Does ASHI require the NHIE?
For its top title, yes. ASHI says the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) is required of all ASHI Certified Inspectors, in every state. At the Inspector level it's required only if your state doesn't license home inspectors.
Checked on October 4, 2026
The rule at each ASHI level
ASHI has three levels of membership. Only two of them involve the exam:
| Level | NHIE needed? | Other main steps |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | No | Online application; Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics modules |
| Inspector | Only if your state has no license | 50 paid inspections and 5 reports reviewed, plus your state license where your state has one |
| ASHI Certified Inspector | Yes, in every state | 250 paid inspections, 5 reports, $449 application fee |
ASHI's membership dues are a separate cost, $499 a year as of September 1, 2026.
Why it matters in states without a license
In a state that licenses home inspectors, the NHIE is usually part of the license already. In states with no license, such as California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, and Missouri, nothing else puts you in front of the exam. EBPHI's pages for those five states say the NHIE is not required there.
That is where ASHI comes in. Without a license to show, the NHIE is the proof ASHI asks for at the Inspector level, and it is required for the ASHI Certified Inspector title everywhere.
How to take the NHIE for ASHI
- Go to PSI's EBPHI registration page, or call (855) 807-3992. PSI runs the exam in most states and in every Canadian province.
- Choose "Government/State Licensing Agencies," then "National Home Inspector (EBPHI)." You use this path even if your state has no license.
- Pay the $225 fee. PSI keeps it if you don't test within one year.
- Pass the exam. You can retake it as often as you need, with a 30 day wait between attempts.
- Send ASHI a copy of your score report with your application. PSI tells candidates testing for a membership group to contact that group for instructions.
A few states, such as Florida, Illinois, and Washington, give the NHIE through their own test vendors. If you live in one of those, the NHIE exam day guide covers registration there.
ASHI and Canada
ASHI's level rules speak only of "your state." We found no rule for Canadian members. ASHI's consumer pages do mention provinces where licensing is not required, and the NHIE can be taken at PSI in every province. If you inspect in Canada, ask ASHI how it treats your province before you apply. See is the NHIE accepted in Canada? for the provincial rules.
Questions people ask
Can I join ASHI without passing the NHIE?
Yes. The Associate level asks for an online application and ASHI's Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics modules. No exam is listed for it.
Does ASHI accept my state's licensing exam instead?
At the Inspector level, ASHI asks for your state license where your state licenses inspectors. For ASHI Certified Inspector, its checklist asks for the NHIE itself.
Does an old NHIE pass still count for ASHI?
ASHI's pages state no time limit on a passing score. Its handbook says requirements are checked at the time you apply, so ask ASHI if your pass is many years old.
Does ASHI send my score from the test center?
No. The score is not sent anywhere for you. ASHI's handbook says to keep one copy of your results and submit the other to ASHI.
See where you stand
Take a free 200 question practice exam, weighted like the NHIE, with your score by task.