The National Home Inspector Examination® (NHIE®) is designed to evaluate the competency of home inspection professionals to make sure they have the knowledge and understanding necessary to provide valid home inspections. Administered by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors, 35 states and several Canadian provinces currently include the exam as part of their licensing requirements.
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Home Inspector Exam Outline
The Home Inspector exam contains 200 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are “pretest” questions that do not count toward your final score. These pretest questions are used by the test administrators to gauge the quality of the questions for future versions of the exam. You will be given four hours to complete the exam.
The questions are split into 3 content domains:
I. Property and Building Inspection/Site Review (70%)
This domain contains 13 tasks related to inspecting property, building systems, site conditions, and life safety equipment.
Task 1 (5%)
Identify and inspect site conditions to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Vegetation, grade, drainage, and retaining walls
- Driveways, patios, and walkways
- Pool and spa access barriers
Task 2 (5%)
Identify and inspect building exterior components to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Wall cladding, flashing, trim, eaves, soffits, and fascia
- Exterior doors and windows
- Decks, balconies, stoops, stairs, steps, porches, and associated railings
- Garage vehicle doors and operators
Task 3 (6%)
Identify and inspect roof components to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Roof coverings
- Roof drainage systems
- Roof flashings
- Skylights and other roof penetrations
Task 4 (6%)
Identify and inspect structural components to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Foundation
- Floor structure
- Walls and vertical support structures
- Roof and ceiling structures
Task 5 (7%)
Identify and inspect electrical systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Electrical service, service entrance, service equipment, and grounding
- Components of service panels and subpanels
- Wiring methods
- Devices, equipment, and fixtures
- Alternative energy systems
- Electric vehicle service equipment
Task 6 (4%)
Identify and inspect cooling systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Cooling
- Distribution systems
Task 7 (5%)
Identify and inspect heating systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Heating
- Distribution systems
- Vent systems
Task 8 (5%)
Identify and inspect insulation, moisture management systems, and ventilation systems in conditioned and unconditioned spaces to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Thermal insulation
- Moisture management
- Ventilation systems of attics, crawl spaces, and roof assemblies
Task 9 (5%)
Identify and inspect mechanical exhaust systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Mechanical exhaust systems
- Indoor air management systems
Task 10 (6%)
Identify and inspect plumbing and fuel distribution systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Water supply distribution system
- Fixtures and faucets
- Drain, waste, and vent systems
- Water heating systems
- Fuel storage and fuel distribution systems
- Sump pumps, sewage ejector pumps, related valves, and piping
Task 11 (4%)
Identify and inspect interior components to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and other interior system components
- Steps, stairways, landings, and railings
- Installed countertops and cabinets
- Installed kitchen appliances
- Smart home technology
Task 12 (6%)
Identify and inspect fireplaces, fuel-burning appliances, and their chimney and vent systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Solid fuel-burning fireplaces and appliances
- Gas and liquid fuel-burning fireplaces and appliances
Task 13 (6%)
Identify and inspect common life safety equipment and systems to assess defects and issues that may affect people or the performance of the building.
- Egress requirements
- Fire, safety, and occupancy separation requirements
- Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm placement
- Fire suppression and sprinkler system defects
II. Analysis of Findings and Reporting (20%)
This domain contains four tasks related to analyzing findings and reporting the results of an inspection/site review.
Task 1 (4%)
Inform the client of what was inspected, the methodologies used, and describe building systems and components by their distinguishing characteristics.
Task 2 (4%)
Describe the limitations in the inspection report to inform the client what was not inspected and why.
Task 3 (6%)
Describe systems and components inspected that are not functioning properly or are defective.
Task 4 (6%)
Describe systems and components in need of further evaluation or action.
III. Professional Responsibilities (10%)
This domain contains two tasks related to the professional responsibilities of a home inspector.
Task 1 (5%)
Discuss the elements of and obtain a written pre-inspection agreement with the client or client’s representative to establish the rights and responsibilities of the inspector and client.
Task 2 (5%)
Maintain quality, integrity, and objectivity throughout the inspection process.
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Home Inspector Practice Questions
One of the best ways to test your knowledge is by taking a practice test. Evaluate your knowledge by trying your hand at the five practice questions below!
Answer each question and read through the answer explanation, whether you got the answer right or wrong. This will help you ensure you’ve got the topic mastered.
Whether you struggled with these questions or aced them on your first try, be sure to take the full practice test to get a better idea of how prepared you really are!
1. During an attic inspection, an inspector observes that the bathroom exhaust duct ends beside the roof sheathing instead of extending outdoors. The sheathing near the duct is darkly stained and has a higher moisture reading than surrounding areas.
What is the inspector’s BEST course of action?
2. A concrete-block basement wall has a horizontal crack extending across most of its length. The wall is visibly displaced inward near the center of the crack. Outside, the adjacent soil slopes toward the house, and a nearby downspout discharges beside the foundation.
Which conclusion is MOST appropriate?
3. A house has its service disconnect at an exterior meter-main enclosure. A four-wire feeder supplies an interior distribution panel. Inside that panel, the neutral conductors and equipment grounding conductors terminate on the same bus, which is bonded to the metal cabinet.
Which statement BEST describes this installation?
Registration
Registration requirements for the National Home Inspector Examination vary by state. Some candidates register directly through PSI, while others must follow the process set by their state licensing board or a state-approved test administrator.
Before registering, check your state’s current home inspector licensing requirements. Your state may require specific education, field training, application approval, background checks, insurance, or other steps before you are allowed to schedule the exam.
