How to Become a Licensed Home Inspector in Texas

Welcome to the Texas Home Inspector Licensing Program. Texas requires individuals who perform home inspections to be licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). Before beginning any qualifying education or applying for a license, you should familiarize yourself with TREC’s licensing requirements, including approved education providers and the application process.

You may find official licensing information at: https://www.trec.texas.gov

To Become an Apprentice Inspector in Texas, You Must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
2. Be 18 years of age or older. 
3. Be sponsored by a licensed professional inspector.  Find an InterNACHI® Mentor near you.
4. Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying).
5. Submit Fingerprints to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed.
6. Submit your application and fee to become an Apprentice Inspector using the REALM Portal.

To Become a Real Estate Inspector in Texas, You Must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
2. Be 18 years of age or older. 
3. Be sponsored by a licensed professional inspector.  Find an InterNACHI® Mentor near you.
4. Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying).
5. Complete the required "Sponsored Experience and Education Pathway" OR "Substitute Experience and Education Pathway"; choose either:
   1. Sponsored Experience and Education Pathway
      •  Have at least 3 months of active experience as a licensed apprentice inspector sponsored by a Texas professional inspector during the 12-month period preceding the application date.
      • Complete 25 real estate inspections under direct supervision
      •  40 hours in Property and Building Inspection Module I
      •  40 hours in Property and Building Inspection Module II
      •  10 hours in Business Operations and Professional Responsibility Module
      You can find InterNACHI’s approved partner schools here: https://www.nachi.org/vendor-offers, search "Texas".
      
      OR
      
      
   2. Substitute Experience and Education Pathway
      • 40 hours in Property and Building Inspection Module I*
      •  40 hours in Property and Building Inspection Module II*
      • 10 hours in Business Operations and Professional Responsibility Module
      •  24 hours in Texas Standards of Practice Module
      •  40 hours in Texas Practicum
      • You must submit the Texas Practicum Credit Request form with your application for credit 
      You can find InterNACHI’s approved partner schools here: https://www.nachi.org/vendor-offers, search "Texas".
      
      
6. Pass the National and State Exam. 
   Before you can take the national portion of the examination, you must complete the following courses:
   • Property and Building Inspection Module I
   • Property and Building Inspection Module II
   • Business Operations and Professional Responsibilities Module
   
   Before you can take the state portion of the examination, you must complete the following courses:
   • Texas Standards of Practice Module
   • Texas Practicum
   
   Once you have met the experience and education requirements, you will be sent an exam approval notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook. License exams are administered by PearsonVUE, a testing service company. If you fail the exam three times, you will be required to take additional education before you can retake the exam.
   
   
7. Submit proof of professional liability insurance or any other insurance that provides coverage for violations of Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1102, Subchapter G ($100,000 per occurrence) before a license will issue.

   Note: Upload the completed TREC Certificate of Insurance form or Proof of Financial Responsibility form to your online application using the REALM Portal. InterNACHI members do receive a discount on insurance, and you can get a quote at nachi.org/insurance.

8. Submit your application and fee to become an Apprentice Inspector using the REALM Portal.

To Become a Real Estate Inspector in Texas, You Must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
2. Be 18 years of age or older. 
3. Be sponsored by a licensed professional inspector.  Find an InterNACHI® Mentor near you.
4. Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying).
5. Complete the requirements of the Apprentice Inspector.
6. Complete the requirements of the Real Estate Inspector.
7. Complete additional education or experience: 
   • Have at least 12 months of active experience as a licensed real estate inspector sponsored by a Texas professional inspector during the 24-month period preceding the application date.
   • Complete 175 real estate inspections under indirect supervision.
   • 20 hours in Texas Law Module
   • 24 hours in Texas Standards of Practice Module
   
   OR
   
   • 20 hours in Texas Law Module
   • 24 hours in Texas Standards of Practice Module
   • 20 hours in Analysis of Findings and Reporting Module