The right home inspection training, both at the basic and advanced levels, can make or break a home inspection career. Satisfied customers provide the best leads for repeat home inspector jobs, and any reputable inspector knows that performing a reliable, memorable home inspection requires attention to the tiniest detail and knowledge of the latest inspection techniques and technology.

Find home inspection education and training resources for whatever stage you're in, and from the most respected professionals in the industry.

1. Complete home inspection school when you're just starting out.

2. Take a home inspection course online, sometimes even for free.

3. Earn home inspection certification and the course credits to maintain it.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend an accredited home inspection school

Pursue home inspection education from a well-known school for home inspector training. Ask practicing home inspectors where they completed their training, and ask local realtors and mortgage agents what schools they'd recommend. Chances are, if the realty professionals who hire home inspectors recommend a school, they'd recommend a certified home inspector who graduated from that school.

I recommend: Learn from the best home inspection schools, Professional Home Inspection Institute and Kaplan Inspection Training Associates. Check out the classes (home and online) through American Home Inspectors Training Institute.

Complete home inspector classes from home with distance learning options

Find a home inspection course online for basic and continuing education you can adjust to your schedule. Some courses are offered in Webcast or DVD format, while others are through interactive online classrooms. You can also find traditional face-to-face course listings locally using home inspection association chapters in your area.

I recommend: Start your home inspection career with training endorsed by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Or, take advantage of a home inspection course online with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) Advanced Online Video Courses.

Stay current with home inspection certification and training

You won't get leads on home inspector jobs if your certification has lapsed, so get certified and keep it current with the required continuing education credits each year. Once you've been inspecting professionally for 1,000 hours -- at least three years -- apply for Certified Master Inspector (CMI) status so that you can bill yourself as Board Certified.

I recommend: Find a home inspection class, certification preparation course or continuing education option using ASHI-approved continuing education courses. InterNACHI lists educational offerings from a variety of sources, many of them free. Some offerings do require InterNACHI membership, so check the listing before you inquire. Get information about CMI designation from the Master Inspector Certification Board.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You'll need to take some home inspection courses for certification test prep and continuing education, but also investigate an apprenticeship for the basis of your education. Shadowing a practicing home inspection professional with spotless credentials and a great referral base will help you get hands-on experience from someone with a depth of knowledge no classes can teach. It also certainly won't hurt when you start building your business and need contacts within the industry.