How to Become a Home Inspector in Idaho

Everyone regards a house as a place of safety.

However, a house must be inhabited to truly become a home.

Most houses undergo inspection during their construction or when significant renovations are required.

A home inspector is also essential when homeowners intend to sell their property.

Becoming a home inspector in Idaho comes with relatively few prerequisites, so if this is your aspiration, you’ve landed on the right page.

Home Inspector Job Description in Idaho

It’s essential to understand that a home inspection is primarily intended to identify any issues the house may have.

This differs from a home appraisal, which aims to determine the property’s value based on various factors.

A home inspector will assess:

• The functionality of the heating and cooling systems.
• The integrity of the plumbing.
• The electrical systems within the property.
• The condition of the roof.
• The stability of the house’s foundation.
• Any damage caused by fire, water, insects, or other environmental factors.

Upon completing the inspection, the inspector must compile a comprehensive report regarding their findings.

This report can significantly influence the property’s appraisal and its chances of a swift sale.

Depending on the age of the house or building, a specialized home inspection may be necessary.

Specialized inspections usually check for termites, various pests, lead, asbestos, mold, mildew, radon, chimneys, or other unique elements.

This type of inspection usually involves additional fees.

While there are no specific prerequisites for becoming a home inspector, individuals in this profession must obtain a license.

Complete Your Home Inspector Training in Idaho

The oversight of home inspectors in Idaho falls under the purview of the Idaho Division of Building Safety.

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

Additionally, candidates must conduct 35 inspections under the supervision of a licensed home inspector.

Various institutions offer training programs for aspiring home inspectors, and now I’ll talk more about them!

Inspection Certification Associates (ICA)

ICA offers an online class that has no time limit for completion.

It is priced at $695 and comes with numerous benefits.

Some of them include:

• A free report-writing software,
• A one month of InterNACHI membership,
• One year of access to Edcetera Home Inspection
  • This usually sets you back $99.
• A certificate with a certification number
• 35-hour practice requirement for licensing.

InterNACHI School

Another option is InterNACHI School, a reputable institution offering free training courses to association members.

These courses are available online, making them easily accessible to everyone.

InterNACHI also provides various perks to its members, including support for marketing and business development.

AHIT

The Inspector Foundation class serves as a comprehensive introduction to the world of home inspection.

This course spans 120 hours and is conducted from Monday through Friday over a duration of two weeks.

Throughout the course, you’ll participate in a minimum of five field events to gain hands-on experience.

Additionally, this class encompasses training on report writing, valuable insights into marketing your business, and real-world knowledge shared by your AHIT Certified instructors.

For those seeking a more accelerated learning experience, there’s the 93-hour class, which runs for six consecutive days, from Monday through Saturday, and includes at least one field event.

While this course covers much of the material offered in our 120-hour course, it’s presented at a quicker pace.

Pass the Licensing Exam as a Home Inspector in Idaho

It’s important to note that there is no state-specific exam for obtaining a home inspector license in Idaho.

Instead, candidates must pass a national-level exam.

The advantage is that this exam can be taken online.

However, several prerequisites must be met before taking the test:

• Completion of the education and training requirements mentioned above.
• Completion of 25 home inspection reports reviewed by a licensed home inspector supervisor.

Candidates may register for two different exams:

The National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE), contains 200 questions (25 of them are unscored).

The test lasts for 4 hours.

It covers topics such as:

• Property and building inspection,
• Site review,
• Analysis of findings,
• Reporting,
• Professional responsibilities.

The exam fee, approximately $225, varies by location.

The AHIT exam is free of charge.

Candidates who do not pass an exam must wait 30 days before attempting it again.

Insurance as a Home Inspector in Idaho

Home inspectors in Idaho are required to have insurance coverage while practicing their profession.

These 2 types of insurance are usually enough:

• General liability policy costing around $40 per month
• Errors and omissions insurance priced at around $59 per month

After completing all these steps, individuals can submit their license application along with the associated $300 fee.

Both the application and fee can be submitted online.

Home Inspector Salary in Idaho

If you invest time and effort into a career that requires exams and training, it’s essential to consider the potential earnings.

In Idaho, the median salary for a home inspector is approximately $51,161 per year.

Below, we provide a breakdown of median salaries in different cities across the state.

Regional Salary in Idaho

Home Inspector by State