Pursuing a career as a home and building inspector in Ohio is a wonderful decision for anyone to make. The field is projected to continue to expand, with even more opportunities for career growth. What’s more, the state of Ohio also makes it easy to start a career in this field thanks to a direct process.
Below, we look at four steps in becoming a home and building inspector in the state. We don’t just stop there. However, we also look at some of the state’s licensure and certification requirements, top schools, and the salary projection across three key categories.
How to Become a Home and Building Inspector in Ohio
The following are the key steps to starting a successful home and building inspector career in Ohio.
Step 1: Complete an Ohio-Approved Training Course
All aspiring home and building inspectors in Ohio must complete a state-approved home inspection course. This must include at least 80 hours of training, with resources dealing with the topics to expect in the upcoming exam.
There are also a few approved online training options for candidates who want flexibility in their classes.
Step 2: Gain Experience Hours
In Ohio, aspiring home and building inspectors must gain experience through 40 hours of curriculum experience, including one peer review. Another alternative is to conduct 10 parallel home inspections supervised by a certified home inspector in the state.
Those who go through the parallel home inspection route must be willing to provide a written report for each inspection.
Step 3: Pass the National Home Inspectors Exam
Most states, including Ohio, expect candidates to pass the National Home Inspectors Exam before obtaining their license. To pass the exam, candidates must answer 200 multiple-choice questions, although 25 still need to be scored.
The questions will include findings and reporting analysis, professional responsibilities, and site reviews/building inspection. Candidates must complete the exam within 4 hours. Those needing to retake will have to pay $225 for each.
Step 4: Submitting an Official Application to the State
Lastly, candidates may send their official applications to the state after completing the above steps.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing is in charge of licenses to new home and building inspectors in the state. Candidates must visit the division website and fill out the application form.
Along with the form, candidates must also submit their supervisor’s signature and a seal from a notary.
Additionally, before a license can be issued, applicants must complete a background check to be conducted by the Ohio State Police. This will involve submitting electronic fingerprints and providing government-issued photo identification.
Lastly, the state expects all home and building inspectors to acquire comprehensive or commercial general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence. Candidates may also go with a $300,000 aggregate limit.
Top Home and Building Inspector Schools in Ohio
The following are some of Ohio’s top state-approved home and building inspector training courses.
Home Inspector Training Institute of Ohio
The Home Inspection Training Institute of Ohio offers prospective home inspectors in the state access to training materials, including everything they’ll have to know for a successful career. The institute also helps candidates prepare for their examinations through various resources and learning materials.
Inspection Certification Associates (ICA)
The ICA is known for top-quality training materials for home inspection students nationwide. Candidates in Ohio may also participate in the state-specific course tailored to the requirements for Ohio.
In addition to the classroom training, students may complete their 40-hour practical experience requirement here.
PDH Academy
At PDH Academy, candidates can enroll in an online, self-paced home inspection training program. Students will also enjoy quizzes to prepare them for their licensing examinations.
Explore home and building inspector schools by city:
Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary for home and building inspectors in Ohio is $63,848. Those who are among the highest paid in the state earn an annual average salary of $149,965, while those who are on the lower part of the salary spectrum earn an annual average salary of $27,183.
To become one of the highest paid in the state, candidates may optimize their location, company of employment, and other factors such as experience and business structure.
The highest paying cities to be a home inspector in Ohio include Cincinnati, with an annual average salary of $69,835; Columbus, with an annual average salary of $66,990; and Canton, with an annual average salary of $62,570.
Cleveland and Dayton are among the top five, with annual average salaries of $54,684 and $51,368, respectively.
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