term.
The Department of Licensing usually will mail you a renewal reminder notice 60 days before it expires. But to avoid interruption of your home inspection practice, it’s better to put the due date in your calendar. (Just set it on your phone or laptop.)
In addition to the renewal application and fee, you must complete 24 hours of approved continuing education for each licensing term.
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 Washington
How long does it take to become a home inspector in Washington?
It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to become a home inspector in Washington. This includes the approximate time it takes to complete the 120-hour education and 40 hours field training.
Besides fulfilling the above requirements, the actual duration will largely depend on the time to pass the Home Inspector Exam and the processing time for the Washington State Department of Licensing to approve your application.
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. Also, submitting online applications whenever possible could eliminate the mailing time.
To give you an example, if you work on the licensing requirement full-time (i.e., 8 hours a day), completing the course program and field training should take about 4 weeks. Then the rest will be the time it takes to go through the exam, and the application process.
How much does it take to become a home inspector in Washington?
It takes $1030 to become a home inspector in Washington, including the $680 application fee and $350 exam fee.
However, that hasn’t include the home inspection education fee. And if you want greater confidence in passing the exam on the first trial, you may invest in exam prep.
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.
At the time I’m writing this guide, there isn’t any requirement that to obtain insurance or bond to be a home inspector. However, to protect your business against liability due to negligence, it’s important to look into a proper E&O coverage for your home inspection practice.
What’s next after you become an Washington Certified Home Inspector?
You may work for a company that is licensed by the Washington State Department of Licensing.
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.
Once again, you also need to account for business expenses as discussed above.
How much do home inspectors make in Washington?
According to ZipRecruiter (Sept 20, 2022), home inspectors in Washington make an average yearly income of $65,935. The annual income range typically ranges between $48,934 and $74,209. Top earning Washington home inspectors make over $86,039.
Washington home inspector income depends on several factors, including experience, geographical location, size of the property, and the type of inspection performed.
Home inspectors in Washington 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 “Washington Home Inspector Income Guide” <<
Is there a demand for home inspectors in Washington?
Washington has a population of over 7.512 million. According to Redfin, in Aug 2022, in just one month alone, there were 9,816 homes for sale in Washington. 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 Washington.
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) Washington Home Inspector License Requirement
Other Helpful Resources:
- How Much do Home Inspector Make in Washington? (Complete Income Guide)
- Career Talk with Ford Shadwell (What is it like to be a home inspector?)
- FAQ for Home Inspectors and Consumers
- How to Pass the Home Inspector Exam? (coming soon)
- American Society of Home Inspectors – Washington Chapter
(**) 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:
- Washington State Department of Licensing (source)
- National Home Inspector Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (source)
- ZipRecruiter – Home Inspector Washington (source)
- RedFin – Washington Housing Market (source)
