Home inspectors have the task of determining a home's current condition and value. This involves checking for termite and water damage, checking framing members to make sure they are in good condition, and checking the electrical system. House inspectors must be well educated and qualified to provide a quality inspection.
House inspector training requirements vary depending on the state in question. This is mainly due to differences in the environment. For example, a home inspector in the north would get more snow training than an inspector in Florida. In contrast, the inspector in Florida would get more hurricane training than the one up north. Both inspectors must know the current building codes for their area. A lot of this is learned by working with a licensed home inspector.
To be a house inspector, an applicant must have a high school diploma or GED to be eligible. Employers are also interested in applicants who have some engineering background or who have taken classes in building inspection, construction technology and drafting. Experience is always first choice, but some companies allow a bachelor's degree to substitute for experience.
Licenses and Certification
Many states have different requirements for licensing and certification. The main differences revolve around the number of years of experience required for licensing. All candidates interested in certification must pass a state administered exam to test the candidate's knowledge. Many states have individual licensing programs such as The International Association of Electrical Inspectors or the National Fire Protection Association.
Salary and Job Outlook
The average salary of a house inspector is $52,360 as of May 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These inspectors usually work regular full-time hours unless they are working on a high level project which requires overtime and weekend work. Currently about 11 percent of home and building inspectors are self employed. The bureau predicts that employment in this field is expected to grow 18 percent between 2010 and 2020. The highest level of growth is expected in government, architectural and engineering firms.