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Home Inspection Requirements for Virginia

Home Inspection Regulated:
Yes

License Type:
Licensed

License Renewal Cycle:
Every 2 years

Distance Education Allowed:
Yes

Field Training and Experience Required:
Yes

Experience Required:
Biannually

CE Required:
Yes

CE Hours Required:
16 CE's every 2 years

CE Distance Education Allowed:
Yes

Pre-Licensing Required:
Yes

Pre-licensing Hours Required:
70 Hours

Regulating Body:
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Rules and Regulations:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/ALHI/

Exam:
NHIE


Ordinance and Contacts

HOME INSPECTORS

Examination

Applicants for licensure as a home inspector must pass the Board-approved exam:


      Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

      Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is education that is used by existing license holders to satisfy the renewal requirement. Board Regulation 18 VAC 15-40-72 requires Licensed Home Inspectors to complete 16 contact hours of CPEduring each two-year cycle as a condition of renewal. The Board will accept any course that covers the areas tested on the National Home Inspectors Examination in order to meet the CPE requirement for Licensed Home Inspectors.

      Any contact hours of instruction that do not cover areas tested on the National Home Inspectors Examination will not be accepted. The Board-approved exam is the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors’ (EBPHI) National Home Inspector Examination administered by PSI. For information regarding the examination and the content areas tested, please review the EBPHI website. 

      New Residential Structure (NRS) CPE

      Regulation 18 VAC 15-40-75 requires current license holders with the NRS endorsement to complete a four hour Board-approved NRS CPE course during every two-year renewal cycle in order to maintain that designation. (The four hours of NRS CPE can be applied to the overall 16 hours of CPE.) A list of Board-approved NRS courses is available here. Unlike the CPE required to maintain a home inspector license (which is submitted only if audited), proof of completion of the four-hour NRS CPE must be submitted as a condition of renewal. 

      CPE Audits

      Every six months, the Board will conduct random audits of 25 percent of licenses expiring during the previous six month period. Randomly selected licensees will receive the Home Inspector CPE Audit Form by mail at their address of record. Recipients of the Audit Form must return the completed Audit Form with photocopies of certificates of CPE completion (in subject matter areas covered by Board Regulation 18VAC15-40-72).



        Every applicant for an individual home inspector license shall have the following qualifications: 1.The applicant shall be at least 18 years old. 2. The applicant shall meet the following educational and experience requirements:

        One of the following: Completed 35 contact hours of board-approved pre-license education and have completed a minimum of 100 home inspections prior to 7/1/2017;

        Completed 35 contact hours of board-approved pre-license education and have completed a minimum of 50 home inspections under the direct supervision of a home inspector;

        Completed 70 contact hours of board-approved pre-license education and have completed a minimum of 50 home inspections; or

        Completed 70 contact hours of board-approved contact hours and have completed a minimum of 25 home inspections under the direct supervision of a home inspector; or have verification of 10 years’ experience as a home inspector prior to July 1, 2017, with a minimum of 250 home inspections completed during such time period.

        Continuing Education: Biannually — A license holder shall have completed 16 contact hours of continuing professional education during each certificate renewal cycle, per 18 VAC 15-40-72.

        **A home inspection on a new residential structure shall only be conducted by a home inspector with the NRS (New Residential Structure) specialty and who has completed a training module on the Virginia Residential Code. Licensees wishing to obtain that designation would need to submit the appropriate application to the Board accompanied by proof that they have completed the NRS training module. Please follow the link to find information on changes to the regulations. 

        http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Boards/ALHI/A506-33REGS_HI.pdf



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