How to become a home inspector in Kentucky
To become a home inspector in Kentucky, you finish a 64-hour course with 16 field hours and 3 supervised inspections, pass the NHIE, and clear two background checks. The Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors charges $250 to apply, and you need $250,000 of general liability insurance.
NHIE requiredChecked on October 4, 2026
Kentucky at a glance
| Item | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Exam | From a board-approved provider. The board names the NHIE. A passing score counts for 3 years. |
| Education | A 64-hour approved pre-licensing course, including 16 hours of field training with no more than 8 in a lab |
| Supervised inspections | 3 unpaid inspections under a Kentucky inspector, on top of the field hours |
| Insurance | General liability of at least $250,000, with the board named as certificate holder |
| Other | Age 18, a high school diploma or equivalent, and Kentucky State Police and FBI background checks, both under 90 days old |
| Application fee | $250 |
| Renewal | $200 per license year, with 14 hours of continuing education each year |
The licensing body is the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors. Fees and rules change, so check them with the state before you pay for anything.
Steps to a Kentucky license
- Finish the 64-hour pre-licensing course with an approved provider.
- Pass the exam. You request it directly from the test provider.
- Get a $250,000 general liability certificate that names the board as holder.
- Get the state police and FBI background checks.
- Mail the application with a passport photo, your course certificate, exam score, insurance certificate, both background checks, and the $250 fee.
Retakes and renewals
After two failed attempts, you wait 14 days. After three, you take the course again.
Licenses expire at the end of your birth month. At each renewal, the board also wants a new state police check, your insurance certificate, and a report from the past 12 months.
More on the exam
Questions people ask
Does Kentucky use the NHIE?
Yes. The rule asks for a board-approved exam, and the board's own site names the National Home Inspector Examination.
How many background checks does Kentucky require?
Two: a Kentucky State Police check and an FBI check, both done within 90 days before the board gets your application.
How much insurance does a Kentucky home inspector need?
General liability of at least $250,000, with the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors listed as certificate holder.
See where you stand
Take a free 200 question practice exam, weighted like the NHIE, with your score by task.
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