Prior to March 1, 2021 Real Estate Inspector Requirements
A Real Estate Inspector is licensed to perform a real estate inspection for a buyer or seller of real property but is required to do so under the indirect supervision of a Professional Real Estate Inspector.
You have one year from the date your application is filed to meet all education and experience requirements for a license.
Qualifications
- Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
- 18 years of age or older
- Be sponsored by a professional inspector
- Meet TREC’s qualifications for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity
- Consider requesting a Fitness Determination before applying for the license
Requirements
You must enroll in courses by March 1, 2021, complete all education and experience requirements, and submit an application by June 30, 2021 to apply under these requirements. Significant changes to inspector requirements will take effective March 1, 2021.
Complete Your Qualifying Education
An applicant for a Real Estate Inspector License must complete 90 classroom hours of qualifying real estate inspection courses as follows:
- 10 hours in foundations
- 8 hours in framing
- 10 hours in building enclosure
- 10 hours in roof systems
- 8 hours in plumbing systems
- 10 hours in electrical systems
- 10 hours in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- 8 hours in appliances
- 4 hours in Texas Standards of Practice
- 4 hours in Texas Standard Report Form/Report Writing
- 8 hours in Texas Legal/Ethics
After completing your course work, you are welcome to submit a course and instructor evaluation.
Meet the Experience and the Additional Education Requirements
There are three options available for an applicant to satisfy the experience and additional education requirements to become a Real Estate Inspector.
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
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Have at least 3 months of active experience as a licensed apprentice inspector during the 12-month period preceding the application date. |
Have 2 years of experience as an active practicing licensed or registered architect, professional engineer, or engineer-in-training. A license history from the regulatory agency that issued the license or registration must be submitted.
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Complete an additional 32 classroom hours of qualifying inspection courses as follows:
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| AND | ||
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Have performed at least 25 real estate inspections under direct supervision.
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OR |
AND |
AND |
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Have 3 years of personal experience in a field directly related to home inspection and provide two affidavits* from persons who have personal knowledge of your experience.
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Complete an additional 16 classroom hours of qualifying inspection courses as follows:
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Complete 20 hours of fieldwork AND 12 hours of approved experience coursework.
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*Affidavits of personal experience must detail the time and nature of your experience in a field directly related to home inspection, including but not limited to installing, servicing, repairing or maintaining the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems found in improvements to real property.
Finding a Ride Along Instructor
Qualified Ride Along Instructors must have at least five years of active experience as a Texas Professional Inspector and meet one of the following criteria:
- have performed at least 200 real estate inspections as a Texas professional inspector
- have three years of experience in teaching or sponsoring trainees or inspectors
You may reference a list of of previously approved ride along instructors here.
To request qualifying credit for field work through a ride along inspection course, submit the Qualifying Credit Certification of Completion of Ride Along Inspection Substitute Experience Course Session form with your application.
Filing your Application
- Mail your Application for Inspector License and fee to TREC.
- Mail copies of your education and experience documents to TREC with your application.
Get your Fingerprints Taken and Pass Your Background Check
- You are required by law to have fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) so a background check can be performed. Fingerprints on file for other agencies will not be accepted.
- A license will not issue if the background check has not been passed. Expect a delay if you are notified of an investigation into your background history.
Take the Exam
- License exams are administered by PearsonVUE, a testing service company.
- Once TREC has approved you to take the exam, you will receive a notice with instructions for scheduling the exam and obtaining a copy of the exam Candidate Handbook.
- If you fail the exam three times, you will be required to take additional education before you can retake the exam.
Real Estate Inspection Recovery Fund
After you have passed the exam, you will be sent a notice from TREC requesting the required fee for deposit in the Real Estate Inspection Recovery Fund before your license will issue.
Financial Responsibility
- Once you have met all other requirements for a license, you must submit proof of professional liability insurance or any other insurance that provides coverage for violations of Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1102, Subchapter G ($100,000 per occurrence).
- Use the TREC Certificate of Insurance form or Proof of Financial Responsibility form.
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