Are you an aspiring home and building inspector in Texas looking to start your career on the right path? Doing so involves becoming familiar with every key component of the process right from the start.
Luckily, that is exactly what we cover in the guide below.
You will discover the general steps involved in becoming a home and building inspector in Texas. You will also find out the requirements to become licensed by the state, along with additional steps to acquire professional credentials from relevant organizations.
After highlighting the best destinations to receive training as an aspiring home and building inspector in Texas, we also provide a quick overview of the potential salary to look forward to.
How to Become a Home and Building Inspector in Texas
Below are the key steps needed to become a home and building inspector in Texas.
Step 1: Complete a Training Program
Home and building inspectors in Texas must complete a training program to practice professionally. However, there are important considerations to be made in this regard.
Accreditation
First, when choosing a training program, attending one that the Texas Real Estate Commission approves is imperative. The commission will ultimately be in charge of issuing your license, and attending an approved training program is mandatory.
Duration
Duration is another consideration to be made during a home and building inspector training program in Texas. The exact training duration will depend on an individual’s field of choice. For those looking to become professional inspectors, 194 hours of study is the requirement. For those looking to become real estate inspectors, the requirement is 154 training hours.
Step 2: Complete 40 Hours Practicum
After completing a home inspector course, candidates in Texas must also complete 40 hours of practicum. This step involves learning from actual home inspectors as they carry out their duties in the real world.
Step 3: Pass the TREC Home Inspector Examination
Lastly, after completing all of the above steps, aspiring home and building inspectors in Texas must pass a home inspector examination organized by the TREC. Candidates must provide their training certificate from an approved program to qualify for the exam.
Topics include structural and plumbing systems, professional practice, electrical and HVAC systems, and more.
The TREC home inspector exam includes the National Home Inspectors and Texas Licensing exams. Enrolling in a prep course is possible to prepare for both exams.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
Candidates looking to become home and building inspectors in Texas must pass the National Home Inspectors Examination and the Texas Licensing Exam to receive their license. They must also complete a background check and submit fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Individuals with criminal records and civil disobedience records may not be able to receive a license.
Additionally, candidates are expected to acquire a $100,000 liability insurance and submit evidence to the TREC.
After obtaining their license, home and building inspectors in Texas are expected to renew it every other year while participating in 32 hours of continuing education during this period.
Top Home and Building Inspector Schools in Texas
Individuals interested in pursuing a career as home and building inspectors in Texas may look to the following destinations for top-class education.
Champions School of Real Estate
Champions School of Real Estate in Dallas offers home inspector training with additional examination preparation materials. The school also has locations in Fort Worth and Houston.
The University of Texas
The University of Texas offers a fully self-paced online training program for aspiring home and building inspectors. Candidates can take up to 12 months to complete the program.
Inspection Certification Associates
Lastly, prospective home and building inspectors in Texas may consider enrolling in the online program the Inspection Certification Associates offers. It includes 154 training hours and an additional 40-hour field training for willing candidates.
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Salary & Career Outlook
An average home and building inspector in Texas takes home around $80,668 in yearly salary. Depending on factors such as experience and specific location within the state, Texas home and building inspectors may earn higher or lower than this figure.
Those among the top 10% take home an annual average salary of $140,545, while those among the bottom 10% earn an annual average salary of $46,301.
As for the highest-paying cities for home and building inspectors in Texas, they include Dallas, with an annual average salary of $137,312; Corpus Christi, with an annual average salary of $86,933; and Lubbock, with an annual average salary of $86,823.
Home and building inspectors in San Antonio and Houston earn annual salaries of $81,187 and $80,336, respectively.
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