How to Become a Certified Home Inspector in Iowa

InterNACHI® and InterNACHI's U.S. Department of Education-Accredited College has everything you need.

The new Iowa Home Inspection Accountability Act (SF460) passed both the Iowa House and Senate on a unanimous bipartisan basis and was signed into law by Governor Reynolds. This legislation establishes comprehensive regulations for home inspections, codifying qualifications for home inspectors, standards for inspection reports, and penalties for non-compliance, and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

To become a licensed home inspector in Iowa, Senate File 460 requires the following:

Become a member of a non-profit national home inspection association. Join InterNACHI®.
Pass an examination testing knowledge of the proper procedures for conducting a home inspection. Take InterNACHI's Proctored Inspector Exam.
Conduct home inspections based on the Standards of Practice of a national inspectors association; InterNACHI's Standard of Practice.
Comply with a Code of Ethics of a national inspectors association; InterNACHI's Code of Ethics.
Take professional continuing education classes as an ongoing condition of membership. Free at nachi.org/education.
Maintain Errors and Omissions and General Liability insurance. Get a free quote at nachi.org/insurance.

New inspectors: send a list of 100 addresses of inspections you've performed or participated in to education@internachi.org. Don't send the reports, just the list of addresses.

InterNACHI® and InterNACHI® School

InterNACHI® is the world's leading association for home inspectors. We provide free training, online testing and certification, business development, marketing support, and discounts on everything from home inspection software to E&O insurance to your next truck and more. Check out the membership benefits.

InterNACHI® School (internachi.edu) is the only home inspector college accredited by a national accrediting agency of the U.S. Department of Education to provide tuition-free online training, examination, certification, and continuing education to InterNACHI® members in North Carolina.

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Scroll down this page for everything you need to get started, make more money, and grow your inspection business.

Home Inspector Certification

Just because you're licensed doesn't mean you'll be successful. Once you attain a license, success is all about marketing your credibility and value. To become an InterNACHI® Certified Home Inspector and earn the Certified Professional Inspector CPI® designation, complete the home inspector certification requirements. The training, exam, and certification are all online and free for members.

Join InterNACHI as a member at $49 per month (cancel any time) or $499 per year.
Why join? Members have unlimited access to InterNACHI's free, online training and Continuing Education, the members-only forum, most membership benefits, and more than 60 inspector certifications, including Certified Home Inspector. All free and online for members.

Insurance for Inspectors

Although Iowa doesn’t have requirements regarding insurance for home inspectors, many local real estate boards and home inspector business franchises require their affiliate members to meet certain coverage standards. InterNACHI members are eligible for discounts and enhanced coverage. Visit nachi.org/insurance for information on how to sign up.

Hands-On Training at House of Horrors®

Experience world-class inspection training and InterNACHI® member events at our House of Horrors® locations in Colorado and Florida. The InterNACHI® House of Horrors® is an entire house with 1,000 defects built under our roof. Register for a free event, take training, test-drive inspection tools, attend an inspector chapter meeting, and inspect the House of Horrors®. Experience the House of Horrors®

Inspector Continuing Education (online & free for members):

To maintain your home inspector certification, you must take 24 hours of Continuing Education every year. To take Continuing Education courses, visit nachi.org/education (online & free to members).

Click Here For Iowa Approved Courses

Home Inspector School Partners

For a list of local partner schools who provide home inspector training classes, please click here.

Iowa Partner Schools

Real Estate Cards (free for members):

Licensed real estate agents can attain free Continuing Education credits by following the directions on the real estate cards. Members can hand out these cards to real estate agents, which explain how to log into the free courses.

When an agent logs into a course and enters the member's ID number, the member is automatically emailed. The first slide of the course is the member's contact information.

Iowa Real Estate Commission approves InterNACHI as a Provider of free, online Continuing Education courses to licensed real estate professionals.

Order your free real estate cards.

Radon Tester Certification in Iowa (online & free for members):

The Iowa Department of Public Health has requirements to become a Certified Radon Tester, including the completion of a radon measurement training course approved by NRPP and AARST. Visit the Iowa website for details.

NRPP:
InterNACHI's free, online Radon Measurement Professional Initial Training Course is AARST-NRPP-approved for both initial certification and Continuing Education. To complete all components of the NRPP Radon Certification, please visit their site for more information.

NRSB:
InterNACHI's free, online Radon Measurement Professional Initial Training Course is NRSB-approved for initial certification. For those looking for NRSB continuing education, members should take the free, online "Advanced Radon Measurement Service Provider" course.

Wood-Destroying Organisms

The Iowa Department of Agriculture requires that Pesticide applicators be licensed through the state. A list of requirements may be found here. Students looking to become licensed may find InterNACHI's Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO) Inspection Course as a beneficial education tool.

Commercial Property Inspections

Visit Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association (CCPIA) for additional commercial inspection training and resources.

Home Energy Inspector Certification

Become a Certified Home Energy Inspector™. The online training and certification is free for members. No infrared, no blower door, and no additional training needed.