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As of July 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia joined the growing number of states that require home inspectors to be licensed. Here’s an overview of what’s needed to obtain a Virginia home inspector license.
Steps to become a Virginia Licensed Home Inspector:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma (or a GED equivalent)
- Complete at least 70 hours of approved training, at least part of which must be classroom training
- Participate in at least 25 home inspections under the direct supervision of a certified home inspector
- Pass the National Home Inspection Exam (NHIE)
- Provide evidence of a minimum $250,000 general liability insurance policy
Inspection Certification Associates’ Home Inspector Classroom and Field Training has been approved by Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to provide the required classroom training for Virginia home inspector applicants. Here is a copy of Virginia Home Inspection Board’s letter approving Instruction Certification Associates to provide home inspection training and certification.
We offer two home inspection courses that meet Virginia’s training requirements, one of which is eight days of classroom training that runs from Saturday to Saturday. ICA’s other option for Virginia home inspection training is a hybrid course that includes four days of classroom training from Thursday through Sunday. Under this option, students complete the balance of their training through our online training and certification program. Tuition for either option is $1,395.
Virginia home inspection license applicants also need to pass the National Home Inspector Exam, which is administered by an independent third party testing company under contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia. The comprehensive exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions related to home inspections. Our training package includes an online NHIE study guide that contains more than 700 practice questions. When you complete ICA’s Virginia home inspector license training, you’ll be ready to take and pass the NHIE exam. The exam can be taken any weekday in Alexandria, Charlottesville, Falls Church, Herndon, Midlothian, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Tyson’s Corner or Virginia Beach.
Unless the applicant completed at least 50 home inspections prior to the July 1, 2017 inspector licensing requirement date, he or she will need to take part in 25 ride along inspections with a home inspector licensed to do business in Virginia. ICA can arrange Virginia ride along inspections in Roanoke, Chesapeake and Warrenton.
What’s Included in ICA’s Home Inspection Training
Here’s some of what’s covered in ICA’s Virginia Home Inspector License Training:
- Home Inspection Industry Overview – What’s involved with being a home inspector
- Business and Legal Aspects – Starting a home inspection business, pre-inspection agreements, inspection reports, insurance and marketing needs
- Conducting an Inspection – Inspection industry standards and techniques
- Roofs and Roofing – Terms, materials, basic and advanced roof inspections, detecting defects in roofs
- Exterior of the House – Grading and drainage considerations, siding or stucco, trim, porches, decks and railings, paving and vegetation
- Structural Components – Foundations, beams, joists, trusses, roof and framing
- Inside the Home – Room sizes and uses, windows, walls and doors, attics and insulation, bathrooms, kitchens, basements and crawl spaces
- The Plumbing System – Water supply lines, waste lines, connections, vents, drainage, fixtures and faucets, water heaters, septic systems (if not connected to a public sewer line) and sump pumps
- The Heating System – Forced air heating, hydronic heating, space heaters, wall heaters, fireplaces and chimneys, wood stoves and vents
- The Air Conditioning System – Refrigeration basics, split systems, ductless systems, geothermal and air source heat pumps
- The House’s Electrical Systems – Theory of electricity, wire gauges, drops and distribution, main panels and subpanels, switches and outlets, fixtures, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Inspection Reports – Preparing written reports using Report Form Pro 2 software for digital devices
- Commercial Inspections – Inspecting commercial properties
- Drone Use During Inspections – Inspecting rooftops with drones
- Marketing Your Home Inspection Business – Strategies for starting and growing a home inspection business
After you’ve completed Inspection Certification Associates’ Virginia Home Inspection Training, you’ll be ready to take the Virginia home inspector license and NHIE exams. Once you’ve passed the exams and received your license, you’ll be qualified to perform home inspections anywhere in Virginia.
Valuable Home Inspection Extras
Enrollment in ICA’s Virginia Home Inspection Course also includes radon and mold training and certification. These would cost $200 if purchased separately, but unlike most other home inspection trainers, ICA students receive radon and mold training free of charge.
Here are more features that make ICA’s Virginia Home Inspection Training your best value:
- Lifetime access to all ICA online home inspection courses and training materials
- Residential and commercial inspection certifications
- Free one year membership in the America Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
- Report Form Pro 2 Inspection Report Software for mobile devices ($399 value)
- Free lifetime listing in the hireaninspector.com directory
- Graduates receive lifetime ICA staff support
- Downloadable video training models to use when there’s no Internet connection available
- Free downloads of e-books and other reference materials in ICA’s extensive online library
- Online refresher training, including access to all annual course updates
Enrolling now means you could begin a rewarding new career as a licensed Virginia home inspector in just a few short weeks.
Still have questions about ICA’s Virginia Home Inspector Training? To speak with an ICA home inspection instructor, call us at 888-374-4096 or browse through the FAQs below.
How do I become a home inspector in Virginia?
As stated above, you must take and complete a state approved training program that includes classroom training. You also will need to take the National Home Inspectors Exam, for which we prepare you.
How much money do home inspectors make?
The average salary for a home inspector in Virginia is approximately $74,000 per year.
How much money should a home inspector charge for a home inspection?
The average inspection fee for a 2,000 square foot home inspection in Virginia is $375. The amount you charge for a home inspection will vary based on age and square footage of the home. Our course will teach you how to structure your home inspection fees.
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 during the inspection. Per current standards of practice, the proper way to inspect a roof is to stand back and use a good pair of binoculars. Over ninety percent of home inspectors use the binocular technique for inspecting the roof of a home. Some home inspectors have even started using small drones to inspect a roof. We actually include a module on how to use a drone to inspect the roof of a home in our 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 and our training is certified Gold by ASHI.
Do you mail me a hard copy of my home inspection certification?
Yes. We mail out your home inspection certification to you upon completion of our online course. We also mail out a wallet-sized, laminated copy of your credentials.
What should I use for my inspection report when I perform a home inspection?
We have an arrangement with www.homeinspectionform.com wherein our graduates receive a free copy of their Report Form Pro 2 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 2 home inspection reporting software 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 Virginia?
No. There is no time limit on our course, so you can take as much time as you would like to complete the online course.
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. The total cost of tools comes out to a little under $200, including the non-invasive moisture meter, combustible gas detector, etc.
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 home inspection test?
No schools are allowed to give the home inspection exam in Virginia. That test is given by a third-party testing company.
Do you send my certificate to the board?
Actually, the way it works is once you complete our course and pass the Virginia exam, you will send the board a copy of your certification from us along with your score sheet from the Virginia exam. Then you will be issued your home inspection license.
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 also train you on the whole marketing and business start-up side of things, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
What if I have questions during my course?
We have full support for all students and graduates, both during and after the course. Even if you have questions when you are out in the field performing a home inspection, we can assist via email, text, or phone.
Do I need to be a contractor to be a home inspector in Virginia?
No. We train students from all different backgrounds to be successful home inspectors. A contractor background can be helpful but it not necessary or mandatory to become a home inspector in Virginia.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to become a home inspector in DC, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Alexandria, Norfolk, Roanoke or Fairfax; our online home inspection course can be completed from anywhere. What are you waiting for? Enroll now and begin your new career as a home inspector in Virginia!
