Certification Program for Home Inspectors in California
There are few real estate markets in the world as thriving as California. California is one of 16 states that still have not adopted licensing requirements for home inspectors. It’s no wonder so many Californians find themselves asking how to become a home inspector. Real estate agents and their clients still need to hire certified home inspectors who are trained to inspect homes according to the industry’s accepted standards of practice in CA.
Training online with Inspection Certification Associates’ California Home Inspection program will teach you the proper standards.
Online Course Only $695!
How to Become a Home Inspector in California:
Register for the ICA Online Real-Estate Inspection Certification Program. This will give you all the knowledge you’ll need to perform a home inspection and own/operate your own successful home inspection business. 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.
Start your own business or go to work for an existing company!
Students can complete our online self-paced course to earn their certification. This allows students to log in and complete the training anytime, day or night.
Since there are no state-level licensing requirements for aspiring home inspectors in California, there are very few hurdles to jump. Nobody wants to hire a home inspector without training or experience, though. So, if you’re wondering how to become a home inspector in California, the answer lies in education. ICA School’s online home inspector training is convenient and comprehensive, with a self-paced course that can be completed in your own time – most participants finish the modules in a matter of weeks.
Once you’ve finished the course, you’ll have all you need to start inspecting homes in California. Our experienced instructors will be there for you every step of the way, even after you’ve completed the course. At ICA School, we believe your success is our success. That’s why we offer lifetime support for our trainees: Should you find yourself perplexed while conducting a home inspection, you can always contact one of our instructors for guidance.
Follow the simple steps above to become a California home inspector.
This video will explain the steps needed to become a California Certified Home Inspector.
Why Home Inspections in CA Matter
A thorough home inspection in CA can reveal important red flags, so buyers who want to make sound investments turn to home inspectors for insight. Buyers need to know if their new home has serious damage or is in need of significant repairs. Given how helpful a home inspector services tend to be, this is one home-buying expense nobody should skip.
Requirements for Home Inspector Certification in California
There is no such thing as an official California home inspection license. That’s because there are no formal requirements for home inspectors in the Golden State, nor are there requirements for inspections before the sale of a home. Instead, the home inspection industry in California is entirely consumer-driven. Clients will always be in the market for trustworthy, qualified, and experienced home inspection professionals. With ICA School certification on your website or business card, you’ll demonstrate your commitment to professionalism and begin to gain the trust of realtors and home buyers alike.
Why Launch a California Home Inspection Business
If you reside in California, odds are you’ve heard a few horror stories about buyers waiving their inspections only to discover significant, expensive damage after the sale has closed. Home inspectors provide valuable intel about a property’s condition, from termite damage to dry rot to foundation issues, saving home buyers time and money. If you’re hoping to learn a new trade that has a real impact on your fellow man, learning how to become a home inspector is one of the best options.
Becoming a home inspector is a simple process.
Why Trust ICA’s Credentials
ICA has been certifying home inspectors for more than 20 years. Our Real Estate Inspection Certification Program Training has been approved and endorsed by the California Real Estate Inspection Association. CREIA is a membership organization that’s open to professional home inspectors, and is considered to be an industry benchmark. Working closely with CREIA, our program is specifically designed to help students prepare for and pass the National Home Inspectors Examination (NHIE), which is one of the requirements to qualifying for CREIA membership.
Other professional endorsements of ICA’s online home inspector training include the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), who awarded our course author with the ASHI President’s Award. ICA is a Gold Level member with ASHI. We’re also recognized by InterNACHI, which is the world’s largest association of certified home Inspectors. All ICA students are provided with a free one month InterNACHI membership following their completion of our home inspector training.
Enroll Now in ICA’s Home Inspection School in California
Learning how to become a home inspector in California has never been so convenient. Our comprehensive online class allows you to go from complete novice to professional home inspector over the course of a few short weeks. If you’ve been eager to change careers but are worried about a lack of experience in the inspection field, our instructors have you covered. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to become a great inspector, and you’ll gain lifetime access to our library of resources. With so much to gain and so little at risk, why not bet on yourself?
Why wait? Enroll now and you can be on your way to starting your own business as a home inspector in just a few short weeks.
Need more information or still have questions about ICA’s home inspector training? Browse through the FAQs below, send a message or call us at 888-374-4096. We’re always available to help.
Once you complete our course, you become a certified home inspector. We will mail your home inspection certificate and issue your certification number. Use that number on your business cards, website, and home inspection reports. At that point, you’re ready to go!
The average fee for a home inspection in California is $420. The amount you charge for a home inspection will vary based on age and square footage of the home. Don’t worry, though. Information about how to appropriately charge for your work will be covered during your online home inspection course.
Is ICA training recognized by CREIA?
Yes. We work closely with the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA). If you want to join CREIA after taking our course, you just need to take and pass the National Home Inspectors Exam. Our course is approved to fulfill the initial CREIA training requirements.
Is your training school affiliated with ASHI?
Yes. We work closely with the American Society of Home Inspectors. In fact, we train you specifically to the ASHI standards of practice and our training school is an ASHI Gold Level Member.
Is your home inspection training course recognized by InterNACHI?
Yes. We work very closely with InterNACHI. In fact all of our graduates receive a free one month membership to InterNACHI.
Is your training recognized by NAHI?
In 2016 NAHI merged with ASHI, so NAHI no longer exists actually.
Does California require continuing education for home inspectors?
No. Continuing education is not required for home inspectors in California.
