Licensing Requirements for Massachusetts Home Inspectors

Your state’s regulating body is the Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Board of Registration of Home Inspectors. One of the most important distinguishing factors for Massachusetts: The Board does not approve distance education. This limits your licensing path slightly compared to other states.

Your initial title will be an associate home inspector. To get this license, do the following:

• Complete 75 hours of education. Choose a course from the Board’s approved list. Get a certificate of completion.
• Pass the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE).
• Perform 25 supervised home inspections. Your supervisor must be licensed in the state of Massachusetts.
• Send in a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Authorization Form as a background check.
• Acquire proof of insurance. Massachusetts requires at least $250,000 in errors and omissions (E&O) coverage. We explain E&O insurance for Massachusetts in more detail below.
• Include a colored, passport-size photo with your app.
• Pay associated fees for your application and license. Note that your app should be notarized.

You’ll wait at least 10 business days to find out if the Board has approved your application. Find a list of documents necessary for your license app. 

Upon accomplishing the above Massachusetts home inspector requirements, you’ll receive an associate home inspector license. To move up to a fully licensed home inspector, perform 100 inspections and hold your associate license for at least one year. You can access the next license application instructions, among other helpful forms, on the Board’s website.

Renewing Your Massachusetts License

Now that you know how to become a home inspector in Massachusetts, let’s discuss how to stay one. Every two years, prepare to renew your license. During these renewal periods, complete 12 continuing education (CE) hours. 

The Board published this list of approved CE programs on their website to connect you with resources. Note that, like your pre-licensing education, CE hours cannot be done online or remotely. 

Among the accepted CE providers mentioned in the list above, you’ll see the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) for New England. Though you cannot use their online training for CE, ASHI New England maintains a calendar of events. Many of these in-person events include CE opportunities. Locate their calendar for in-person opportunities near you.

Ready to renew? Visit Mass.gov’s licensing portal.

E&O Insurance for Massachusetts Inspectors

As we mentioned above, Massachusetts home inspectors need proof of at least $250,000 in E&O coverage to receive their licenses. You might be wondering: Why do I need this? If my state didn’t require it, would this insurance really benefit me?

Besides being part of Massachusetts’ home inspector requirements, E&O has so much to offer every home inspector–even the most seasoned and well-studied.

When you invest in E&O coverage, you’re protected against accusations regarding the quality of your home inspection services. Think: breaches of contract, negligence, and making insufficient report recommendations. Unfortunately, these claims are common and can become quite costly–especially for a small business owner. With an E&O policy, the most you’ll pay for a covered claim is your deductible. 

Even better: With InspectorPro, if you report conflicts before they turn into full-fledged claims, our pre-claims assistance program will help you resolve them quickly and at no cost to you. Visit our pre-claims FAQs to learn more.

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