Frequently Asked Question about IL Home Inspector Licensing
How do I become a home inspector in Illinois?
As stated above, once you complete our online home inspection course, you will have the hours needed to become a certified home inspector. The other thing Illinois requires is that you do five ride-along inspections with an Illinois licensed home inspector with a minimum of 5 years experience. You can do those ride-alongs with any licensed inspector who has held an IDFPR home inspectors license for five years or longer, so if you want to find someone on your own you can. However, most students will do those with us during our 3 day classroom field sessions. After that, you just need to take the Illinois home inspectors exam, for which we will have you prepared for.
How much money do home inspectors make in Illinois?
The average salary for a home inspector in Illinois is approximately $70,000 per year.
How much does an Illinois home inspection pay?
The average fee for a home inspection in the state of Illinois is $400. The amount you charge for a home inspection will vary based on age and square footage of the home. We’ll cover all of that during the online course.
Where do home inspectors get most of their work?
Home inspectors working in cities with a large population are able to find the most work. Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding greater Chicago area are always in need of qualified home inspectors.
Is your Illinois 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 Illinois home inspection 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 home inspector school is a Gold level ASHI affiliate.
Is your Illinois home inspection training class recognized by NAHI?
In 2016 NAHI merged with ASHI, so NAHI no longer exists as a home inspection membership organization.
Does this course certify me in mold inspection and radon inspection?
We include our mold and radon introductory bonus courses free of charge to students who enroll in our online home inspection course. We also offer mold and radon certification courses. Through our partnership with ECAN, LLC, we offer a Mold Assessment Technician certification course, and a 16-Hour Radon Measurement Technician certification course. This course is also approved by the National Radon Proficiency Program (AARST-NRPP) or National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).
Will you mail me a certification?
Yes. We mail out your Illinois home inspection transcript to you upon completion of our online course and the five ride along inspections.
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 their Report Form Pro Nitro home inspection reporting software. That is the report 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 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.
Is there a time limit for the online home inspection course for Illinois?
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. It comes out to a little under $200, including the non-invasive moisture meter.
What about marketing materials?
We provide resources that will help get your business up and running. Our Free 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 my Illinois state home inspection test?
Home inspector schools are not allowed to give the home inspection exam in Illinois. The IL Home Inspector test is given by a third-party testing company.
Where can I take the Illinois state home inspector exam?
The Illinois state home inspector exam can be taken in Buffalo Grove, Carbondale, Chicago (Michigan Ave.), Franklin Park, Glen Ellyn, Matteson, Naperville, Rockford, Springfield, or Urbana.
Do you send my certificate to the board?
Actually, the way it works is that once you complete our course and pass the Illinois exam, you will send the board a copy of your Illinois home inspection transcript from us along with your score sheet from the Illinois exam. Then you will be issued your home inspection license.
Can I start my own home inspection business in Illinois after taking your online course?
Here’s how it works. Register for the ICA Real Estate Inspection Certification Program. The course will give you all the knowledge you will need to perform a home inspection and own/operate your own successful home inspection business.
ICA will help you get an IL Home Inspector License
Taking the ICA Real Estate Inspection Course
Here’s how it works. Register for the ICA Real Estate Inspection Certification Program. The course will give you all the knowledge you will need to perform a home inspection and own/operate your own successful home inspection business.
In the course, you will also learn all about commercial inspections, mold inspections, radon inspections, and building code. You will learn what you need to know to pass the Illinois State Home Inspector Exam.
Our training goes well beyond the topics covered by our competitors, which makes ICA the best choice for the training you need to receive your Illinois home inspector’s license. Compare us to the competition and you’ll understand why.
We offer the most comprehensive Home Inspector Training and Certification Program available anywhere in Illinois. There’s no time limit, so ICA students can complete their online training at their own pace using Android or iOS tablets, smartphones, laptops or desktop computers. All training materials are available online 24/7, which means students can complete the program any time and anywhere there’s an Internet connection. Most students complete the online portion of the training in just a few weeks, although some finish in as few as 10 days.
All ICA online home inspection training videos are narrated by certified home inspectors with years of inspection industry experience. Collectively, they’ve performed thousands of property inspections and have encountered just about everything having to do with inspecting commercial and residential properties. Your training will cover it all, from the basics of performing home inspections to starting your new career as a licensed Illinois home inspector. The program even includes information on opening and promoting your own home inspection business.
What ICA’s Home Inspection Classroom Training Covers
Here’s a summary of the topics covered by ICA’s home inspection classroom and field training:
- Introduction to Home Inspections – Overview of the home inspection industry
- Business and Legal Aspects – Starting a home inspection business, preparing client/inspector agreements, insurance and marketing requirements
- Inspection Process – Home inspection methods and standards
- Roofing – Roofing terms, roof materials, basic and advanced roof inspections, detecting roof defects
- Home Exterior – Site and grading, siding and trim, exterior defects, porches, decks and balconies, paving and vegetation
- Structure – Foundations, beams, joists, trusses, roof, framing, inspecting structures and detecting structural defects
- House Interior – Interior rooms, attics, walls and insulation, windows and doors, bathrooms, kitchens and appliances, basements and crawl spaces
- Plumbing – Supply lines, waste piping, connections, vents, drainage, fixtures and faucets, water heaters, fuel storage tanks and lines, sump and ejector pumps
- Heating System – Combustion requirements, forced air heating, hydronic heating, space and wall heaters, fireplaces and chimneys, wood stoves and vents
- Air Conditioning – Basics of refrigeration, split systems, ductless systems, geothermal and air source heat pumps
- Electrical Systems – Theory of electricity, drops and distribution, wire gauges, main and subpanels, switches and outlets, electrical fixtures, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Reporting – Preparing written reports for clients, including how to use Report Form Pro Nitro inspection report software with digital devices. ICA students may upgrade to Spectora home inspection software as part of our exclusive partnership – or use Report Form Pro Nitro software, which is included in our home inspection training at no charge.
- Marketing Your Business – Strategies and techniques for building a successful home inspection business
- Commercial Inspections – Inspecting commercial buildings and understanding ASTM international standards (formerly American Society for Testing Materials)
- Using Drones During Inspections – Inspecting rooftops with drones
