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How much does a home inspector license cost?

In the states checked here, the state fees for a full home inspector license run from $80 to $720. Add the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) at $225 in most states, then the course, the insurance your state requires, and a renewal fee.

Checked on . Updated

State fees and renewal

The state fee is the one cost every licensing state publishes. This site has checked 12 licensing states rule by rule. This table lists what each one charges to get licensed and to renew:

Home inspector license fees and renewal in 12 licensing states
StateTo get licensedTo renew
Arizona$245$100 a year
Florida$230: a $125 application fee, a $100 license fee, and a $5 unlicensed activity fee$105 every 2 years, by July 31 of even years, with 14 hours of continuing education
Illinois$250$400 every 2 years, with 12 hours of continuing education. A license first issued on or after September 1, 2026 runs to November 30, 2028, with no continuing education for that first term.
Kentucky$250$200 per license year, with 14 hours of continuing education each year
New Jersey$125 to apply, then $500 for the license, or $250 if it is issued in the second year of the renewal cycle$500 every 2 years, with 40 continuing education units
Ohio$235$235 every 3 years, with 14 hours of continuing education each year
Oregon$150 for two years$150 every 2 years, with 30 continuing education units
South Carolina$80$160
Tennessee$300: a $100 application fee and a $200 license fee$200 every 2 years, with 32 hours of continuing education
Texas$120 professional, $100 real estate inspector, $60 apprentice, plus a $4 online fee$60 professional, $50 real estate inspector, $30 apprentice, plus a $4 online fee, every 2 years, with 32 hours of continuing education
Virginia$94.50, which includes a technology fee$45 every 2 years under the board's rule, with 16 hours of continuing education
Washington$720$415 every 2 years, with 24 hours of continuing education

Renewal is where the cost repeats. Most of these states also ask for continuing education hours each cycle, and those courses carry their own price.

The exam fee

The NHIE costs $225 per attempt in most states. A few states price it their own way. Texas lists $210 for the national part and $58 for the state part, in the Pearson VUE handbook dated September 2026. Washington charges $300 for both of its parts, and Illinois $125 per attempt.

For booking, retakes, and what to bring on the day, see NHIE exam cost, scheduling, and what to bring.

Insurance the law asks for

Insurance is a yearly cost, and the state sets the floor. This table lists the coverage each state requires before it issues or activates a license:

Insurance or bond required for a home inspector license in 12 states
StateWhat the state requires
ArizonaErrors and omissions insurance of $100,000 per occurrence and $200,000 total, or a $25,000 bond, or $25,000 in net assets
FloridaCommercial general liability of at least $300,000
IllinoisGeneral liability of at least $100,000
KentuckyGeneral liability of at least $250,000, with the board named as certificate holder
New JerseyErrors and omissions of at least $500,000 per occurrence
OhioGeneral liability of $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 total
OregonA home inspector services contractor needs a $15,000 bond and $100,000 per occurrence insurance
South CarolinaNone found in the state's rules
TennesseeGeneral liability of at least $500,000, plus errors and omissions insurance at limits you choose
TexasProfessional liability insurance of $100,000 per occurrence, or a $100,000 bond, for every tier
VirginiaGeneral liability of at least $250,000 per occurrence
WashingtonNone required

The premium depends on the insurer, your history, and the limits. No state publishes it, so this page doesn't print one.

Two worked examples

A Texas professional inspector pays $124 to apply, with the online fee, and $268 for both exam parts. That's $392 to TREC and the test vendor, before courses, fingerprints, and insurance.

A Washington inspector pays $720 for the first license and $300 for both exam parts, so $1,020. Washington requires no insurance, but its course is 120 hours and the field training is 40 more.

State fee for a full license12 licensing states
  • $80 to $720
NHIE feePer attempt, most states
  • $225
Texas professional inspectorState fees and both exam parts
  • $392
Washington inspectorFirst license and both exam parts
  • $1,020
The state fee range, the NHIE fee, and the two worked totals on one dollar axis. The totals leave out course prices.

The costs no state prints

Schools set their own course prices, so no single number holds. Fingerprints and background checks carry a vendor fee in states that ask for them. Starting your own business adds tools, a report program, and the business setup itself. For the gear itself, see what tools a new home inspector needs. For the setup steps and their published costs, see how to start a home inspection business.

The cheapest license is the one you get on the first exam attempt. For how long each step takes, see how long it takes to become a home inspector. For the rules in all 50 states, see the home inspector license requirements by state.

Questions people ask

Which state has the cheapest home inspector license?

Of the 12 licensing states checked here, South Carolina's $80 application fee is the lowest for a full license. It also asks for a $78 state law exam. Texas charges $60 for an apprentice license, which works only under direct supervision.

Do I pay for the exam again if I fail?

Yes. Each attempt is a new exam fee, and you wait 30 days before the next one. Some states charge less for a retake. Washington lists $250 for the national part.

How much does home inspector certification cost?

ASHI charges a $449 application fee for its ASHI Certified Inspector title, and ASHI dues are $499 a year. InterNACHI's CPI title comes with membership at $49 a month or $499 a year.

Is there a cost in a state with no license?

No state fee, because there is no license to buy. Training, insurance, and an optional NHIE or trade group membership still cost money.

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