How to Become a Home Inspector in Texas.
The path to becoming a licensed home inspector can certainly be overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin. We created this info page to walk you through each step that you will need to take to secure your Professional Home Inspector license in the State of Texas! For a very quick guide, check out our state requirements page here.
We’ll go over types of licenses, the requirements for education of each of the 3 licenses, steps to apply through the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), and how to fill out the application
Step 1: Start at the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) Website:
First, you’ll need to visit the Texas Real Estate Commission website (TREC). Click the drop-down menu, and select Professional License.
There are 3 different license levels available through TREC.
Apprentice Inspector: With this level, you’re basically a trainee and need direct supervision (a professional inspector must be on the inspection with you). The only requirements are to be 18, and to meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
Real Estate Inspector: This level is a quicker way to get your license if you know you’ll be working under someone or with a multi-inspector firm. You must be indirectly supervised, meaning that your reports are reviewed by your sponsoring Professional Inspector.
Professional Real Estate Inspector: This is the most common home inspector license in Texas to get and our Super Inspector Training Academy team almost always recommends. The modules that you will need to complete include the following:
Step 2: Complete Your License’s Required Training Modules and Practicum:
Now onto your schooling. We at SITA have found the average time to complete all modules through our curriculum to average around 3-6 months depending on your schedule and availability.
An example of the courses inside the training modules include:
- 40 hours Property and Building Module I
- 40 hours Property and Building Module II
- 10 hours Business Operations and Professional Responsibility Module
- 20 hours in Texas Law Module
- 24 hours in Texas Standards of Practice Module
- 20 hours in Analysis of Findings and Reporting Module
- 40 hours Texas Practicum
Through our training program, Practicum must be scheduled after you have completed all 154 hours of online training. This is because the competencies that you will be learning in your online curriculum will be directly applicable to your in-person Practicum training. After completing your 40 hours of Practicum training, you can submit your request for TREC credit at the following link:
TREC Practicum Credit Request
Step 3: Complete Your Application and Pay the Required Fees:
After completing the steps above, it is then time to fill out and submit your TREC application. Please note that TREC limits you to a 1-year window after you submit your initial application. Because of this, we recommend that you complete your 194 hours of training beforehand.
The completion of a criminal background history may also be required. You can find the links to each application and their respective application fees below:
Apprentice Inspector Application Link – $60 in total fees
Real Estate Application Link – $100 in total fees
Professional Inspector Application Link – $120 in total fees
Step 4: Scheduling Your Licensing Exams:
After your application, respective fees, and coursework have sent in,TREC will then send you a number to provide to PearsonVUE in order to schedule your exams.
Along with an exam number, TREC will also provide you with a TREC ID. You will then need to schedule to have your fingerprints taken for a criminal history check. You can schedule to have your fingerprints taken here.
You will have to take the two following exams:
The State of Texas requires a Legal and Ethics and Standards of Practice exam. This exam consists of around 35 questions with plenty of time allotted to complete it.
The national exam is provided by NHIE. It is 200 questions and also provides plenty of time to complete it. NHIE provides exam prep courses in the event that you would like to study further before taking your exam.
After completing your exams, you must be sure to pay the required $10 to the Inspection Recovery Fund.
To pay this fee, you must make a check or provide $10 cash and mail it to TREC at the following address:
Texas Real Estate Commission, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, TX 78711.
Step 5: Obtain the Required Insurance:
You must fill out either the TREC Certificate of Insurance form or Proof of Financial Responsibility form and email the filled-out document to documents@trec.texas.gov.
TREC requires Errors and Omission insurance and General liability insurance. We recommend looking into Inspector Pro for these insurance requirements, as they are a company dedicated to providing insurance for home inspectors.
To Conclude:
These steps can seem daunting at first glance, but we hope this breakdown has provided you with some clear direction!
If you have any questions about any of the steps to becoming a home inspector in the State of Texas, don’t hesitate to call us at 940-366-7482 or email us at SITA@yoursuperinspector.com. We will be more than happy to clarify any of these details for you!