How to get your license: Home inspectors

Overview

Get educated & receive training
Submit an exam application, online or by mail
Take the Home Inspectors exam
Apply for your Home Inspectors license, online or by mail

Experience and education requirements
Level of experience	Education and training or documentation required	Exam required
New Inspectors Those who have not actively performed home inspections	Fundamentals of Home Inspection (120 clock hours) Field training (40 hours)	Full exam
Out-of-state inspectors Those who have been licensed as a home inspector in good standing for at least 2 of the last 4 years.	Documentation of education and training that meets or exceeds Washington's requirements (WAC 308-408A-040)	State portion of the exam

1. Get Educated & Receive Training

To fulfill your education requirements:

Take a Washington State Home Inspectors Board-approved, 120-hour Fundamentals of Home Inspection course. Visit the Course Search to view a list of board-approved courses.
Mentor with an experienced home inspector for 40 hours of field training and 5 actual inspections.

2. Submit an Exam Application

What you’ll need

A SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account to apply online
- If you don't have one, you'll be able to create one before you start.
- For help visit How to set up account access.

Apply online

Prepare your documents for upload:

Your certificate of completion from a Washington State Home Inspectors Board approved Fundamentals of Home Inspection course
Training log showing 40 hours of field training

Apply online

Apply by mail

Send the following:

Completed Home Inspector Examination Application
Copy of your certificate of completion from a Washington State Home Inspectors Board approved Fundamentals of Home Inspection course

Mail to:

Home Inspectors
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9021
Olympia, WA 98507-9021

After you submit your Exam Application, you will receive:

An exam approval letter or email from our testing vendor indicating that your application is complete and providing you with information to schedule your exam, including your assigned ID number for our testing vendor.
or
A letter or email from us requesting additional information so we can process your application.

3. Take the Home Inspectors Exam

Review the Home Inspector Examination Candidate Handbook (goamp.com) prior to taking the exam.
The Home Inspectors Exam fee is $300, payable when you schedule your exam.
Visit our testing vendor's website to schedule your exam: http://online.goamp.com/CandidateHome/CandidateInformation.aspx
1. Select "Real Estate" as the category.
2. Select "Washington Home Inspector Program" as the program.
3. Select "Home Inspector Examination" as the examination.
4. Select "Schedule/Apply for this Exam" and provide the required information, including your Assigned ID# to select your desired testing site.
Take the exam at the testing site you choose. Please bring your photo ID to the testing site.
You will receive your exam results (pass or fail report) as you leave the testing center.
If you fail all or part of the exam, you must wait 24 hours after your exam before scheduling to retake it with the exam provider. There are no restrictions regarding the number of attempts. Beginning January 1, 2018, there is a 30-day waiting period between each examination attempt.
You must pass the applicable portion(s) within your 2-year eligibility period before applying for a license.
The cost to retake the exam is:
- $125 for the state portion
- $250 for the national portion

4. Apply for Your Home Inspectors License