The process to become a New Jersey Home Inspector is fairly straightforward, but it does require completing a few essential tasks before you can begin your career. If you’re looking for a place to start, this guide will walk you through the 8 most important steps towards receiving your Home Inspection certification in New Jersey.
Planning to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey? Here’s what you should know
Those wondering how to become a New Jersey Home Inspector should know that the state of New Jersey requires that any individual who wishes to conduct a Home Inspection in exchange for compensation must be licensed.
Home Inspector License Requirements in New Jersey
To become a New Jersey Home Inspector and be paid legally, you must first meet the following requirements.
High School Education or Equivalent
Before starting your career as a New Jersey Home Inspector, you must obtain a high school diploma or the equivalent in the form of a GED.
Serve As a Licensed Associate Inspector For 1 Year
Anyone who wishes to become a fully qualified Home Inspector in the state of New Jersey must first serve as a licensed Associate Inspector for 1 year. This year must be spent under the supervision of a fully licensed Home Inspector.
Perform 250 Inspections
Anyone who wishes to become a New Jersey Home Inspector must complete at least 250 Inspections under the direct supervision of a licensed Home Inspector.
Submit a Background and Criminal History Record Check
Before you can be approved and receive your Home Inspector license, you must submit a background and criminal history check.
Take and Pass the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE)
Passing the National Home Inspector Exam is a reliable way to prove your knowledge as a trusted New Jersey Home Inspector. Once you pass the exam, you qualify to join the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), a widely known organization that will help you form relationships in the industry and start getting referrals. The exam is a written test held in multiple locations across the country.
Provide Proof of the Minimum Insurance Requirements
New Jersey requires that every Home Inspector must hold a general liability insurance policy or a commercial general liability insurance policy with a limit of at least $500,000. To be approved for a license, you must secure and maintain proof of this insurance.
How to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey in 8 steps
Step 1 — Complete 180 Pre-License Education Hours
The first step you need to take in your journey to becoming a Home Inspector in New Jersey is to complete at least 180 hours of pre-license training and education. These hours are broken up into 140 hours of classroom home inspection training and 40 hours of fieldwork.
Pro Tip
At the start of your journey towards becoming a Home Inspector in New Jersey, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Home Inspection Requirements for the state of New Jersey. Reviewing these requirements will help you chart your path and understand the necessary requirements and steps. You should also remember that an online Home Inspector course does not count towards these hours.
Step 2 — Complete 40 Hours of Unpaid Field Inspections
To obtain your home inspection license in New Jersey, you must first complete 40 hours of field experience in the presence of a licensed Home Inspector. The parallel inspection is a home inspection completed by the applicant and supervised by a certified Home Inspector acting as a supervisor.
Pro Tip
For each home inspection, the applicant must write a report, which the supervisor will review and correct. This report will be returned to the applicant within 10 calendar days of its submission.
Step 3 — Serve As a Licensed Associate for at Least 1 Year
In New Jersey, you must serve for at least one year as a licensed associate to a certified Home Inspector.
Step 4 — Register for & Pass the National Home Inspector Exam
After completing home inspections, you must pass the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE). The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are not counted in the official score. When preparing for the exam, you should keep in mind that the questions on the exam cover three central topics. Anyone who wishes to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey should work towards becoming an expert in these three domains:
- Property and Building Inspection / Site Review
- Analysis of Findings and Reportings
- Professional Responsibilities
Once you are ready to take the exam, you must first register for it. You must register for the exam in your specific state in advance; walk-in testing is not allowed. In the state of New Jersey, the NHIE costs $225.
Pro Tip
The National Home Inspector Examination is scored on a scale of 200-800. To pass the exam, you must obtain a score of at least 500. If you fail the exam and wish to schedule a retake, you must wait at least 30 days to retake the test.
You can find more information on the exam, as well as tips and resources for how to prepare for it, on the official NHIE website.
For your convenience, the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI) also has practice quizzes that can be purchased on the National Home Inspector Examination website.
Step 5 — Submit Your Home Inspector Application
After passing the National Home Inspector Exam, you must submit your Home Inspector application to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Your application must be accompanied by the required $125 application fee.
