Home inspectors · licensing compared
Home inspector licensing by state
Some states license inspectors, some set rules without a license, and some do neither. The table compares five, from each state's statute or rule text, with counts from the state license files.
1,688Illinois licenses
518Connecticut licenses
140Delaware licenses
Five states compared
| State | License | Renewal or insurance | Training or education | Active licenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Acting as, advertising as, or writing reports as a home inspector in Illinois requires an IDFPR home inspector license (225 ILCS 441/5-5).Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) | Home inspector and entity licenses expire on November 30 of even numbered years, a two year cycle.Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (Illinois Administrative Code) | Renewal requires 12 hours of approved continuing education each two year cycle, at least 8 of them mandatory courses.Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (Illinois Administrative Code) | 1,688 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania has no state home inspector license; a home inspection in a sale contract must be done by a full member in good standing of a national home inspection association.Pennsylvania General Assembly | Home inspectors must carry errors and omissions and general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $500,000 in total.Pennsylvania General Assembly | A qualifying national association admits full members only after more than 100 inspections and a recognized exam.Pennsylvania General Assembly | no license |
| Connecticut | Anyone who inspects homes for pay in Connecticut needs a state home inspector license or an intern permit.Connecticut General Assembly | All Connecticut home inspector licenses and intern permits expire on June 30 of odd numbered years.Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection | Licensed inspectors complete at least 20 hours of continuing education in each two year period.Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies 20-491) | 518 |
| Delaware | No person or company may offer, advertise or perform home inspections in Delaware without a state license.Delaware General Assembly | Delaware inspector and trainee licenses expire on August 31 of odd numbered years.Delaware Division of Professional Regulation | Licensed inspectors complete 40 hours of approved continuing education in each two year renewal period.Delaware Administrative Code (state archive) | 140 |
| Colorado | In 2017 the legislature's bill summary stated that Colorado home inspectors were not regulated by any state agency.Colorado General Assembly (SB17-038 as introduced) | SB17-038 would have required home inspectors to register with DORA. It was postponed indefinitely and did not become law.Colorado Legislative Council Staff (SB17-038 final fiscal note) | no license |
Counts: Illinois IDFPR, Connecticut DCP and Delaware DPR license files on each state's open data portal, read October 15, 2026. Colorado: the latest official statement found is the legislature's 2017 bill summary.
Radon and the inspector
- Home inspectors need the radon license
- A home inspector who runs radon tests for clients needs an IEMA-OHS measurement license. The only retail exemption excludes sellers that also serve the client through home inspection or real estate representation.Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes), read October 15, 2026
- Placing a test device
- Anyone who places and retrieves a radon test device for someone else, such as a home inspector in a sale, must hold DEP testing certification.Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, read October 15, 2026
- Radon, mold, asbestos excluded
- A standard Connecticut inspection does not have to check for radon, mold, asbestos, lead paint or other environmental hazards.Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies 20-491), read October 15, 2026
- Environmental hazards excluded
- A standard Delaware inspection does not have to find environmental hazards, including radioactive substances such as radon, or contaminants in air, water or soil.Delaware Administrative Code (state archive), read October 15, 2026
The radon test in a home inspection · What an inspection covers