Home Inspection Requirements for South Dakota

Ordinance and Contacts

To become a registered home inspector an applicant must have completed an approved course of no less than 40 hours and successfully completed required exam. To become a licensed home inpector one must have successfully completed the 40 hour course and exam, and have been employed as a registered home inspector for no less than one year and performed no less than 100 home inspections for compensation.

South Dakota Licensure (Chapter 36-21C) enacted in 2000

The South Dakota law provides for the regulation of home inspectors. The South Dakota Real Estate Commission shall issue and renew certificates to licensed and registered home inspectors pursuant to the provisions of this law. No person may provide a home inspection for compensation unless registered or licensed in the State of South Dakota. Applicants for a license as a home inspector shall meet the following requirements; 1) Good moral character; 2) Completion of high school or equivalency; 3) Employment as a registered home inspector for no less than one year and performance of not less than one hundred home inspections for compensation; 4) Successful completion of the National Home Inspector Examination to assess minimum competence. Applicants for registration as a home inspector shall meet the following requirements; 1) Good moral character; 2) Completion of high school or equivalency; 3) Successful completion of an approved course of study; 4) Successful completion of registration exam.

For more information, contact the Real Estate Commission at:

Phone: (605) 773-3600
Fax: (605) 773-4356

118 West Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501

Website: http://http://dlr.sd.gov/realestate/applications_for_licensing.aspx