Pro Tip
In addition to your completed application form, you must also submit an $80 fee to become a licensed Home Inspector. Application fees are not refundable and can be submitted as a check, money order, or completed credit card insert.
Step 6 — Register Your Business
Register your business with the New Jersey Secretary of State to become a licensed Home Inspector and start practicing. If you plan on working for yourself, you will also need to form an official legal entity. A business lawyer can help you with all the necessary legal steps and paperwork.
Pro Tip
On the other hand, you can also join a registered, established home inspection firm. In this case, the hard work of establishing your name in the industry has already been done.
Step 7 — Obtain an Insurance Policy
Law states that every New Jersey Home Inspector must maintain or be covered by a minimum of $500,000 in Aggregate of Errors & Omissions Insurance. There is no requirement for General Liability Insurance in the state.
Pro Tip
These insurance policies will protect you and your business in the case that a client files a lawsuit against you. Although these scenarios are rare, preparing yourself for a possible legal situation is an important step toward becoming a Home Inspector in New Jersey.
Step 8 — Maintain Your Education Requirements
As a licensed Home Inspector in New Jersey, you must complete 14 hours of continual education every three years.
Pro Tip
To remain in good standing with the New Jersey Department of State, you must stay committed to continuing your education. The aforementioned 14 hours of education must be completed within 1 year before your license expiration date. Don’t put off completing your education until the last minute each year, as you may be unable to complete the hours in time.
If you fail to complete the education and your license expires, you may renew it within three months by submitting a late renewal application.
How long does it take to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey?
The time it takes to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey can vary depending on the amount of time you dedicate to completing all of the required steps. Some courses will train and prepare you to take the exam in a couple of months, while others may require nearly a year of training and practice.
How much does it cost to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey?
The cost of becoming a Home Inspector in New Jersey will vary depending on which course you take and how many times it takes you to complete and pass the National Home Inspector Exam.
In addition to the cost of education, it is also important to be aware of other costs, such as the $225 required for the National Home Inspection Exam fee. Another cost factor is whether you would like to register as your own legal business entity instead of joining a home inspection company. If you decide you would rather work for yourself, forming a legal entity can cost upwards of $2,000. You may also need the assistance of a lawyer to complete this process, which can further increase costs.
Final Thoughts
Those wishing to become a Home Inspector in the state of New Jersey should follow the steps listed above to complete the process. While the steps are fairly straightforward, obtaining the necessary education, experience, and certifications will take some time.
Some essential tasks to remember about becoming a Home Inspector in New Jersey include the following:
- You must complete 180 Pre-License education hours.
- You must complete at least 40 hours of unpaid field inspections.
- You must serve As a Licensed Associate for at Least 1 Year.
- The state of New Jersey requires that you pass the National Home Inspector Exam.
- You must secure an Errors and Omission Insurance policy of at least $500,000.
- Licensed applicants must submit to a criminal background check.
- You must register your business with the New Jersey Secretary of State if working for yourself.
- Home Inspectors must complete at least 40 hours of continued education every two years to maintain their license.
If you’re considering working as a Home Inspector in New Jersey and are looking to partner with a company that provides you with all the tools you need to complete training and inspections, contact our team at HomeGauge today.
FAQs
How hard is it to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey?
It is not that difficult to become a Home Inspector in Jersey. Following the steps listed above will give you a great start on your journey towards becoming a licensed Home Inspector in Jersey. With consistent hard work and dedication to your study and craft, you can become a successful Home Inspector in New Jersey.
Do you need a license to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey?
Yes, anyone who wishes to become a Home Inspector in New Jersey must first obtain an official license.
Do New Jersey home inspection licenses expire?
The New Jersey Real Estate Commission mandates that home inspection licenses expire every 2 years.
How much do Home Inspectors make in New Jersey?
As of the publication of this article, Home Inspectors in New Jersey make an average yearly income of $39,032.
What is the best Home Inspector training course in New Jersey?
There isn’t one course that is considered the best Home Inspector training course in New Jersey, however, there are a number of suitable options. To find the school or course that best fits your needs, we recommend you complete the research yourself.
A few of the most popular training programs for the National Home Inspection Exam include the following:
Disclaimer: The information in this article should be used as a guide and was accurate at the time of publishing. Check with your state authorities for the most up-to-date regulations.