Is there a state exam for home inspectors?

In most states that test home inspectors, the state exam is the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE). 26 states require it, 7 more accept it as one of several options, and only North Carolina gives its own exam with no NHIE option.

Checked on October 4, 2026. Updated October 26, 2026

Where the state exam is the NHIE

These 26 states name the NHIE as the licensing exam, alone or with a state part: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

NHIE required
NHIE accepted
State exam only
License, no exam
No state license
Adds a state section

Each square opens that state's page.

In these states, "the state exam" and the NHIE are the same test for the technical part. For its format and scoring, see the National Home Inspector Exam guide.

States that add their own part

A few states put a short state section next to the NHIE. It covers the state's own law and rules, not building systems. This table lists the ones checked here in detail:

States that add a state part to the home inspector exam
State	What the exam includes
Illinois	200 questions in 4 hours through PSI. NHIE content, with Illinois law and rules as 8% of the exam. $125 per attempt.
South Carolina	Business Management and Law, through PSI: 50 questions, 34 right to pass. $78.
Texas	Two parts through Pearson VUE: the NHIE as the national part (200 questions, 4 hours) and a Texas state part (30 questions, 45 minutes)
Washington	Two parts through PSI: the NHIE (175 questions, 3 hours) and a Washington section (24 questions, 1 hour). You need a scaled 70 on each.

South Dakota and Wisconsin add state questions too. Alabama and Arkansas ask for a second exam on ASHI standards and ethics.

Where the NHIE is one option

In 7 states, the NHIE is one of several exams that count. This table lists them, with the other options each state names:

States that accept the NHIE among other home inspector exams
State	What else the state asks
Alaska	The rule also lists the NAHI and AHIT exams. A $10,000 bond and liability insurance. The state's rules list no course hours.
Connecticut	Also accepts the state exam. A 40-hour intern program, then 100 supervised inspections.
Florida	An exam the state approves, such as the NHIE. A 120-hour course, fingerprints, and $300,000 of liability insurance.
New Mexico	Also accepts the InterNACHI exam. 80 hours, 80 field hours, and fingerprints.
New York	Also accepts the state exam. A 140-hour course or 100 supervised inspections.
North Dakota	Also accepts exams from ASHI, InterNACHI, and ICC. Age 18 and $100,000 of insurance. No course.
South Carolina	The NHIE can replace the state technical exam, but a state law exam is still required. A 120-hour course or a year of supervised work.

North Carolina gives its own exam

North Carolina runs its own licensing exam and does not take the NHIE in its place. Its license also asks for 200 hours of education and field work, or an equivalent, plus insurance.

No exam at all

16 states ask for no licensing exam. Montana, Nebraska, and Utah license inspectors without one, and the other 13 have no state license. For what each of the 50 states asks, see the home inspector license requirements by state.

In every testing state except North Carolina, the NHIE counts toward the license. To see where you stand on it, try a set of free NHIE practice questions.

Questions people ask

Is the home inspector exam the same in every state?

The NHIE follows one content outline wherever you take it. Most states give the 200-question, 4-hour form, while Washington lists 175 questions in 3 hours. The state part, the test vendor, and the fee change from state to state.

How long does a passing NHIE score count?

Each state sets its own limit. Tennessee: A passing score counts for 5 years. Kentucky: A passing score counts for 3 years. Arizona and Ohio want it passed within two years before you apply.

Do I take a state exam if my state has no license?

No. With no license there is no state exam. Some inspectors take the NHIE anyway, because ASHI asks for it before members move up to its Inspector level in a state with no license.

See where you stand

Take a free 200 question practice exam, weighted like the NHIE, with your score by task.

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Not ready for that yet? Get the free NHIE study guide, a printable checklist of all 19 outline tasks, by email.

More NHIE guides

Related pages

Where else the NHIE counts