The housing market has seen a boom in Nevada recently, particularly in Washoe and Clark counties. Many people are looking to upgrade to a newer house or buy a house for the first time. With all of this real estate changing hands, one necessary step is that the house is professionally inspected. The main purpose of a home inspection is to look for defects in the house and make the buyers aware of them. Some can be minor defects that aren’t very impactful but if there are major defects, they could be a deal-breaker. If you’re interested in the real estate field, getting a license for home inspection is a great career path. Here is an overview of how to get licensed.
Basic Qualifications and Education
At a minimum, you must be 18 years old and have a GED or high school diploma to pursue a home inspection license. Also, there is a core curriculum of education that is required. Master inspectors need 60 hours of classroom education. General inspectors need 50 hours of classroom education. Residential inspectors need 40 hours of classroom education.
Formal Examination
After completing your education requirements, you can take the Nevada Inspector of Structures exam. This exam consists of between 90 and 175 multiple choice questions (depending on which level of inspector license you are pursuing). A passing grade is 75%. The exam costs $100 each time you take it.
Real Experience
Once you’ve passed your exam, you will need real-world experience. It is required that you observe a professional licensed inspector perform at least 25 inspections. Alternatively, there are courses called “25 inspection courses” that fulfill this requirement.
Obtain Insurance
Before you can apply for your license, you will need to obtain liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance). Inspectors are human and can miss things and make mistakes. This insurance will help you deal with the cost of a lawsuit. Even if you lose the suit, the insurance covers things like court costs, fees and even settlements.
Apply for License
When you submit your application, you will be required to submit a fingerprint card and pay for a background check. Also, the application fee is $350. After a short processing period, you will get your license and be ready to perform inspections.
As you embark on your new career in real estate, home inspection is a great opportunity. With the number of homes being bought and sold each day, it’s a good bet you’ll be able to keep busy.