Home and building inspectors spend much time training and learning what makes a great building. This includes diving into various technical aspects of construction, electrical principles, HVAC, and plumbing, among others.
All interested candidates must pass this step to become a home and building inspector in Massachusetts. However, it doesn’t just end there. They must also meet a few requirements, some of which can make their careers more rewarding.
The following sections outline all of these requirements and considerations. Our aim is that by the time interested candidates are done reading, they’ll have everything they need to start their journeys properly.
How to Become a Home and Building Inspector in Massachusetts
The following are the most important steps to becoming a home and building inspector in Massachusetts.
Step 1: Complete a Training Program
All aspiring home and building inspectors in Massachusetts must complete an approved training program. Apart from helping candidates meet the requirements specified for licensure, these training programs also ensure that students have what it takes to secure employment and succeed on the job.
Additionally, while some training programs focus only on technical topics, it is common to find some programs setting aside a few training hours to teach students about the business and marketing aspects of being a home and building inspector in Massachusetts.
The state requires 75 hours of training at this stage.
Step 2: Pass the National Examination
The second step in becoming a home and building inspector in Massachusetts is passing a national licensing exam called the National Home Inspector Examination. This exam contains 200 multiple-choice questions covering all key aspects of the job.
Candidates must pay $225 to take the exam. Those who fail the first time must wait 30 days and pay the same amount for every retake.
Step 3: Conduct Supervised Home Inspections
Lastly, after completing a training program and passing the national examination, candidates in Massachusetts must complete 25 home inspections under the supervision of licensed home inspectors before becoming official home and building inspector apprentices in the state.
Some training programs, such as the ones listed below, allow candidates to complete both their classroom training and actual home inspection requirements from the school.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
Home and building inspectors in Massachusetts must obtain a license from the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors under the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure. The above steps are the key requirements needed to obtain this license. Candidates must also be prepared to go through a background check and submit a notarized criminal offender record information.
During the application process, candidates must submit a passport-sized photograph and pay $338 as the application fee. They are also expected to have an errors and omissions insurance policy covering at least $250,000.
Top Home and Building Inspection Schools in Massachusetts
The following are some of the most prominent training programs for aspiring home and building inspectors in Massachusetts:
ABC Real Estate Training Institute
ABC Real Estate offers an approved training program covering classroom and hands-on training requirements for aspiring home and building inspectors in the state. The school also offers continuing education training for those looking to maintain their licenses.
Massasoit Community College
Candidates looking for a community college may choose the program offered by Massasoit Community College. The program is self-paced, and most can be completed online.
Students here can earn a certificate while meeting the requirements to start working legally in the state.
Notable Mentions
Other notable mentions include Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School, ATI Training, American Home Inspectors Training Institute, Inspection Certification Associates, Roxbury Community College, and the ASHI school.
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Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary for a home and building inspector in Massachusetts may vary depending on some factors. These include experience, location, credentials, specialty, and employer.
As an average home and building inspector at the midpoint of optimizing these factors, you may expect an annual average salary of $55,542. Those who have already fallen on the favorable end of the factors take home an annual average salary of $73,705.
As for those who are among the bottom 10% of earners in the state, they may expect an annual average salary of $41,854.
Sorting home and building inspector salaries in Massachusetts based on location only, we find that Worcester is the best place to secure employment as professionals here make around $54,894 in average salary per year.
Other notable cities include Springfield, with an annual average salary of $54,005; Boston, with an annual average salary of $49,536; and Plymouth, with an annual average salary of $48,467.
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