Second Career Home Inspector
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Things to Know about Home Inspection. See if this industry is a good fit for you today!

You already have the toolbelt, put it to a different kind of work.

A step-by-step, self-paced guide for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, carpenters, roofers and contractors who want to move toward home inspection.

Get the step-by-step guide Try two practice questions

Informational study guide. It does not replace your state's required pre-licensing education, and it is not affiliated with ASHI.

A home inspector reaching up to check the ductwork and cabinet on a furnace
17 modules
400+ practice questions

Aching back. Sore knees. Tired hands.

Trade work takes a toll, and a lot of good tradespeople start looking for what comes next. The knowledge you built over the years is not the part that wears out.

Your know-how doesn't wear out.

Inspection still means ladders, attics and crawlspaces. The difference is that you observe, document and recommend, instead of building and hauling. The guide covers safe methods and tells you to report anything you can't safely reach.

BackYears of lifting, bending and hauling add up.
KneesCrouching, kneeling and climbing, day after day.
Hands and shouldersOverhead work, vibration and heavy tools wear on them.
Your timeEarly starts, long days and weekends given to the job.
An inspector crouching to check appliances at floor level
Checking appliances at floor level
An inspector testing a window
Testing windows and glazing
An inspector checking tub and toilet connections
Checking plumbing fixtures

If you're looking for a fulfilling career change, this is the place to start.

  • Get more of your time back.
  • Be your own boss and make your own hours.
  • Save your health and use your knowledge.

Most inspectors work independently, but schedules, income and licensing vary by state and by how you build your business.

Your trade is already half the course.

Each trade maps onto systems an inspector looks at. You already read most of this at a glance. The guide teaches the standards, the vocabulary and how to write it up.

Electricians

Service entrances, panels, grounding, GFCI and AFCI protection, wiring and receptacles.

Electrical

Plumbers

Supply and drain piping, traps and vents, water heaters and relief valves, fixtures and sump pumps.

Plumbing, Basements and crawlspaces

HVAC techs

Furnaces and boilers, flues, air conditioning, ductwork, filters and condensate lines.

Heating and cooling, Fireplaces and chimneys

Carpenters and framers

Foundations, framing, joists and girders, decks, stairs, guards, windows and doors.

Structure and foundation, Decks, Interior

Roofers

Roof coverings, flashing, penetrations, gutters, attic ventilation and insulation.

Roofing, Garages and attics

General contractors

All of it, plus writing findings clearly, setting scope in an agreement and staying on the right side of liability.

Report writing, Safety, liability and business

What is inside the guide

17modules
400+original practice questions
200question final exam
  1. Standards and the inspector's role
  2. Roofing
  3. Exterior
  4. Structure and foundation
  5. Electrical
  6. Plumbing
  7. Heating and cooling
  8. Interior, insulation and ventilation
  9. Fireplaces and chimneys
  10. Garages and attics
  11. Report writing
  12. Safety, liability and business
  13. Basements and crawlspaces
  14. Decks, porches and balconies
  15. Appliances, kitchens and laundry
  16. Environmental hazards and specialty services
  17. Licensing, exam prep and starting out
A state-by-state starting guidePick your state from all 50 and see its steps to getting started, or that it has no state license.
In-depth module reviewsEach module opens with a short description, then goes deep on each component, system and standard, with a diagram and photo spots.
A separate quiz for every moduleTrue/False and multiple choice on its own page, after you have read the review. Every question explains the answer.

How it works

1

Pick your state

See the steps to get started where you live. Your state stays in the course header.

2

Read a module

Start with a short description, then work through each component, system and standard.

3

Take the quiz

Each module has its own quiz page, with an explanation for every answer. Score 75% to unlock the next module.

4

Sit the final exam

A 200-question exam in the style of the national exam, drawn at random from every module. Retake it for a fresh set.

Try two practice questions

These come straight from the guide.

What this guide is, and what it is not

It is

  • Self-paced study material on the systems and components of a home.
  • A summary of each state's starting steps, to help you know what to ask your state board.
  • A way to learn inspector vocabulary, scope and report writing.
  • Original practice questions to test what you retained.

It is not

  • State-approved pre-licensing education or legal advice. State rules change, so confirm yours with your state board.
  • A promise that you will pass an exam or earn a license.
  • Affiliated with or endorsed by ASHI, an exam provider or a licensing board.
  • Made of real exam questions.

Start learning how inspectors see a house.

One purchase, starting with a guide to your own state. Go through it at your own pace, on your phone after work or at a desk.

Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Home Inspector
$24.99
One-time purchase
  • 17 modules covering every major system and component
  • A starting guide for all 50 states
  • In-depth review of every system, with diagrams
  • A separate quiz page for each module, 400+ original questions with explanations
  • A 200-question final exam in the style of the national exam, with a fresh mix each time
  • Self-paced, on any device
Get the step-by-step guide

Not ready to buy yet?

Get the free state-by-state guide. Pick your state and see the steps to get started, or sign up and we will email your state's checklist.

Open the free state guide

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Questions people ask

Does the course tell me what my state requires?

It opens with a starting guide for every state. You pick your state and see the steps: education, field training, exam, insurance and application, or a note that your state has no license. The summaries come from public sources and can be out of date, so always confirm with your state's licensing board.

Do I need a license before I start the course?

No. This is informational study material. Licensing rules differ by state and some states have none.

Will this get me licensed or certified?

No. It does not replace state-approved pre-licensing education, and nothing in it guarantees you will pass any exam. It helps you learn the systems, the vocabulary and how inspectors write findings.

Is inspection easier on the body than trade work?

It is different. You will still climb ladders and work in attics and crawlspaces. The load changes because you are observing and documenting instead of building and hauling. The guide covers safe methods and tells you to report what you cannot safely reach.

How long does it take?

It is self-paced. Each module is a review page plus a separate quiz page, and the 200-question final exam draws from every module. Go as fast or as slowly as your schedule allows.

Are the quiz questions from a real exam?

No. They are original practice questions on the topics inspectors are expected to know. They are not copied from any exam.

I am not a tradesperson. Can I still use it?

Yes. The examples assume some familiarity with how houses are built, so you may want to move more slowly through the structure and systems modules.