by 
Everyone sees a house as a safe place.
However, a house must be lived in to become a home.
Most houses are inspected during their construction or when major renovations are needed.
A home inspector is also needed when homeowners want to sell their property.
There aren’t many requirements to becoming a home inspector in Alabama, so if you want to become one, you have come to the right page.
Article Table of Contents
Home Inspector Job Description in Alabama
The first thing to know about a home inspection is that it’s meant to detect any problems the house might have.
It’s not the same thing as a home appraisal which is meant to find the value of the house based on several factors.
A home inspector will check:
- The cooling and heating systems
- The plumbing
- The electrical work of the site
- The roof
- The foundation of the house
- For any damage done by fire, water, insects, or other elements
At the end of the inspection, the inspector must write a detailed report related to his findings.
This report can greatly influence the house appraisal and the likelihood of it selling fast or not.
Depending on the age of the house or building, a specialized home inspection might be needed.
This includes checking for:
- Termites
- Other pests
- Lead
- Asbestos
- Mold and mildew
- Radon
- Chimneys
- Other elements
This specialized inspection involves additional fees.
While there are no special prerequisites to becoming a home inspector, this professional must hold a license.
Complete Your Home Inspector Training in Alabama
The Alabama Division of Construction Management oversees home inspectors.
This Division requires candidates to complete a 120-hour training course for home inspection.
Additionally, you’ll have to complete 35
inspections with an already licensed home inspector.
ICA 
ICA stands for Inspection Certification Associates.
This institution offers an online class for those who want to become home inspectors.
The fee for this course is $695 and it comes with many perks.
These perks include:
- The Free Report Writing Software which usually costs $399
- Free Membership with InterNACHI for one month
- Free one-year access to Edcetera Home Inspection, which usually costs $99
- No time limit in which to complete the course
- A certificate and a certification number
- The 35 practice hours mandatory for the licensing process
InterNACHI School 
This is a well-known college for those who want to become home inspectors.
The college offers the training course for free to those who are members of the association.
The class is also available online, making it easily accessible to everyone.
This organization also offers many perks to its members, including support for marketing and business development.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| ICA | online |
| InterNACHI School | online |
Pass the Licensing Exam as a Home Inspector in Alabama
It’s important to know that there’s no state-specific exam to become a licensed home inspector in Alabama.
Instead, the exam you must pass the exam at the national level.
The best part is that you can take the exam online.
However, there are a few requirements to meet before sitting for the test.
You first have to complete your education as described above.
Candidates also must complete one of the following:
- 35 home inspections in the field
- 35-hour course with participation in 100 home inspections with a licensed inspector
Then, you have to ensure you completed 25 home inspection reports that have been checked by your supervisor who is a licensed home inspector.
Only now you can sign up for the exam which in fact are two.
These are:
- The National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE)
- The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) exam
The first test has 200 questions, but 25 of them are not scored and its duration is of 4 hours.
It covers these topics:
- Property and Building Inspection/Site Review
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting
- Professional Responsibilities
The fee associated with this exam is about $225, as it varies based on your location.
Candidates who don’t pass have to wait 30 days before another attempt.
The second exam is free of charge.
Insurance as a Home Inspector in Alabama
Home inspectors are expected to have insurance as well while they profess.
As a matter of fact, there are more types of insurance needed.
The insurance these professionals must get are:
- Errors and omissions insurance policy with at least $250,000 in coverage
- $50,000 in coverage for personal injury/death to a person
- Liability insurance policy with $20,000 in coverage for injury and/or damage to the property
- $100,000 in coverage for injury/death to more than one person
After completing all these steps, you can submit your license application along with the $300 associated fee.
The application has to be notarized.
Both of these can be submitted online.
Home Inspector Salary in Alabama
If you train for a job and have to pass an exam or two for it, it’s normal to know your potential earnings once you start working.
In Alabama, the median salary for a home inspector is around $50,503 per year.
Below, I break it down to see some more figures from the cities with the highest median salary in this state.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Spring Garden | $53,609 |
| Ranburne | $53,609 |
| Toney | $52,424 |
| Woodville | $52,336 |
| Baileyton | $52,131 |
| Brookside | $51,883 |
| Sterrett | $51,619 |
| Ryland | $52,570 |
| Tuscaloosa | $51,539 |
| Tanner | $51,052 |
Regional Salary in Alabama
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 30 | $59,700 | $28.7 | $77,600 | $40,780 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 250 | $69,000 | $33.17 | $97,210 | $43,780 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 80 | $59,950 | $28.82 | $84,800 | $41,430 |
| Dothan, AL | 30 | $52,250 | $25.12 | $63,640 | $37,220 |
| Huntsville, AL | 170 | $61,060 | $29.36 | $86,940 | $44,170 |
| Mobile, AL | 130 | $60,990 | $29.32 | $103,010 | $39,380 |
| Montgomery, AL | 110 | $60,600 | $29.14 | $86,000 | $39,970 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 60 | $60,390 | $29.03 | $76,960 | $40,050 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there other organizations that offer membership for home inspectors in Alabama?
While the InterNACHI membership is one of the best you can have, there are other approved associations you can join as a member.
These are:
- American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
- Housing Inspection Foundation (HIF)
- National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI)
Can I obtain more than one certification as a home inspector in Alabama?
Your certification can also come from one of these institutions:
- United States Veterans Administration
- United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Southern Building Code Congress International
- Council of American Building Officials
Do I need a high school diploma to become a home inspector in Alabama?
Yes, this is the minimum requirement for many jobs, especially for those where qualifications are mandatory.
A GED is also accepted.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Inspector
Home Inspector by State