How to Become a Licensed Home Inspector in New York

Home Inspector Licensing:

To Become a Licensed Home Inspector in New York, You Must:

Provide proof of having successfully completed at least a high school diploma or its equivalent at the time of application.
Complete a course 140 hours approved by the Division of Licensing Services. This must include a minimum of 100 hours of classroom or live instruction and 40 hours of unpaid field-based training under direct supervision. You can find InterNACHI’s approved partner schools here: https://www.nachi.org/vendor-offers or Find an InterNACHI® Mentor near you.
Pass an approved examination, the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) or the New York State Home Inspector License Examination.
Provide proof of commercial general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate (or the amounts required by the Division). InterNACHI members do receive a discount on insurance, and you can get a quote at nachi.org/insurance
Submit a completed home inspector license application and pay the required application fee to the Division of Licensing Services.

Free, Online College Courses for Home Inspectors in New York

InterNACHI® is an approved continuing education provider in the state of New York. InterNACHI provides state-approved continuing education as live webinars, meeting the new section, 159, added to Chapter 5 dealing with live distance offerings:

"(4) “Live distance education” means providing instruction, in real-time, where the approved instructor and the students are physically separated, but the use of remote technology allows each person participating in the educational program to view and communicate with each other in a live and interactive manner that transmits simultaneous live audio and video."

For details about the webinar approvals from New York, visit our forum post.

For details about New York home inspector licensing, visit the New York website.

Insurance for Home Inspectors:

To be a licensed home inspector in New York, individuals must meet certain requirements for adequate insurance coverage. InterNACHI members are eligible for discounts and enhanced coverage. Visit nachi.org/insurance for information on how to sign up.

Home Inspection Agreement:

New York Home Inspection Agreement should be used by home inspectors prior to conducting a residential property inspection in the state of New York. InterNACHI's General Counsel drafted the agreement.

Become an InterNACHI Certified Home Inspector

Just because you're licensed doesn't mean you'll be successful. To compete with all other licensed home inspectors, take advantage of all of the marketing and business resources that InterNACHI® provides to InterNACHI® Certified Home Inspectors. InterNACHI® provides an accredited Home Inspector Certificate Program to members to attain the Certified Professional Inspector CPI® designation. The training, exam, and certification are all online and free for members. We recommend the 15-Step Checklist for Inspector Success.

Home Inspector State Exam:

To prepare for the state exam, you can take InterNACHI's Online Home Inspector Exam (free), take the InterNACHI State Exam Prep Course (free to members), and take InterNACHI's online courses (free to members). Not a member? Join now.

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

Contact Other Members in New York

Network with hundreds of InterNACHI® certified inspectors in New York.

Join New York Home Inspector Chapters

Join InterNACHI® Long Island Chapter

InterNACHI® Mentors

Contact an InterNACHI Mentor. InterNACHI® provides peer-to-peer learning experiences for both inspectors who need additional assistance and for experienced inspectors who are interested in helping other inspectors.

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.

New York approves InterNACHI as an approved school for licensed real estate agents.

Members can order free real estate cards by visiting Inspector Outlet.

Home Inspector Continuing Education Equivalency:

Download the following application to request for Continuing Education equivalency credit for a New York Home Inspection License based on out-of-state education not approved by the NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services:

New York Home Inspection CE Equivalency Submission Form PDF

Radon Tester Certification in New York (free & online for members)

New York enforces and regulates that individuals performing radon testing, measurement, and mitigation be certified by AARST-NRPP or NRSB. New York Certified radon testing firms must have a representative trained to use the equipment or provide detectors for the testing of radon. NY website lists Certified Radon Measurement Professionals.

InterNACHI's free, online radon course is approved by NRPP and AARST for both Entry Level (INACH-1) and Continuing Education (INACH-401), and NRSB-approved for Continuing Education credit. View listing on NRPP's website for Entry Level and NRPP's website for CE. View listing on AARST's website.

Radon testing firms may be certified by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), State of New Jersey (NJ), or State of Pennsylvania (PA). Remember that while a certified radon tester may collect samples, anyone who analyzes and provides the results of those tests must hold New York State Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Approval Program certification.

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:

For those looking for NRSB continuing education, members should take the free, online "Advanced Radon Measurement Service Provider" course.

Wood-Destroying Organism Inspector (free & online):

We asked NYSDEC to comment upon the situation where a licensed home inspector discovers a possible infestation of wood-destroying organisms during a home inspection. The reply is below:

Read the comment from NYSDEC.

It is recommended to NOT identify the insect, but, instead, report upon those items described in the InterNACHI WDO Inspection Form available for free at https://www.nachi.org/wdo-report.htm

Commercial Property Inspections

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

Home Energy Inspector (free & online)

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. Visit nachi.org/home-energy-inspector

Inspection Business Resources (free & online for members)

InterNACHI provides members with business and marketing resources, including:

Inspector Marketing Services

InterNACHI's Member Market Team provides free marketing design, illustration, and consultation services to InterNACHI® members. InterNACHI's Marketing Team will design a new logo for your inspection business or re-design your existing logo, and design and customize your business cards, flyers, and brochures. It's all for free. Take a look at the free design work we've done for our members. Contact the Inspector Marketing Department today.

Get Free Marketing Design Services

Marketing to Real Estate Agents

InterNACHI provides free resources to members who network with real estate agents, including:

InterNACHI® members give free marketing cards to real estate agents. The cards provide simple instructions for real estate agents to complete free, online state-approved Continuing Education to help renew their licenses. Check out InterNACHI's free, online CE courses for licensed real estate agents.

Order Free Marketing Cards