After outlining the general step-by-step requirements to become a home and building inspector in Illinois, the article below highlights the requirements needed to obtain a license and become a full-fledged, professional home and building inspector in the state.
Interested individuals will also discover the requirements to obtain professional certification and stand out in the field, along with the possible destinations to receive extensive training as a future home and building inspector in the state.
Lastly, the final section deals with the potential salary for professionals in the state to look forward to, including specific figures concerning different conditions and optimizable factors.
How to Become a Home and Building Inspector in Illinois
Below are the key steps in launching a successful career as a home and building inspector in Illinois.
Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements
Illinois requires all home and building inspectors to be 18 years old. They must also possess either a high school diploma or a GED equivalent.
Step 2: Complete a Training Program
All Illinois candidates looking to become home and building inspectors must complete a training program approved by the state. Usually, such programs must include at least 60 hours of training spanning an array of resources, including all the topics to expect in the Illinois Home Inspector Exam.
Many approved training programs boast experienced instructors who have worked as licensed home and building inspectors in Illinois and can impart to students a first-hand experience of what to expect.
Topics of focus typically include roof inspections, residential electrical, exterior, structural issues, appliance inspections, and the Illinois standards of practice and legal issues.
Step 3: Complete Mock Home Inspections
After finishing the theoretical aspect of their training, candidates must experience what it feels like to carry out an actual home inspection by participating in mock sessions.
The state requires at least five mock home inspections before candidates can qualify for the licensing examination.
Step 4: Pass the Illinois Home Inspector Exam
All of the above steps should prepare students for the ultimate task in their journeys to become home and building inspectors in Illinois — passing the Illinois Home Inspector Exam.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation offers online study guides to help students prepare for the exam.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is responsible for issuing licenses to professional home and building inspectors in the state. To acquire their license, candidates must submit an official application, including their certificate from an approved training program.
Candidates must also pay a fee of $250.
Application can be sent online through the Department website or offline by sending a mail to the following address:
IDFPR - Division of Real Estate
Real Estate Education Section
320 West Washington Street
3rd floor, Springfield, Illinois 62786
Top Home and Building Inspector Schools in Illinois
The following are a few of Illinois’s top home and building inspector schools.
Bellman Group
Bellman Group offers one of the most popular training programs for prospective home and building inspectors in the state. In line with the state requirement, the program includes 80 training hours and a combination of live training and online materials.
Students get to decide if they want either or both.
They also get a chance to work directly under the supervision of established professionals in the state, among other benefits
Inspection Certification Associates
The Inspection Certification Associates (ICA) offers educational resources for home and building inspectors nationwide. For candidates in Illinois, the school provides an approved training course, including certification opportunities from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
Notable Mentions
Other notable destinations to receive top-class training as a future home inspector in Illinois include the Professional Home Inspection Institute, House Doctors Inspection Institute, and Legacy Training Institute, belonging to the Legacy Inspection Group.
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Salary and Career Outlook
Home and building inspectors in Illinois may earn an annual average salary of $134,272 if they fall within the midpoint of earners or an annual average salary of $73,562 if they fall among the bottom 10% in the state.
Ultimately, however, with time, a home and building inspector in Illinois can find themselves among the top 10% and take home an annual average salary of around $245,085.
Along with the experience, the particular company of employment and specific location within the state are some factors that decide how much a home and building inspector in Illinois will earn.
Regarding location, Joliet, Chicago, and Collinsville are the three highest-paying cities for home and building inspectors in Illinois, with annual average salaries of $78,604, $67,831, and $56,671, respectively.
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