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 Washington, so if you want to become one, you have come to the right page.
Article Table of Contents
Home Inspector Job Description in Washington
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 looking for:
- Termites
- Other pests
- Lead
- Asbestos
- Mold and mildew
- Radon gas
- 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 Washington
The Washington Division of Construction Management oversees home inspectors.
This Division requires candidates to complete a 120-hour training course for home inspection.
You’ll have to complete 40 inspections with an already licensed home inspector.
Additionally, candidates must also perform 5 home inspections of their own.
What’s important to know is that in Washington, candidates also have to attend classroom education, even if the online school they chose offers a complete training program, based on duration.
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 generally costs $99
- No time limit in which to complete the course
- A certificate and a certification number
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 and lifetime access to learning material.
Washington School of Home Inspection
The program offered here has a duration of 2 weeks.
Its cost is $3995, or $4120 if paid in 6 monthly installments through PayPal.
Those who enroll, receive:
- $50 off for the EZ Home Inspection Software
- 6 months membership with InterNACHI
- Marketing and website building performed after-hours
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| InterNACHI | online |
| Washington School of Home Inspection | Ellensburgh, WA 98926 |
| ICA | online |
Pass the Licensing Exam as a Home Inspector in Washington
It’s important to know that there’s no state-specific exam to become a licensed home inspector in Washington.
Instead, the exam you must pass the exam at the national level.
The best part is that you can take the exam online.
You first have to complete your education as described above.
The National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) 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.
The results are given right after completing the test.
Candidates who don’t pass have to wait 30 days before another attempt.
Those who are licensed out of state will still have to pass the exam, but just the portion related to Washington.
Insurance as a Home Inspector in Washington
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 most common insurance these professionals get is for errors and omissions with at least $250,000 in coverage.
After completing all these steps, you can submit your license application along with the $300 associated fee.
The licensing fee is $680.
Home Inspector Salary in Washington
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 Washington, the median salary for a home inspector is around $59,120 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 |
|---|---|
| Bellevue | $60,801 |
| Duvall | $59,932 |
| Everett | $59,710 |
| Gold Bar | $59,666 |
| Carnation | $59,601 |
| Fall City | $59,598 |
| Keyport | $59,512 |
| Lakebay | $59,083 |
| Buckley | $58,965 |
| Aberdeen | $56,890 |
Regional Salary in Washington
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 100 | $84,670 | $40.71 | $106,160 | $55,380 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 80 | $79,970 | $38.45 | $94,870 | $63,580 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 110 | $82,520 | $39.67 | $104,330 | $56,120 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 90 | $76,340 | $36.7 | $95,370 | $46,130 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 140 | $83,680 | $40.23 | $105,370 | $63,330 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,760 | $88,700 | $42.64 | $111,110 | $60,650 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 240 | $74,460 | $35.8 | $95,000 | $55,920 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 40 | $84,870 | $40.8 | $107,660 | $60,690 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 70 | $83,680 | $40.23 | $106,470 | $60,660 |
| Yakima, WA | 70 | $78,790 | $37.88 | $94,880 | $57,040 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other requirements are there to become a home inspector in Washington?
The minimum requirements to become a home inspector in this state are:
- Minimum age of 18
- High school diploma or GED
- An insurance policy
- Passing a background check based on fingerprints
- A legal US resident
Can I work as a freelance home inspector in Washington?
The short answer is yes.
You can work on your own, open your own home inspection firm either as a sole proprietor or LLC, or become an employee of an already established firm.
What skills are needed for a home inspector in Washington?
Here are the most useful skills for this occupation:
- Interpersonal Skills
- A Working Knowledge of Construction
- Self-Motivation
- Attention to details
- Honesty,
- Trustworthiness
- Integrity
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Inspector
Home Inspector by State