Will you mail me a certification?
Yes. We will mail out your home inspection certification to you upon your completion of our online course.
When I perform a home inspection, what should I use for my inspection report?
We have an arrangement with www.homeinspectionform.com for our graduates to receive a free copy of their Report Form Pro Nitro home inspection reporting software. That report is the one that most of our graduates start with since it is so easy to use. Normally selling for $400, the Report Form Pro Nitro home inspection report can be printed and filled out by hand or filled out on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can even insert photos easily. There is also a mobile app version of the 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 with which you are comfortable, and these are both good home inspection report options.
Does this course certify me in mold inspection and radon inspection?
Does the online home inspection training course 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 will need for performing a home inspection?
Yes. We will provide you with a list of tools needed. The total cost of the tools, including the non-invasive moisture meter, comes out to roughly $200.
What is included in ICA’s membership portal, Edcetera Home Inspection?
Starting and running a successful home inspection business requires more than just a home inspection license. ICA’s membership portal, Edcetera Home Inspection, empowers home inspectors to start and grow their careers by connecting them with experts and providing content on topics not covered by other home inspection training. Delivered via live webinars, on-demand videos, video courses, Facebook community, blogs, and podcasts, members can gain:
Business Management Skills
Advanced Home Inspection Training
Marketing & Networking Training
Access to Tools & Templates
Join a community of home inspection professionals, master new skills, and find ongoing support to succeed in every stage of your career. New students who enroll in a home inspection licensing course with ICA receive a one-year membership for free!
What about marketing materials for my home inspection business?
We provide resources that will help get your business up and running. Our membership portal, Edcetera Home Inspection, contains everything you need to start and grow your business, including live webinars, business templates, downloadable PDFs, and more..
Do you offer the state test for California?
There is no state exam for home inspectors in California.
Do you send my certificate to the board?
There is no home inspection licensing board in California.
Can I start my own home inspection business after taking your online course?
Yes. In fact, the majority of our graduates will start their own successful home inspection business after completing our course. We will 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 contractor to become a home inspector?
No. With our home inspection training course, we train students from all different backgrounds to be successful home inspectors. A contractor background can be beneficial but it is not necessary to become a home inspector in any state.
Why ICA Is the Right Choice Home Inspector Training
Inspection Certification Associates makes it fast, easy and affordable to become a certified home inspector. All training materials are available online 24/7, and can be easily accessed using a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. Since there’s no time limit for finishing ICA training, our students can complete their studies at their convenience any time and anywhere there’s an Internet connection.
Completing ICA’s Real Estate Inspection Certification Training will give you the knowledge you’ll need to work for an established inspection company or open your own business as a residential and commercial property inspector. Here are some of the topics covered in our online training program:
Introduction to the Home Inspection Profession – Insight into the home inspection industry
Business and Legal Aspectsof a Residential Inspection Business– Starting and operating a home inspection business, the importance of client/inspector agreements, insurance requirements and marketing techniques
Conducting the Inspection – Home inspection methods and industry standards
The Home’s Rooftop – Types of roofs, roof materials, basic and advanced roof inspections, detecting roof defects
Exterior of the Home – Site and grading considerations, siding and trim, exterior defects, porches, decks and balconies, paving and vegetation
The Residence’s Structural Components – Inspecting foundations, beams, joists, trusses, roof, framing and detecting structural defects
Interior of the Home – Individual rooms, attics, walls and insulation, fireplaces and chimneys, windows, interior doors, bathrooms, kitchens and kitchen appliances, basements and crawl spaces
The Plumbing System – Supply lines, waste piping, connections, vents, drainage, fixtures and faucets, water heaters, fuel storage tanks and lines, sump and ejector pumps
The Heating System – Fuel combustion, forced air heating, hydronic heating, space and wall heaters, fireplaces and chimneys, wood stoves and vents
The Home’s Air Conditioning System – Basics of refrigeration, split A/C systems, ductless systems, air source and geothermal heat pumps
The Electrical System – Theory of electricity, drops and distribution, wire gauges, main and subpanels, switches and outlets, electrical fixtures, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Issuing Inspection Reports – Preparing written reports for clients, including how to use Report Form Nitro inspection report software with digital devices (Report Form Nitro is a $399 value if purchased separately, but it’s included at no extra cost with ICA classes)
Marketing Your Business – Strategies and techniques for building a successful home inspection business
Conducting Commercial Inspections – Inspecting commercial buildings, understanding ASTM international standards (formerly American Society for Testing Materials)
Using Drones During Inspections – Inspecting rooftops with drones
Watch our online course demo to get a sense of how our experts lead you through the coursework and toward your home inspection career.
What Else Is Included with ICA Online Home Inspector Training?
We provide the most comprehensive home inspector training available anywhere. Here are some of the extra benefits you’ll receive when you enroll in ICA’s Home Inspector Training:
Lifetime access to ICA’s online home inspection training program
Residential and commercial inspection certifications mailed to you upon completion of your training
Radon and Mold Certification Courses are included in your tuition, which is valued at $200
Unlimited support from ICA instructors for students and graduates
Lifetime access to all ICA online home inspection courses and training materials
Free mobile app with more than 700 practice questions for the National Home Inspector Exam
Lifetime online refresher training, including access to all the latest course materials
ICA students get to use Report Form Pro Nitro software, which is included in our home inspection training at no charge.
When you compare us to other home inspector training schools, you’ll see why Inspection Certification Associates is you best choice for home inspection training.
