Virginia Home Inspector Continuing Education Information
Home inspectors in Virginia must follow the Virginia Certified Home Inspectors Regulations which were enacted in 2001. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has created the Asbestos, Lead and Home Inspectors Board and this board is charged with promulgating regulation for the voluntary certification of home inspectors. The Virginia regulations require any person who holds himself out as or uses the title of "certified home inspector" or conducts or offers to provide a "certified home inspection" shall have a current and valid certificate issued by the board. However, nothing in this regulation shall be construed to preclude non certified individuals from performing home inspections for hire provided their conduct is in compliance with 54.1-517.1 of the Code of Virginia. To qualify for a certificate:
18 VAC 15-40-30. Qualifications for certification.
Every applicant for an individual home inspector certificate shall have the following
qualifications:
1. The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.
2. The applicant shall meet the following educational and experience requirements:
a. High school diploma or equivalent; and
b. One of the following:
(1) Completed 35 contact hours of classroom instruction and have
completed a minimum of 100 home inspections; or
(2) Completed 70 contact hours of classroom instruction and have
completed a minimum of 50 home inspections.
Instruction courses shall cover the content areas of the board-approved
examinations.
An applicant who cannot fulfill the classroom instruction requirement as
outlined in this subsection may substitute a minimum of 10 years of
experience as a home inspector to satisfy this requirement. The experience
substitution is subject to board review and approval.
3. The applicant shall have passed a written competency examination approved by
the board.
4. The board may accept proof of membership in good standing, in a national or
state professional home inspectors association approved by the board, as
satisfaction of subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of this section, provided that the
requirements for the applicant's class of membership in such association are
equal to or exceed the requirements established by the board for all applicants.
5. The applicant shall have a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair
dealing, and be competent to transact the business of a home inspector in such a
manner as to safeguard the interests of the public.
6. The applicant shall disclose whether a certificate or license as a home inspector
from any jurisdiction where certified or licensed has ever been suspended,
revoked or surrendered in connection with a disciplinary action or which has
been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for
certification in Virginia. The board may deny certification to any applicant so
disciplined after examining the totality of the circumstances.
7. The applicant shall disclose any conviction or finding of guilt, regardless of
adjudication, in any jurisdiction of the United States of any misdemeanor
involving violence, repeat offenses, multiple offenses, or crimes that endangered
public health or safety, or of any felony, there being no appeal pending
there from or the time for appeal having elapsed. Subject to the provisions of §
54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, the board shall have the authority to
determine, based upon all the information available, including the applicant’s
record of prior convictions, if the applicant is unfit or unsuited to engage in the
profession of residential home inspections. The board will decide each case by
taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Any plea of nolo
contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subdivision. A
certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision by a court with the
lawful authority to issue such order, decree or case decision shall be admissible
as prima facie evidence of such conviction or guilt.
8. Procedures and appropriate conduct established by either the board or any
testing service administering an examination approved by the board or both shall
be followed by the applicant. Such procedures shall include any written
instructions communicated prior to the examination date and any instructions
communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of the examination.
Failure to comply with all procedures established by the board or the testing
service with regard to conduct at the examination shall be grounds for denial of
the application.
9. Applicants shall show evidence of having obtained general liability insurance
with minimum limits of $250,000.
There is no continuing education requirement in Virginia.
18 VAC 15-40-70. Qualification for renewal.
A. As a condition of renewal, all certified home inspectors shall be required to affirm
that they continue to maintain insurance as required by 18 VAC 15-40-30. Failure
to maintain the required insurance as directed by the board will result in the
certification not being renewed or disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter, or
both.
B. Each certificate holder desiring to renew the certificate shall return to the board the renewal application form and the appropriate fee as outlined in 18 VAC 15-40-100.
i-Course home inspection classes are an excellent choice for you to maintain your professional membership requirements.