How to become a home inspector in Illinois
To become a home inspector in Illinois, you finish a 60-hour course and a field course with 5 inspections, then pass the state exam, which is the NHIE plus an Illinois law section. The license application costs $250.
NHIE required, plus a state sectionChecked on October 4, 2026
Illinois at a glance
| Item | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Exam | 200 questions in 4 hours through PSI. NHIE content, with Illinois law and rules as 8% of the exam. $125 per attempt. |
| Education | A 60-hour pre-license course |
| Field work | A pre-license field course with 5 field inspection events and a final field exam |
| Insurance | General liability of at least $100,000 |
| Other | Age 18 and a high school diploma or equivalent |
| Application fee | $250 |
| Renewal | $400 every 2 years, with 12 hours of continuing education |
The licensing body is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate. Fees and rules change, so check them with the state before you pay for anything.
Steps to a Illinois license
- Finish the 60-hour pre-license course with a licensed provider.
- Finish the pre-license field course, with its 5 field inspection events and the final field exam.
- Pass the exam through PSI. You can't sit it until your education is done.
- Within one year of passing, send the application with your score report, both course transcripts, and the $250 fee.
- The Division of Real Estate reviews it and emails you about anything missing.
How the field course works
The 5 field inspections happen inside a licensed field course, not on ride-alongs you set up yourself. An Illinois inspector with at least 5 years of experience supervises in person, with no more than 5 students at each inspection.
Every Illinois license expires November 30 of an even-numbered year, whenever it was issued.
More on the exam
Questions people ask
Does Illinois use the NHIE?
Yes. PSI gives Illinois candidates the NHIE content with an Illinois law and rules section that makes up 8% of the exam.
How much is the Illinois home inspector exam?
The PSI handbook Illinois links to lists $125 per attempt. You wait 30 days between retakes.
Do Illinois home inspectors need insurance?
Yes. Illinois law requires general liability insurance of at least $100,000, kept for at least one year after your last report.
See where you stand
Take a free 200 question practice exam, weighted like the NHIE, with your score by task.
Becoming a home inspector
- How to become a home inspector
- How much do home inspectors make?
- Is home inspection a good career?
- Home inspector certification vs. license
- How long it takes and what it costs to become a home inspector
- ASHI vs. InterNACHI
- Do you need a degree to be a home inspector?
- Can you become a home inspector with no construction experience?
- Can a felon become a home inspector?
- Becoming a home inspector after the military