Florida has a high volume of real estate transactions due to its desirable climate and growing population. This constant demand for housing creates a steady need for home inspections.
Education & Training
You can get started with a 100% online training course:
Benefits of Taking the Course
- Flexibility: plan your study time around your existing schedule.
- Extra information: The 200 hour course above provides training time beyond Florida’s 120-hour requirement.
- Open enrollment: you can start right now.
How Long Does It Take?
An online course of 200 hours takes about 6 months to complete.
Florida requires prospective home inspectors to complete 120 hours of education before taking the state exam, so courses like the ones above are a necessary step.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of an educational or certificate program in home inspection is about $2,500.
What Do You Study?
Overview of Home Inspection Training:
- Fundamentals and Standards: Understanding the purpose, scope, procedures, and standards of practice for home inspections.
- Reporting Techniques: Learning the methodologies for creating accurate and comprehensive home inspection reports.
- Construction Basics: An overview of basic and advanced residential construction materials and methods.
- Inspection Equipment and Safety: Types of home inspections and the necessary personal protective equipment for safety.
- Defect Recognition: Identifying common defects in residential constructions and appropriate reporting techniques.
Course Outline:
- Introduction to Home Inspection
- Roof and Exterior Systems
- Structural Integrity Analysis
- Insulation and Ventilation Checks
- Interior Assessment
- Electric System Evaluation
- Plumbing Mechanics
- Heating and Cooling Systems
- Hot-water System Functionality
Other Local Trade School Programs
- Saint Petersburg
Bob Hogue School of Real Estate (Rating: 4.2 out 5)
This interactive online home inspection course offered by Bob Hogue School of Real Estate provides comprehensive training in building inspection techniques, covering each component thoroughly with 11 hours of video instruction, interactive exercises, quizzes, and comprehensive exams. Approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the course includes a textbook, access to experienced instructors, tech support, and prepares students for the state-approved final exam upon completion of the 120-hour program.
Avg. Salary Range
The annual mean wage in Florida is $66,130, and the hourly mean wage is $30.31, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Below are some numbers from major employment sites to give a better idea of the range for licensed inspectors.
- $59,593 – Salary.com
- $53,545 – ZipRecruiter
- $47,748 – Indeed.com
Here are some numbers for cities in the state from the BLS.
Below are some average salaries and hourly wages for areas of the state.
| Area | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $31.02 | $64,520.00 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $30.89 | $64,240.00 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $29.53 | $61,430.00 |
| Gainesville | $30.34 | $63,120.00 |
| Homosassa Springs | $27.14 | $56,440.00 |
| Jacksonville | $31.03 | $64,540.00 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $29.20 | $60,740.00 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $35.04 | $72,890.00 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island | $31.39 | $65,300.00 |
| North Florida | $29.37 | $61,090.00 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton | $31.06 | $64,590.00 |
| Ocala | $27.09 | $56,350.00 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $31.40 | $65,310.00 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $30.59 | $63,620.00 |
| Panama City | $30.35 | $63,120.00 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $26.72 | $55,590.00 |
| Port St. Lucie | $31.39 | $65,280.00 |
| Punta Gorda | $31.89 | $66,340.00 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach | $32.37 | $67,340.00 |
| South Florida | $29.81 | $62,010.00 |
| Tallahassee | $27.72 | $57,660.00 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $31.15 | $64,790.00 |
| The Villages | $32.37 | $67,320.00 |
Occupation: Construction and Building Inspectors (SOC Code474011)
source: data.bls.gov
Florida Requirements
To become a home inspector in Florida, you must fulfill 120 hours of prerequisite educational training before taking an exam approved by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The course above counts towards this requirement.
After getting a license, 14 hours of continuing education credits are required:
- 2 hours of continuing education must address wind mitigation and hurricanes,
- 12 hours of continuing education must manage home inspection services
A prospective home inspector may take their Home Inspector Licensing Exam offered by one of 4 state-approved institutions.
EBPHI
- The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors provides the National Home Inspection Exam (NHIE).
FABI
- The Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI) offers the Florida Home Inspector Licensing Examination (FHIE).
InterNACHI
- The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors offers the Florida Home Inspector Licensing Examination (FHIE).
ACICP
- The Association of Construction Industry Certified Professionals offers the Certified Home and Property Inspector Examination (CI-PHI).
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are not required to become a home inspector. However, for an individual with limited work experience in construction and skilled trades, an apprenticeship can be a valuable way to obtain prior work experience with only the necessary prerequisite training.
Additional certifications are also available to prospective home inspectors, offered by the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI), who provide a variety of courses in areas such as structural systems, insulation and ventilation, cooling systems, and other various mechanical and electrical systems as well as interior and exterior elements of construction.
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) also offer additional specific educational opportunities for home inspectors.
Having a background in the skilled trades, which may include any prior certification or diploma programs, such as an HVAC/R certificate, license, or qualifications in plumbing, electrical work, or construction, may also expand your employment opportunities and earning potential.
However, many tradespeople educated in other skilled trades may find themselves using the same knowledge should they choose to pursue a career in home inspection.