Can a felon become a home inspector?

Often, yes. In the seven licensing states checked here, a conviction isn't a permanent bar to a home inspector license. Each state looks at how the offense relates to the work and how long ago it was. Four of them will rule on your record before you apply.

Checked on October 4, 2026

State by state

This table lists how seven licensing states treat a criminal record. It summarizes each state's law. It isn't legal advice, and the board decides each case.

How seven states treat a criminal record for a home inspector license
State	Check	How a conviction is weighed	Ask first?
Arizona	Fingerprint clearance card	A felony needs an absolute discharge at least 5 years before you apply	Yes, any time; answer in 90 days
Florida	Fingerprints	Good moral character; denial needs a substantial connection to the work, shown by clear and convincing evidence	None found
Illinois	Questions on the application	Weighed case by case; 5 years since a felony counts in your favor; sealed and expunged records are not considered	None found
Ohio	State and FBI fingerprints	State law limits denial to listed offenses, mostly for 5 years, some for 10; the inspector law still names felonies	Yes, any time; answer in 30 days
Texas	Fingerprints	Not automatic; only offenses that relate to the work, weighed on seven factors	Yes, $54; answer in 30 days
Virginia	Disclosure of felonies and recent misdemeanors	Only a conviction that directly relates to the work	Yes, any time; the answer binds
Washington	No fingerprints	A felony alone does not disqualify; a related one counts only if under 10 years old	None found

Ask before you pay for school

Four of these states will tell you whether your record disqualifies you before you apply. Texas calls it a fitness determination. It costs $54 online, and you have to ask before you file a license application. Virginia and Arizona take the request any time, even before training or the exam. Ohio does too, for a $5 fee.

Virginia's answer is binding. A finding against you stays on your file and can't be reconsidered later, so read the rules before you send it.

What the boards weigh

The laws read alike on the main point. A board looks at whether the offense relates to inspecting houses, how long ago it happened, and what you've done since. Texas lists the inspector offenses it treats as related, like fraud, forgery, and bribes.

Two states put a clock on it. Arizona wants a felony sentence fully discharged at least 5 years before you apply. Washington counts a related felony only if it's less than 10 years old.

In a state with no license

California and Colorado have no home inspector license, so there's no state background screen. For every state's rules, see the home inspector license requirements by state. For the whole process, see how to become a home inspector.

Questions people ask

Do home inspectors need a background check?

In some states. Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Ohio take fingerprints. Virginia and Illinois ask about convictions on the application. Washington dropped its fingerprint rule in 2017. States with no license, like California and Colorado, run no state check at all.

Can I join ASHI or InterNACHI with a record?

Neither group states a bar to joining on the pages checked here. ASHI's handbook says members charged with or convicted of a felony are handled under its complaint policies.

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