New Jersey
States
How to become a
home inspector in New Jersey
So you’ve decided to start the path to become a home inspector in New Jersey–we are excited for you to begin this new venture! But you may be wondering: what are the New Jersey home inspector requirements? Don’t worry about getting lost, because we have done the research for you. We will help you complete the requirements necessary to become a new home inspector in no time.
What are the New Jersey home inspector requirements?
The New Jersey home inspector license requirements are managed by the New Jersey State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Before submitting the application, ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- Have a high school diploma, a GED, or the equivalent.
- Must complete one of the following education options:
- Complete an approved 180-hour course, including 40 hours of in-field training.
OR
- Perform at least 250 directly supervised, paid inspections.
- Complete a state-approved exam.
- Provide proof of errors and omissions insurance with at least $500,000 limits.
Once you have everything ready, submit your application online, along with the application fee, and you’ll be ready to go! But to help you further, we break down the major requirements below.
Education
To fulfill the education part of the New Jersey home inspector requirements, you are given two options: first, one built around a home inspector education course; and second, an experiential option.
Option 1
You are required to complete a 180-hour course for home inspectors that covers various areas you will inspect, as well as how to effectively run your home inspection business. Once you complete these courses, you will fill out the information on this sheet (which you will upload with your application).
The major stipulation for the 180-hour course you choose is that it “shall include not less than 40 hours of unpaid field-based inspections in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a licensed home inspector” (Public Law 2005, Chapter 201). Thankfully, the approved list has many providers that fit that bill, so you will be able to fulfill this New Jersey home inspector requirement easily.
With this course, take it as an opportunity to begin your journey to become a home inspector in New Jersey on the right foot. Aside from teaching you the necessary basics, these courses can help you network with other inspectors, meet experienced mentors, and ask any questions about business setup, marketing, inspecting, report writing, or any other necessary skill.
Option 2
The second option to fulfill the education component of the New Jersey home inspector requirements is to perform at least 250 fee-paid home inspections in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a licensed home inspector. Also, for these inspections, the supervising licensed home inspector must take full responsibility for the inspection and any report produced. As you complete these 250 inspections, fill out this Home Inspector Experience form to submit along with your application.
This option is wonderful if you already have construction or general contracting experience and you also have someone who is willing to let you help them with inspections. It can also be difficult to pull off without proper support from a licensed home inspector, so make sure that you are working with an inspector (or multiple inspectors) who are committed to helping you. If you are able to make this option work, ask many questions, study on your own, and practice every aspect of inspecting until you are confident enough to do it on your own when you finish licensure.
Pass the state-approved exam.
After passing the education component of the New Jersey home inspector license requirements, you should be ready to take the state-approved exam. The most popular exam to fulfill this requirement is the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), although you may contact the Home Inspector Advisory Committee to confirm if another exam would meet their requirements.
The NHIE contains around 200 questions and will cover various aspects of home inspecting, including certain business-related topics. To prepare, we recommend that you take the exam after you have completed the education course or inspections. Further, ask other inspectors about how they prepared (and how they would better prepare with hindsight). Finally, consider studying the prep material that NHIE offers. We know that you will pass it with flying colors!
Obtain E&O Insurance.
To meet the New Jersey home inspector insurance requirements, you must submit a proof of insurance document showing you carry at least the following insurance limits:
Professional Liability / Errors and Omissions (E&O) Requirement
Limits of $500,000 (per occurrence) / $500,000 (aggregate) or more in E&O
Errors and omissions insurance (E&O) for home inspectors, often known as professional liability insurance, protects you when your clients accuse you of missing or omitting something from your report during their inspection. In other words, you’re protected when clients accuse you of not doing your job right. By carrying this insurance, you can have peace of mind–whether you actually messed up or are just accused of doing so.
Once you successfully bind (purchase) your coverage, you can request a proof of insurance from your insurance provider or broker, which you will submit along with your application.
Renewal
Once you have completed all the necessary requirements to become a home inspector in New Jersey, along with the application, you will then have a valid home inspector license for two years. Every two years, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education in order to renew. For more information on continuing education in New Jersey, visit this website.
We are incredibly excited for you to begin your career as a home inspector, and we wish you the best of luck!