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How to become a home inspector in West Virginia

To become a home inspector in West Virginia, you get certified by the State Fire Marshal. You finish an approved 80-hour course, pass the NHIE, submit fingerprints, and carry $250,000 of general liability insurance.

NHIE requiredChecked on . Updated

West Virginia at a glance

West Virginia at a glance
ItemWest Virginia
ExamThe NHIE through PSI. The rule lets the Fire Marshal name a comparable exam, but the application lists only the NHIE.
Exam fee$225 per attempt, paid to PSI, with a 30-day wait between tries
EducationAt least 80 hours in an approved course, using the provider's West Virginia course
Field workNone required
InsuranceGeneral liability of at least $250,000. An employer's policy can cover you.
OtherA high school diploma or GED, fingerprints for a State Police and FBI check, and a West Virginia business license
Application fee$150: a $25 application fee and a $125 certification fee
Renewal$100 every year, with 16 hours of continuing education

The licensing body is the West Virginia State Fire Marshal, Regulatory and Licensing Division. Fees and rules change, so check them with the state before you pay for anything.

Steps to a West Virginia certification

  1. 01

    Finish an approved 80-hour course.

  2. 02

    Pass the National Home Inspector Examination through PSI.

  3. 03

    Get fingerprinted through the state's vendor for the State Police and FBI check.

  4. 04

    Buy general liability insurance of at least $250,000.

  5. 05

    Get a West Virginia business license.

  6. 06

    Send the application, documents, and $150 to the Fire Marshal, or file through its online portal.

Keeping the certification

The certification runs one year, to the last day of the month it was issued. Each renewal needs $100 and 16 hours of continuing education. A late renewal costs $50 for each year late. You also send the Fire Marshal a summary of your inspections each year by January 31.

How long it takes in West Virginia

West Virginia asks for an approved 80-hour course and a pass on the NHIE, with no field work. West Virginia sets no minimum time; the hours and the exam are the floor.

Home inspector pay in West Virginia

BLS puts the median pay for construction and building inspectors in West Virginia at $64,000 a year in May 2025, against $74,690 for the whole country. BLS counts about 540 people in that job in the state, and home inspectors are one specialty in the group, next to city and county code inspectors.

The number leaves out the self-employed. An inspector who owns the business is self-employed, so that pay isn't in it. For what owners report, see how much home inspectors make.

West Virginia next to the other states

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

West Virginia is ringed. Each square opens that state's page.

More on the exam

Questions people ask

Does West Virginia use the NHIE?

Yes. The Fire Marshal's application and exam list name the National Home Inspector Examination, given by PSI.

Who certifies home inspectors in West Virginia?

The State Fire Marshal's Regulatory and Licensing Division, under rule 103 CSR 7.

Does West Virginia have reciprocity for home inspectors?

The Fire Marshal may certify someone from a state with standards that match or exceed West Virginia's, on the application and certification fees.

How long does it take to become a home inspector in West Virginia?

West Virginia asks for an approved 80-hour course and a pass on the NHIE, with no field work. West Virginia sets no minimum time; the hours and the exam are the floor.

How much do home inspectors make in West Virginia?

BLS publishes no separate figure for home inspectors. It counts them with construction and building inspectors, whose median pay in West Virginia was $64,000 a year in May 2025. That figure leaves out the self-employed, which includes an inspector who owns the business.

See where you stand

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Becoming a home inspector

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