How to Become a Home Inspector in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin, so if you want to become one, you have come to the right page.

Home Inspector Job Description in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services oversees home inspectors.

This Division requires candidates to complete a 120-hour training course for home inspection.

Additionally, you’ll have to log 20 hours of field training 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 can cost $99
• No time limit in which to complete the course
• A certificate and a certification number

Through the GI Bill, veterans can get their tuition reimbursed.

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.

Pass the Licensing Exam as a Home Inspector in Wisconsin

It’s important to know that there’s no state-specific exam to become a licensed home inspector in Wisconsin.

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.

Only now you can sign up for the exam which in fact are two.

These are:

• The National Home Inspector Exam
• The Wisconsin Home Inspector Statues and Rules 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.

Keep in mind that you should also submit form #2466 along with the proof of passing the exam.

The state exam has 50 questions that can be answered online as well.

Insurance as a Home Inspector in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, home inspectors aren’t required by law to carry insurance.

They are expected by their employers to have insurance while they profess.

As a matter of fact, there are more types of insurance these professionals can get.

Most of them usually get:

• An Errors and omissions insurance policy
• A Liability insurance policy

Then, make sure to send your application along with the $126 associated fee to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

The application can be sent online.

Those who had or have pending convictions, regardless of state, will have to submit the proper documentation for predetermination.

Your home inspector license expires every 2 years, on 12/14 during even-numbered years.

The renewal fee is $51.

Those with past or pending convictions will also have to submit or resubmit the documents for their license renewal.

Home Inspector Salary in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin, the median salary for a home inspector is around $54,277 per year.

Below, I break it down to see some more figures from the cities with the highest median salary in this state.

Regional Salary in Wisconsin

Home Inspector by State