Free NHIE study guide

This free NHIE study guide turns EBPHI's 2023 content outline into a checklist: 19 tasks in three domains, each with its weight and about how many scored questions it carries. The checklist is below. The printable PDF adds 252 numbers and rules from our free lessons, and it comes by email.

Checked on October 14, 2026. Updated October 26, 2026

Get the printable PDF

The PDF has the same checklist with a box beside every task, plus:

The exam at a glance: length, time, scoring, fee, and retake wait
How to split your study hours across the three domains
252 numbers and rules to memorize, from 8 of our free lessons
The references EBPHI lists for the exam

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The exam at a glance

NHIE facts
	NHIE
Questions	200, of which 175 are scored
Time	4 hours
Score scale	200 to 800, pass at 500
Calculator	EBPHI says no; check your test vendor's rules
Fee	$225 in most states
Retake wait	30 days

Domain 1: Property and Building Inspection / Site Review (70%)

Domain 1 tasks
Task	Weight	About	What it covers
1. Site conditions	5%	9 questions	Vegetation, grading, drainage, and retaining walls; Driveways, patios, and walkways; Pool and spa barriers, such as fences, gate latches, and alarms
2. Building exterior	5%	9 questions	Wall cladding, flashing, trim, eaves, soffits, and fascia; Exterior doors and windows, including safety glass and emergency escape; Decks, balconies, porches, steps, stairs, and railings; Garage vehicle doors and openers
3. Roof	6%	11 questions	Roof coverings and how they are commonly repaired; Roof drainage; Roof flashing; Skylights and other roof penetrations
4. Structural	6%	11 questions	Foundations, soils, and water control such as drains and sump pumps; Floor framing, including cuts, notches, and columns; Walls and vertical supports; Roof and ceiling framing, including sagging rafters and altered trusses
5. Electrical	7%	12 questions	The service, from the drop or lateral to the grounding; Panels and subpanels, breakers, GFCI and AFCI protection, and known problem panels; Wiring methods, from NM cable to knob and tube; Outlets, switches, and fixtures; Solar, wind, and generator systems; Electric vehicle charging equipment
6. Cooling	4%	7 questions	Air conditioners and heat pumps, the refrigerant cycle, and condensate; Ducts and filters
7. Heating	5%	9 questions	Furnaces and boilers, their controls, and combustion; Heat distribution through ducts and pipes; Vent systems: slope, materials, clearances, and backdrafting
8. Insulation, moisture, and ventilation	5%	9 questions	Insulation types, levels, clearances, and air sealing; Moisture, humidity, vapor retarders, and attic air leaks; Ventilation of attics, crawl spaces, and roof assemblies
9. Mechanical exhaust	5%	9 questions	Bath, kitchen, and dryer exhaust and where it ends; Indoor air systems, such as heat recovery ventilators and make-up air
10. Plumbing	6%	11 questions	Water supply pipes, pressure, and flow; Fixtures and faucets; Drain, waste, and vent piping; Water heaters; Fuel storage and gas piping; Sump pumps and sewage ejectors
11. Interior	4%	7 questions	Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows; Stairs, landings, and railings; Countertops and cabinets; Installed kitchen appliances; Smart home devices
12. Fireplace and chimney	6%	11 questions	Wood burning fireplaces and stoves, masonry and factory built; Gas and oil appliances, vents, and connectors; Chimney height, clearances, and dampers
13. Life safety	6%	11 questions	Emergency escape openings, including security bars and basement exits; Fire separation between the garage and the house; Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm placement; Fire sprinklers

Domain 2: Analysis of Findings and Reporting (20%)

Domain 2 tasks
Task	Weight	About	What it covers
1. Describing the inspection	4%	7 questions	What every report has to say; Describing systems by type, size, and location; Inspection methods and test tools such as moisture meters
2. Report limitations	4%	7 questions	What was not inspected and why; The limits of a visual inspection; Limits that come with smart and new technology
3. Reporting defects	6%	11 questions	Expected service life and signs a part may fail; Describing a defect and what happens if it is not repaired; Safety issues
4. Further evaluation	6%	11 questions	Which trade or professional to refer a finding to; How one system's problem points to another; Hazards that need action right away, such as a gas leak

Domain 3: Professional Responsibilities (10%)

Domain 3 tasks
Task	Weight	About	What it covers
1. Pre-inspection agreement	5%	9 questions	What the agreement is for; Exclusions, limits of liability, and dispute resolution; Privacy, and when the agreement is delivered and signed
2. Ethics and integrity	5%	9 questions	Contracts, negligence, and regulations; Conflicts of interest; Liability and errors and omissions insurance; Client privacy and report confidentiality

How to use the checklist

Work down the list in weight order, so the tasks with the most questions get the most hours. Each task name opens ten free practice questions on that task, with every answer explained.

After each practice exam, mark the tasks you missed. Those are where your next hours go. For the full plan, see how to study for the NHIE.

Questions people ask

Is this the official NHIE study guide?

No. EBPHI writes the NHIE and publishes the content outline. This guide is ours, built from that 2023 outline, and EBPHI has not reviewed it.

Why does the PDF need my email address?

The PDF goes out by email. Every email has a link that takes you off the list.

What should I study besides this checklist?

EBPHI lists the NHIE manuals first among the exam's references, then the IRC, NFPA 101, and the NEC. The checklist tells you what to cover, and the manuals cover it.

How many questions does each task get?

EBPHI publishes a weight for each task, not a count. The counts here are the weight applied to the 175 scored questions, rounded, so each one is about.

See where you stand

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