Home inspector certification vs. license

A home inspector license comes from a state, and in a licensing state it's what makes it legal to inspect for a fee. A certification comes from a private trade group, like ASHI or InterNACHI, and it's voluntary unless your state's rules name it.

Checked on October 4, 2026

The difference in one table

This table compares the two on the points that matter most:

Home inspector license compared with certification
Point	License	Certification
Who issues it	A state board or agency	A trade group, such as ASHI or InterNACHI
Required?	Yes, to inspect for a fee in a licensing state	No, unless a state's rules name it
Exam	The state's exam, the NHIE in most licensing states	The group's own rules: ASHI uses the NHIE, InterNACHI its own exam
Ends when	You stop renewing it with the state	You leave the group or stop meeting its rules

The license

37 states license or register home inspectors, and 13 have no state license. In a licensing state, the license is the legal right to do the work. Washington's Department of Licensing, for example, says a license is needed by anyone who examines the condition of a home for a fee.

Each state sets its own course hours, field work, exam, and insurance. For all 50, see the home inspector license requirements by state.

The certification

A certification is a title a trade group gives its members when they meet its rules. ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, says membership is voluntary and its members are private home inspectors. Its ASHI Certified Inspector title asks for the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) and 250 paid inspections.

InterNACHI's Certified Professional Inspector title asks for its own free online exam and a few courses. It ends when the membership does. For the two side by side, see ASHI vs. InterNACHI.

Where the two meet

A few states tie the license to a trade group. Montana's license asks for association membership, along with a 40-hour course and insurance. Utah's asks for an ASHI, InterNACHI, or International Code Council (ICC) certification. Florida accepts InterNACHI's Florida exam as one of its four approved exams.

It works the other way too. ASHI's Inspector level asks for a state license where the state licenses, and for a passing NHIE score where it doesn't.

Questions people ask

Is InterNACHI certification a license?

No. InterNACHI says its certification requirements are likely different from what a state asks for a license. Its certificate course says it does not certify or license the student.

Do I need both?

In a licensing state, the license is the one the law asks for. A certification is optional there, unless your state's rules tie the license to one, as Montana and Utah do.

Try the question style

Answer 20 practice questions, one from every task on the outline. No email needed.

Try 20 questions free