How to Become a Home Inspector in Alaska

Everyone perceives a house as a secure haven, but it requires habitation to truly transform into a home.

Most houses undergo inspection during construction or when substantial renovations are necessary.

A home inspection also becomes necessary when homeowners intend to sell their property.

In Alaska, the prerequisites for becoming a home inspector are relatively minimal, so if you aspire to enter this profession, you’ve come to the right place.

Home Inspector Job Description in Alaska

It’s crucial to understand that a home inspection’s primary purpose is to uncover any issues the house might possess.

This differs from a home appraisal, which determines a house’s value based on various factors.

A home inspector assesses:

• The functionality of cooling and heating systems.
• Plumbing.
• Electrical systems within the property.
• The roof’s condition.
• The structural integrity of the house.
• Any damages caused by fire, water, insects, or other environmental factors.

Following the inspection, the inspector must compile a comprehensive report detailing their findings.

This report can significantly impact the house’s appraisal value and its likelihood of a quick sale.

Depending on the property’s age or specific circumstances, specialized home inspections might be required.

These could involve investigations into:

• Termite infestations.
• Presence of other pests.
• Lead-based materials.
• Asbestos.
• Mold and mildew.
• Radon gas.
• Chimney integrity.
• Other unique elements.

Specialized inspections typically come with additional fees.

While there are no stringent prerequisites for becoming a home inspector in Alaska, a valid license is mandatory.

Complete Your Home Inspector Training in Alaska

Home inspectors in Alaska are overseen by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development’s Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing.

This Department mandates that candidates complete a 120-hour home inspection training course.

Furthermore, you’ll need to undertake 35 inspections alongside a licensed home inspector.

ICA

You may consider enrolling in Inspection Certification Associates (ICA), which provides an online course for prospective home inspectors.

The course fee is $695 and offers several benefits.

Let’s have a look at some of them:

• Free report writing software,
• One month of free membership with InterNACHI,
• One-year access to Edcetera Home Inspection (usually priced at $99),
• No time limit for course completion,
• A certification certificate and number,
• The mandatory 35 practice hours are required for licensing.

InterNACHI School

InterNACHI School is a renowned institution for individuals aspiring to become home inspectors.

They offer free training to association members, and the course is available online, ensuring accessibility for everyone.

This organization also provides various benefits to its members, including marketing and business development support.

AHIT

AHIT offers an online course in 3 packages.

The differences between the packages are the contents, such as e-books and 2 extra certifications.

The costs are $699, $899, and $1399 respectively, with the last package containing everything.

Since the packages can be pricey against a free course, AHIT offers 5 days of free access to all the content.

Those who decide to sign up and pay will be able to continue the course from where they left off.

You can complete the course in 3 weeks, but there’s no actual time limit to this.

Pass the Licensing Exam as a Home Inspector in Alaska

To become a licensed home inspector in Alaska, there isn’t a state-specific exam.

Instead, you must pass the national-level exam, which is conveniently available online.

However, specific requirements must be met before taking the test:

• Completion of the education described earlier.
• Either 35 field-based home inspections or a 35-hour course with participation in 100 home inspections under a licensed inspector.
• Completion of 25 home inspection reports, reviewed by your licensed supervisor.

Only after meeting these criteria can you register for the exam, which consists of two parts:

The National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE), comprises 200 questions (25 unscored) and lasts for four hours.

It covers topics such as property and building inspection, site review, analysis of findings and reporting, and professional responsibilities.

The exam fee, approximately $225, varies by location, and candidates who do not pass must wait 30 days before retaking it.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) exam, is free of charge.

Insurance as a Home Inspector in Alaska

Home inspectors in Alaska must obtain several types of insurance coverage:

• $20,000 for injury or damage to property
• $50,000 for injury or damage, including death, to any one person
• $100,000 for injury or damage, including death, to more than one person
• $250,000 of errors and omissions coverage

Upon completing all these steps, you can submit your license application, along with the $350 application fee, which must be notarized.

Both the application and fee can be submitted online.

Home Inspector Salary in Alaska

For those embarking on a career that requires training and passing exams, it’s natural to want to know the potential earnings.

In Alaska, the median salary for a home inspector is about $59,975 per year.

To provide a more detailed perspective, here are salary figures from cities with the highest median salaries in the state.

Regional Salary in Alaska

Home Inspector by State