State of California does not require any licensing to become a home inspector. So the nature of the certification, background experience, education, and association membership of a home inspector matters tremendously.
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Only CREIA and ASHI require:
– In-Person Written Examinations. Proctored examinations (just like real estate licensing exams), CREIA / ASHI inspectors prove their competence by passing in-person National Home Inspectors Examination at a professional testing facility.
– Code of Ethics prohibiting practices that could create conflicts of interest, including paying agents and real estate brokerages for referrals or offering financial incentives. Reports must be unbiased and objective.
– Proof of Valid Insurance – Errors & Omissions (E&O) and Liability Insurance.
– Criminal Background Checks with annual verification.
– Continuing Education (60 or more CE credits annually)
– Reviewed Home Inspection Reports. CREIA and ASHI officials review reports to assess competence of knowledge and compliance with CREIA / ASHI Standards of Practice (SOP).
– Annual Conferences with more training and ongoing education
– Home Inspection Walk-Through Classes in person.
– Ride Along Home Inspections individually supervised by a certified CREIA Home Inspector to provide in-the-field education and hands-on experience.
– Monthly Chapter Meetings with ongoing education and certification.
– Supporting Community Benefit Non-Profits and giving back to our community by supporting worthy causes like housing disabled veterans.
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Other “Associations” don’t require the above. They only exist on the internet.
These online certification mills sell easy “certifications”. Their online exams make it easy to cheat on the at-home test.
With the other organizations, a person could literally wake up one day with no experience, pay their online membership, Google the answers during the online exam, and in less than an hour call themselves a “certified home inspector”.