Home and Building Inspector Schools in Iowa

There are several educational pathways that interested candidates in Iowa may pursue to start their home and building inspector careers. Regardless of their training choices, meeting the classroom and real-world inspection experience requirements is the most important thing.

Below, we discuss all the major aspects of becoming a home and building inspector in the state, breaking them down into concise and easily digestible steps. In addition to the mandatory requirements, we explore possible steps that candidates can take to give themselves a professional edge over the competition.

Readers will also discover notable training programs to receive the best education and potential salary figures to expect based on several critical factors.

How to Become a Home and Building Inspector in Iowa

Candidates may follow the steps below to start their home and building inspector careers in Iowa.

Step 1: Enrolling & Finishing a Training Program

To become a home and building inspector in Iowa, individuals must complete a training program at an approved destination. We will provide a list of approved options later below.

Completing a training program’s primary aim is for candidates to build the skills they’ll need to secure employment and become familiar with critical codes and regulations.

Furthermore, many approved programs designate a few training hours to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the business and marketing aspects of the job.

The state does not set any particular hours of training as mandatory at this stage.

Step 2: Pass the National Examination

The second step to becoming a home and building inspector in Iowa is to sit for and pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). Students should be prepared to answer up to 200 multiple-choice questions.

The questions explore various aspects of the job, from technical requirements to rules and regulations. The application fee is usually set at around $225.

Step 3: Conduct Supervised Home Inspections

Lastly, after completing their training program and passing the national examination, prospective home and building inspectors in Iowa should complete a few home inspections in the real world.

They should do so ideally under the supervision of licensed home inspectors. Again, this is not required by law, but it’ll help them develop a strong familiarity with their prospective duties.

Some training programs – including a few of the options we highlight below – offer students the opportunity to complete theoretical and hands-on training.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn to become a truck driver in Iowa

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Candidates are advised to join organizations like the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors for professional opportunities. These organizations help candidates network with fellow professionals and provide access to networking opportunities.

Home and building inspectors in Iowa don’t need a license to secure employment, but they must go through the general process of starting a business if they plan to run their home inspection agency.

They will need to acquire general liability insurance and errors and omissions insurance.

Top Home and Building Inspector Schools in Iowa

The entries below are the most prominent training programs for aspiring home and building inspectors in Iowa to consider.

Explore Home and Building Inspector schools in Iowa by city:

• Home and Building Inspector schools in Des Moines

Salary & Career Outlook

The expected annual returns for a home and building inspector in Iowa vary based on several crucial factors, including experience, location, specialty, certification, and specific employer.

As a home and building inspector in the state who falls among mid-level earners (usually in the middle of optimizing the above factors), the annual average salary to expect is $47,440. Those who have already maximized the crucial factors and are now among the top earners in the state can expect to take home an annual average salary of $82,441.

Home and building inspectors in Iowa are among the bottom 10% and may expect an average annual salary of $27,299.

Concerning specific cities and locations within the state, home and building inspectors in Akron have the highest annual average, with a salary of around $63,974 at the end of each year.

Other notable cities include Boone, with an annual average salary of $63,833, and Sac City, with an annual average salary of $59,408.