Wisconsin
States
How to become a
home inspector in
Wisconsin
Last Updated: August 28, 2023
Are you excited to start your journey to become a home inspector in Wisconsin? We at InspectorPro Insurance have seen many people thrive as home inspectors, and we know you can, too! As you prepare everything for your new business, have you wondered what the Wisconsin home inspector requirements are? To help you out, we compiled a list of these requirements for you to review. Best of luck in this new endeavor!
What are the Wisconsin home inspector requirements?
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services manages licensure and the Wisconsin home inspector requirements. The list of requirements are as follows:
- Pass the National Home Inspector Examination.
- Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination.
- Submit the Convictions and Pending Charges Form (if applicable).
As you can see, these requirements to become a home inspector in Wisconsin are mostly based around examinations. Once you pass the exams and submit your application, they will issue your license. At that point you can begin inspecting. For more information on the major requirements, read below.
Pass the National Home Inspector Examination.
The first major Wisconsin home inspector requirement is to successfully pass the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE). The NHIE is a 200 question exam that covers various parts of home inspections, including aspects specific to your state.
To prepare for this exam, you should strongly consider taking a home inspector training course to learn about standards, report writing, and professional responsibilities–all topics that the exam will cover (get more info on the exam here). Also consider using study materials from the exam provider themselves (found on their website). Also, ask other inspectors in your state about what parts of the exam they wish they had studied for more thoroughly. We know that you can pass this exam with flying colors if you have prepared well!
Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination.
After passing the NHIE and submitting the application online, you will be provided with information on how to sign up for the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination, which will cover various statutes and rules relating to the practice of home inspection in Wisconsin.
Submit the Convictions and Pending Charges Form.
This Wisconsin home inspector license requirement only applies to anyone who has an arrest record or a conviction record. For more information, read the Convictions and Pending Charges Form. Having a conviction on your record does not automatically disqualify you from receiving a license, unless the circumstances of the conviction or arrest substantially relate to the circumstances you will encounter as a home inspector.
Should you obtain insurance to become a home inspector in Wisconsin?
The simple answer is that you should always protect your business with both general liability (GL) insurance and errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. While you are not required to carry insurance to meet the Wisconsin home inspector requirements, that doesn’t mean that you should go without protection for your business. Vermont home inspectors have just as much to gain from insurance as inspectors in mandatory-licensed states.
The biggest incentive: Investing in coverage saves you big in the long-term–not just in time and money, but also in stress. Uninsured home inspectors must resolve and pay for their claims entirely by themselves. It can be extremely stressful and expensive to deal with a lawsuit, or even just an angry client.
On the flip side, exceeding Wisconsin’s home inspector requirements by carrying errors and omissions and general liability insurance guarantees you have all the coverage necessary to keep you, your inspection business, and your clients safe. E&O, for example, has your back when clients accuse you of negligence, breach of contract, or improper report recommendations. Meanwhile, GL comes into play if a person suffers bodily harm, or the property gets damaged, as a result of your inspection services.
These scenarios can–and have–happened to the most seasoned of Wisconsin’s home inspectors. With a dedicated claims handling team just a phone call or email away, InspectorPro’s policies put a plan in place so you can inspect without stress. As such, even if Wisconsin's home inspector requirements do not require you to carry insurance, your peace of mind should.
Interested in learning more? Read our article about the differences between E&O and GL in our blog. Or, click the button below to receive a free, no-obligation quote. It’ll also put you in touch with one of our licensed brokers, who are ready to answer your Vermont insurance questions.
Renewal
A Wisconsin home inspector license expires on a specific day every even year: December 14th. As an example, if an inspector got licensed 8/20/2022, he would still need to renew his license on 12/14/2022, as it is on an even year. Further, remember that you must complete 40 hours of continuing education courses during the two-year license period before you can renew. You can begin the renewal process online.
Congratulations from InspectorPro
We know that you can learn and complete what you need to in order to become a home inspector in Wisconsin who excels! Know that InspectorPro is rooting for you. Reach out if you have questions, need help, or want to protect your business with the best coverage available. We are always grateful to serve you.