InspectDayLicense
Louisiana home inspector license
The Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors licenses home inspectors, and an applicant needs 120 hours of instruction, the National Home Inspector Examination, a State Police background check and at least $300,000 each of errors and omissions and general liability insurance.
Louisiana's statutes and the Board's pages, checked on
- Who licenses
- The Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors.
- Who must hold it
- Anyone who acts as a home inspector, or advertises or holds out as one, unless exempt. Engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, real estate brokers and salespersons, appraisers, pest control operators and contractors are exempt only when acting within the scope of their license. Insurance adjusters and code enforcement officials are also exempt. No firm, corporation or group can hold the license.
- Who can apply
- At least 18 years old, a high school diploma or equivalent, and a State Police background check.
- Education
- At least 120 hours of instruction, and at least 30 but not more than 40 of those hours in coursework with actual practical home inspections.
- Field training
- 90 hours with an approved education provider, 30 hours of prelicensing platform training, and 10 live inspections with an approved in-field trainer.
- Seminar
- The board's Standards of Practice and Report Writing Seminar, attended before a license is issued.
- Exam
- The National Home Inspectors Examination, given by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (PSI Exam).
- Insurance
- Errors and omissions insurance and general liability insurance, each at least $300,000 per year, with a deductible of no more than $5,000.
- Out-of-state applicants
- Under the Welcome Home Act, an active home inspector license from another state, held for at least one year and in good standing, with proof of Louisiana residency, may make you eligible for a Louisiana license.
- License term
- One year.
- Renewal
- A license not renewed within 12 months requires the examination again. One not renewed within 36 months also requires 90 hours of classroom education and the seminar again.
- Continuing education
- At least 20 hours in the previous licensing period, or at least 30 hours at a first renewal. No more than 10 hours carry over into the following year.
- Report
- A written report to each client within five calendar days of the inspection, and the report notes suspected mold growth when evidence of it is visible inside the structure (RS 37:1478). No repair solicitation is allowed for one year on items the report noted (RS 37:1478). The term licensed home inspector or L.H.I., with the license number, appears on the report and on all advertising, correspondence and documents incidental to a home inspection (RS 37:1479(D)).
- Inspection Reporting Form
- For every home inspection, a $5 fee to the board, and an Inspection Reporting Form completed at the end of each month.
Sources
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1476”
- Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors, “Home”
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1482 and 37:1483”
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1477”
- Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors, “Get Licensed”
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1481”
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1479”
- Louisiana State Legislature, “RS 37:1478”