How to Become a Licensed Home Inspector in Ohio

 
Senate Bill 255 was signed into law on Jan. 4, 2019, which created the Ohio Home Inspector Program, managed by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.

As of Dec 23, 2019, the Ohio Home Inspector Board is fully appointed with all seven members. At this time, administrative rules for the Home Inspector Program are being reviewed by the Common Sense Initiative Office (CSI). Because the rules have not yet received final approval, the Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing is not enforcing the original November 1st deadline requiring a license to do home inspections. The current deadline is April 5, 2020*. The Division has issued over 700 licenses so far through the grandfather application.

According to Section 8(A) of the law, home inspector licenses will be issued if the individual applies for a license and pays the fee, and if the applicant demonstrates the following: 
 
  • proof of general liability insurance. InterNACHI® members receive exclusive discounts and enhanced coverage through our members-only insurance programs; and
  • proof by direct documentation or a signed affidavit attesting to having met any three of the following eight requirements to demonstrate their participation in the home inspection field prior to the effective date of this act of April 5, 2020: 
    1. having performed at least 200 home inspections for clients for compensation or other valuable consideration;
    2. having successfully passed a home inspector examination; 
    3. having actively operated a home inspection business in Ohio for three years before the effective date of this act under a business name officially registered with the Ohio Secretary of State;
    4. having been employed as a home inspector for 36 consecutive months before the effective date of this act by an inspection company or person whose owner or manager meets the license requirement specified in this section;
    5. having successfully completed 80 hours of classroom or online instruction provided by an accredited post-secondary institution that includes topics of this law, safety, and report writing (Sec. 4764.05 (C)). No courses have been approved by the State of Ohio yet. InterNACHI® School is an accredited post-secondary education institution accredited by the national accrediting agency of the U.S. Dept. of Education. Email education@internachi.org for course details.
    6. having a license, registration, or certification in good standing to perform the duties of a home inspector in another jurisdiction that has requirements for licensure, registration, or certification that are substantially similar to Chapter 4764 of the Revised Code;
    7. having prepared at least five home inspection reports that have been verified as being in compliance with the standards adopted by a national organization of home inspectors. This can be completed by using InterNACHI's FREE Report Writing Checklist to verify compliance of five reports (a letter of compliance can be provided upon request); and/or
    8. having completed, not more than one year before the effective date of this act of April 5, 2019, at least one peer review session conducted by a national organization that consists of and represents home inspectors (where an applicant identifies and reports defects in a home that contains previously identified defects). 

 

To Become an Ohio-Licensed Home Inspector

For grandfathering:
  • STEP #1: Join InterNACHI® as a member at $49 per month (cancel any time) or $499 per year. There are no prerequisites to become a member. 
  • STEP #2: Complete the State of Ohio application, including documentation any three of the eight provisions described above, and the other provisions in the new Ohio Home Inspection Law. 
  
Ohio 96-Hour Pre-Licensing Course (awaiting approval by the Ohio Home Inspector Board)
 
 

Home Inspector Continuing Education (online and free)

Sec 4764.08 of the Ohio Home Inspector Licensing Law states that during each three-year period that a license is valid, a licensed home inspector shall successfully complete at least 14 hours of continuing education annually. 
 
 

Insurance for Inspectors​

The Ohio Home Inspector Licensing Law has requirements regarding insurance for home inspectors. InterNACHI® members are eligible for discounts and enhanced home inspector insurance coverage. 
 
 

InterNACHI®

InterNACHI® is the world's largest association of home inspectors, providing free training, online testing and certification, business development, marketing support, discounts on everything from home inspection software to E&O insurance to your next truck, and more.
 
InterNACHI® School is accredited as a post-secondary educational institution by the national accrediting agency of the U.S. Dept. of Education to provide tuition-free online training, examination, certification, and continuing education to InterNACHI® members in Ohio. 
 

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

Home Inspector Chapters in Ohio

Join a Chapter of home inspectors in Ohio.
 
 

Online Forum for Ohio Inspectors

 
 

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 a thousand 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®.
 
  

Radon Testing Continuing Education (online and free)

       
Courses are accepted by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Indoor Radon Program if they are approved by NRPP. InterNACHI's free, online Advanced Radon Measurement Service Provider Course is approved by NRPP and AARST for 16 hours of Continuing Education credit. For more information, visit www.nachi.org/ohio-department-health-indoor-radon-program-courses.htm
 
NRPP:
InterNACHI's free, online "Advanced Radon Measurement Service Provide 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:
This course is also NRSB approved for Continuing Education credit. View details about InterNACHI's "Advanced Radon Measurement Service Provider Course. 
 
  

How to Join InterNACHI

 
 

Home Inspector Training Classes

 

Manufactured & Mobile Home Inspector (online & free)

To be a certified manufactured home inspector, individuals must take training from a national organization. InterNACHI's online "How to Inspect Manufactured & Mobile Homes Course" is free to members. Not a member? Join now. 
 
 

Columbus Board of REALTORS

The Columbus Board of REALTORS requires that inspectors be members in good standing of a national inspection association such as InterNACHI. Thanks to lobbying efforts by InterNACHI’s attorney, it was the decision of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Board of REALTORS, at its February 23, 2011 meeting to approve the Standard Qualified Inspector Clause #402 which prevents non-members from performing inspections and requires home inspectors to be a members in good standing of a national inspection association such as InterNACHI. Read more...

 
 

City of Toledo

The City of Toledo lists NAHI in the "Home Inspector Registration Info And Application" document on https://toledo.oh.gov/services/building-inspection/permits-documents/. Every InterNACHI member may receive a free membership to NAHI. For details, visit NAHI's website and www.nachi.org/nahi. 
 
To comply with this provision, complete the "Home Inspector Registration Info And Application" by checking "NAHI". 



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 real estate cards to real estate agents, which explain how to log into the free courses by visiting www.nachi.org/oh-agent. 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 

Home Energy Inspector Certification (online & free)

 
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. 
 
  

Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO)

 
The state of Ohio requires that wood-destroying insect inspectors be licensed and certified through the state. InterNACHI's Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO) Inspection Course is currently in the process for approval.
 
 

Roof Data Technician (free for members)

  
The Roof Data Technician Program, developed by InterNACHI and Owens Corning and Lowe's, provides an additional revenue stream for InterNACHI members who are hired by Owens Corning as part of a roof warranty claim resolution process. (This program is operational in the United States only.) To participate in the program, visit nachi.org/roof. 
 
  

Business & Marketing (online & free)

 

InterNACHI's Member 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 (free to members). Contact the Member Marketing Team today. 
 
  

Homeowner Newsletter (online & free)

Keep in touch with all of your clients! The InterNACHI Homeowner Newsletter is: 
  • free to members;
  • has 5 years worth of monthly issues; and
  • includes your photo and logo in each issue.
Your photo or business logo and website link will appear in each newsletter issue, so your clients can keep your contact information handy. Learn more about InterNACHI's free, monthly homeowner newsletter system (free for members).
 
Order handout cards to sign homeowners up for your Homeowner Newsletter (a customizable, monthly newsletter system that is free to members). Order your homeowner newsletter cards from InspectorOutlet.
 

Everything You Need, All in One Place

 

Membership Benefits (free)

 
 
 
2009 Letter from Ohio Building Department listing InterNACHI specifically in the Toledo home inspector certification requirements. 
 
 

Inspector Licensing in Other Regions

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