Alabama Home Inspection Licensing

Steps to become a home inspector

1. Register for the ICA Real Estate Inspection Certification Program.  This will not only give you all the knowledge you’ll need to perform a home inspection and own/operate your own successful home inspection business, but you’ll also learn all about commercial inspections, as well as mold, radon, and code.  Upon completion of the course you will be an ICA Certified Home Inspector and we will issue you a certification number, which you can use on your business cards and inspection reports.
2. Join either ASHI or NAHI
3. Start your own business or go to work for an existing company!

Alabama Home Inspection Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a home inspector in Alabama?

As stated above, once you complete our course you have now become a certified home inspector. Upon completion of the course we mail out your home inspection certification and issue you your certification number. That number is what you’ll want to put on your business cards and home inspection reports. After that you just need to join one of the membership associations of home inspectors and pass the National Home Inspectors Exam. At that point you’re ready to go!

Does a home inspector need to get on the roof of the home?

No. Home inspectors should not go on the roof of the home. Per current standards of practice, the proper way to inspect a roof is to stand back and use binoculars. A few home inspectors have even started using small drones to inspect a roof, but that is not very common yet. Over ninety percent of home inspectors use the binocular technique for inspecting the roof of a home.

How much money do home inspectors make?

The average salary for a home inspector in Alabama is approximately $70,000 per year.

How much does a home inspection pay?

The average fee for a home inspection in Alabama is $325. The amount you charge for a home inspection will vary based upon age and square footage of the home. We cover that all during the online home inspection course.

Is your training recognized by ASHI?

Yes. We work closely with the American Society of Home Inspectors. In fact we train you specifically to the ASHI standards of practice. Because our home inspection school is an ASHI Gold Affiliate, all of our graduates are eligible for a free one year associate membership with ASHI.  After that, if you want to further your membership you just need to take and pass the National Home Inspectors Exam along with the ASHI standards and ethics exam.

Is your training recognized by NAHI?

Yes. In fact all of our graduates are eligible for a free 6 month membership with the National Association of Home Inspectors. To take advantage of that you just need to provide them with a copy of your certification from us along with two completed home inspection reports. Those can even be practice inspections. Also, to receive the free 6 month membership you must initiate that within 90 days of completing our online home inspection course.

Does Alabama require continuing education for home inspectors?

No. Continuing education is not required for home inspectors in Alabama.

Do you mail me a certification?

Yes. We mail out your home inspection certification out to you upon completion of our online course.

What should I use for my inspection report when I perform a home inspection?

We have an arrangement with www.homeinspectionform.com where our graduates receive a free copy of the Word version of their Report Form Pro home inspection report. That is the report that most of our graduates start with since it is so easy to use. Normally selling for $149 the Report Form Pro home inspection report can be printed and filled out by hand, or filled out on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can even put in photos easily. They also have a mobile app version of their home inspection report that can be used on an android or apple mobile device. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you have a home inspection report form that you’re comfortable with and these are both good home inspection report options.

Does the online home inspection course for Alabama have a time limit?

No. There is no time limit on our course so you can take as much time as you would like to complete it.

Do you provide a list of tools that I need for performing a home inspection?

Yes. We provide you with a list of tools needed. Total cost for the tools including your moisture meter and combustible gas detector comes out to roughly $200.

What about marketing materials?

We suggest using www.vistaprint.com for your business cards, brochures, and company website if you set one up. They are very affordable and even have templates specific to home inspection businesses.

Do you offer my state test?

There is no state exam for home inspectors in Alabama.  You’ll take the National Home Inspectors Exam after taking our online course.  We fully prepare you for that test.

Do you send my certificate to the board?

You will send that in to the home inspection board in Alabama when you apply for your license.

Can I start my own business after taking your online home inspection course?

Yes. In fact the majority of our graduates will start their own successful home inspection business after completing our course. We also train you on the whole marketing and business start-up side of things.

What if I have questions during the course?

We have full support for all students and graduates, both during and after the course. Even if you have questions when you are on a home inspection we can assist.

Do I need to be a home builder to be a home inspector?

No. We train students from all different backgrounds to be successful home inspectors.

It doesn’t matter whether you want to become a home inspector in Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Dothan, Gulf Shores, or Mobile – our online home inspection course can be completed from anywhere.