The safest way to register is to start with your state licensing board or regulatory agency, then follow the exam-registration instructions they provide. You can also review the current NHIE Candidate Handbook and PSI scheduling information for general exam policies, fees, testing rules, and available testing options.
Fees
During registration, you will need to pay the exam fee, which is generally $225 if you are testing in the US. You may be eligible for exam fee reimbursement if you pass the exam and are eligible for GI Bill education benefits.
Test Day
You should arrive at the testing center at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled exam time. If you arrive late, your exam will be forfeited, and you will not be refunded the exam fee.
Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide your confirmation number, photo ID, and any other documents the state requires. Your picture will then be taken, which will be printed on your score report. You will also be asked to leave all personal belongings such as bags, study materials, cell phones, and papers outside the testing area.
Before the exam begins, you will be given the chance to familiarize yourself with the computer system, which will not count against your time.
Note that you will not be allowed to use a calculator during the test, and any attempt to copy or photograph any part of the exam, use previously written notes, or remove testing materials from the testing room will result in your immediate dismissal from the testing center.
Scoring
The Home Inspector exam is scored on a scale of 200-800, and you must achieve a scaled score of 500 to pass.
You will receive your score report before you leave the testing center.
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Study Tips
Start with an NHIE Practice Test
Before creating your study schedule, take a home inspector practice test to establish a starting point. You don’t need to wait until you have reviewed every roofing material, electrical component, plumbing system, and reporting requirement. At this stage, the goal is to identify where your preparation time will have the greatest effect.
Review your results by section:
- Property and Building Inspection/Site Review: Can you inspect the site and major building systems, recognize common defects and safety hazards, understand normal system operation, and identify conditions that may affect occupants or building performance?
- Analysis of Findings and Reporting: Can you explain what was inspected, describe limitations, accurately communicate defects, and identify conditions requiring further evaluation or action?
- Professional Responsibilities: Do you understand pre-inspection agreements, scope and limitations, conflicts of interest, negligence, insurance, confidentiality, and the inspector’s responsibility to protect the client’s interests?
Identifying those specific weaknesses will show you where to devote more attention during your study time.
Review Difficult Questions
After each practice session, review every question you answered incorrectly AND every question you guessed on or answered with low confidence.
For each difficult question, determine which of the following caused the problem:
- You knew the component but did not understand how it should normally operate.
- You confused acceptable installation with a defect.
- You recognized a defect but misunderstood its significance.
- You failed to identify a safety hazard.
- You focused on one component without considering the surrounding building system.
- You confused grounding and bonding requirements.
- You selected a repair recommendation when the question called for further evaluation.
- You failed to recognize a limitation of a visual inspection.
- You described a condition too vaguely.
- You selected an action beyond the normal scope of a home inspection.
- You misunderstood the inspector’s professional responsibility.
- You knew the material but spent too long deciding between two plausible choices.
Then, outline a specific plan for improvement based on what you discovered. In other words, don’t just say, “I need to study up on electrical systems.” Specify that you need to review common panel defects such as double taps, improper neutral connections, and open knockouts.
Similarly, replace “study roofing” with a specific task such as reviewing common causes of roof leakage or practicing identifying improper drainage and ponding.
Utilize Answer Explanations
Answer explanations are an underutilized studying resource. To take full advantage of them, read the explanation for every question you found difficult, including questions you answered correctly.
For each one, make sure you can confidently explain:
- Why the correct answer is correct
- Why each incorrect option is wrong
- Which building system or inspection responsibility is being tested
- What evidence indicates that the condition is acceptable or defective
- What the defect could lead to if it is not corrected
- What the inspector should report or recommend
- How the same principle could appear in a different house
For example, for building-system questions, don’t stop after memorizing the name of a defect. Ask yourself how it’s normally installed, what condition indicates improper installation, if the inspector can fully evaluate it visually, and if the report should recommend repair or further evaluation.
Study System Relationships, Not Individual Questions
Memorizing hundreds of disconnected home-inspection facts is inefficient because building systems affect one another.
For example, a grading problem outside the house can become:
Poor drainage → foundation moisture → crawl-space humidity → wood deterioration → indoor moisture problems
An exhaust problem can become:
Improper dryer vent → restricted airflow → lint accumulation → overheating → fire hazard
For structural systems, connect:
- Foundation
- Beams and girders
- Columns and piers
- Floor joists
- Bearing walls
- Roof framing
- Loads
- Soil conditions
- Moisture
- Alterations
A home inspector doesn’t evaluate components in a vacuum, and the exam reflects this by repeatedly testing how defects and issues affect both people and the performance of the building.
Home Inspector Online Prep Course
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Here’s what you’ll find in the Home Inspector course:
- 40+ Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 400 Home Inspector Practice Questions
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Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the Home Inspector online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the Home Inspector exam.
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FAQs
Q
How hard is the Home Inspector exam?
A
This exam is considered to be difficult, but taking the time to adequately study before the exam will help ensure you succeed.
Q
How many questions are on the Home Inspector exam?
A
There are 200 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the Home Inspector exam?
A
The exam is timed at 4 hours.
Q
What is a passing score for the Home Inspector exam?
A
To pass the exam, you will need to achieve a scaled score of 500.
Q
How much does the Home Inspector exam cost?
A
The cost of the exam may vary slightly depending on which state or province you take the exam in. Generally, the US fee is $225.
NHIE® and National Home Inspector Examination® are registered trademarks of Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors, Inc., which does not endorse, nor is affiliated in any way with the owner of or any content on this page.
