Home inspector license requirements by state.

Licensing FAQ

Answers pulled from our review of nine home inspection software platforms. Updated April 2026.

• How many states require a home inspector license?

  Roughly 30 US states require a home inspector license. The rest (including California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania) do not currently require state licensing. See our full state-by-state list below.

• What states do NOT require a home inspector license?

  Unlicensed states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. In these states, you can start inspecting immediately — though InterNACHI or ASHI membership is still strongly recommended for credibility.

• Which state has the strictest home inspector licensing requirements?

  Texas has among the strictest requirements: 140 classroom hours, a state exam, and 32 hours of continuing education per renewal. Tennessee and Indiana also require 32 CE hours per renewal period. Oregon requires 30 hours. Maryland requires 30 hours. These are the states with the highest ongoing CE burden.

• Do unlicensed states have any requirements?

  No state-level licensing requirements, but professional association membership (InterNACHI, ASHI, NAHI) typically requires training and continuing education. E&O insurance is still required by most real estate agents and lenders regardless of state licensing status.