---
title: "Becoming a home inspector | InspectDay"
description: "The steps to become a home inspector in the US: the national exam, certification, your state's license rules, then starting a home inspection business."
---

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# Becoming a home inspector

Take the steps in this order: the national exam, certification, your state's license rules, then starting a home inspection business.

Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors' and InterNACHI's pages, checked on October 9, 2026

[Home inspector license by state](/home-inspector-license/)

1. [National home inspector exam](/national-home-inspector-exam/) The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI) sets the national exam: 200 questions in four hours, with a pass at 500 on a scale of 200 to 800.
2. [Home inspector certification](/home-inspector-certification/) InterNACHI certification, the CPI, needs an InterNACHI membership at $49 a month or $499 a year; ASHI's ACI is a separate route.
3. [Home inspector license by state](/home-inspector-license/) Pick a state to see what its law requires of a home inspector and who issues the license.
4. [Starting a home inspection business](/blog/start-home-inspection-business/) Set up the entity and EIN, check your state's license and insurance, and write a plan.

- [Home inspector salary](/home-inspector-salary/)

## Sources

- [Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors, “About Us”](https://nationalhomeinspectorexam.org/about-ebphi/)
- [Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors, “Frequently Asked Questions”](https://nationalhomeinspectorexam.org/frequently-asked-questions-2/)
- [InterNACHI, “Certified Professional Inspector CPI®”](https://www.nachi.org/joinnow-certification-requirements.htm)
- [InterNACHI, “Home Inspector Certification Requirements”](https://www.nachi.org/cpi-requirements.htm)

## Find your state's license rules.

[Home inspector license by state](/home-inspector-license/)