Home inspections

Expect to spend at least 150 hours to learn about topics as roofing, flashing, chimneys, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical and structural systems and more. You must complete (or have completed) your education through one of the approved home inspector programs.

Active programs:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Carson Dunlop (online)
• Canadian Institute of Home Inspectors
• The Holmes Academy (formerly Inspect4u)
• Western Pacific Property Inspection Institute  (online)

Discontinued programs:

• Ashton College 
• Douglas College (July 2016 – December 2019)
• Inspection Support Services Inc. (online) (October 2016 – July 2023)

Provide a certificate or transcript demonstrating you have passed one of the following exams:

• Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia’s House Inspection Competency Examination; House inspection competency examination
• Home Inspection Association of British Columbia. As referenced in the regulations: “Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (BC)’s Canadian Home Inspection Examination”; Canadian home inspection examination
• Canadian National Association of Certified Home Inspectors’ Associate Level Examination; Associate level examination
• National Home Inspector Certification Council – National Home Inspector Exam. As referenced in the regulations: “Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors’ National Home Inspector Examination (United States)”; National home inspector examination

Conduct 50 hours of home inspection with an approved trainer. Hours need to be tracked and submitted along with your application.

Search for an approved certified trainer.
See a sample reporting form to track your hours.

After conducting a home inspection with a Consumer Protection BC approved evaluator, obtain a letter of recommendation, based on your knowledge and ability demonstrated throughout the inspection and your inspection report.

Search for an approved home inspector evaluator.
See a sample peer recommendation letter.

You must provide proof of incorporation or registration during the application process. To register your business in BC, visit OneStop BC Business Registry. If you are starting a new business, visit Small Business BC.

If your business is a partnership or proprietorship, you must provide:

• Names of the partners or proprietors
• Current copy of any trade name registration(s) under which you intend to operate

If your business is a corporation, you must provide:

• Names of directors, senior officers, and beneficial owners with voting shares
• Current copy of any trade name registration(s) under which you intend to operate

You must provide a copy of your business licence issued by your local municipality.

For Canadian residents, get your criminal record check through our third-party supplier. The results will be sent directly to us.

Get a criminal record check.

For non-Canadian residents, a criminal record check from your home jurisdiction is required.

You must maintain the necessary insurance coverage to protect against errors, omissions, personal and property damage. The policy must include:

• $1 million occurrence/limited/aggregate professional liability (E&O) coverage
• $1 million occurrence/limited/aggregate general liability coverage
• coverage for common issues to home inspection in BC including water ingress

Read the Home Inspector Insurance Policy.
Complete the insurance declaration form.

Submit an application and all supporting documents. Each application may take up to four weeks to process.

If you are operating from your home, a statutory declaration is required confirming that your residence is also a place of business.

Review the application checklist.
Submit a licence application form.
if you are working from home, submit a statutory declaration form.

It is your responsibility to review all applicable laws pertaining to your industry and to understand your obligations.

Review your obligations.

Maintain a licence as a home inspector and be in good standing.

A trainer applicant must have done a minimum of 250 complete home inspections.

An approved evaluator applicant must have done a minimum of 1,000 complete home inspections.

See the sample reporting form to track inspections.

Submit the home inspector approved trainer and/or evaluator statutory declaration form. 

It is your responsibility to review the policy and to understand your obligations.

Read the home inspector approved trainer and/or evaluator policy.