Click Here to Join HR ASHI!

Q and A

Q. What are the requirements to be an ASHI Certified Inspector?

A. There are three levels of membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. The first level of mebership is ASHI Associate. Inspectors in this category have:
  • Just joined ASHI and may be new to the inspection profession or may be a seasoned inspector who has not yet completed ASHI's requirements to move up in membership.
  • Have passed the ASHI's Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module.
  • Must agree to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics
The second level is ASHI Inspector— Inspectors in this category have Passed the National Home Inspector Examination or Valid State Exam approved by the Membership Committee and ASHI's Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module and:
  • Had inspection reports successfully verified for compliance with ASHI's Standard of Practice.
  • Have submitted a valid list of performance of at least 75 fee-paid home inspections that meet or exceed the ASHI Standard of Practice. 
  • Have returned an authorized notarized affidavit to ASHI validating at least 75 inspections.
  • Must agree to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics.
The final or third level for inspectors in the society is the ASHI Certified Inspector— Inspectors in this category have Passed the National Home Inspector Examination and ASHI's Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics module and:
  • Had inspection reports successfully verified for compliance with ASHI's Standard of Practice.
  • Have submitted a valid list of performance of at least 250 fee-paid home inspections that meet or exceed the ASHI Standard of Practice. 
  • Have returned an authorized notarized affidavit to ASHI validating at least 250 inspections. 
  • Must agree to follow the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics.                         
The logos below should only be used by ASHI Inspectors. The gold logo is for ASHI Certified Inspectors only.
ASHI INSP  ACI Logo  
Q. Do inspectors move furniture or move personal belongings during a home inspections?
A. Under the General Limitations and Exclusions defined in th Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors, the inspector is not required to move furniture and personal belongings. More about the General Limitations and Exclusions can be found here.
xxx
Q. Do home inspectors check all of the electrical outlets and look in the electrical panel?
A. The Standards of Practice under the topic of Electrical can be found here.
xxx
Q. Do home inspectors open walls during home inspections?
A. No. A typical home inspection is a visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of the home. Some inspectors can be hired to do investigative work that could involve opening a wall under certain circumstances. Some inspectors also use infrared imaging equipment that can be useful in determining issues in the consealed areas of the home without opening them. In both cases these types of investigatve procedures are beyond the scope of a typical home inspection.

Q. What are the licensing requirements for Virginia Home Inspectors?
XXXX
A. Beginning July 1, 2017, Virginia now requires anyone performing home inspections to be licensed by the Commonwealth. The current requirements can be found here.