Home inspections
By law, anyone who engages in home inspection activity needs a licence. Generally speaking, a home inspection is a visual (and typically non-invasive) inspection of a residential home or property.
Read the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
Read the Home Inspector Licensing Regulation.
How to get licensed
You are required to provide the following to be licensed.
Step 1: Complete your education
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:
Discontinued programs:
- Ashton College
- Douglas College (July 2016 – December 2019)
- Inspection Support Services Inc. (online) (October 2016 – July 2023)
Step 2: Pass the exam
Provide a certificate or transcript demonstrating you have passed one of the following exams:
Step 5: Provide proof of registration or incorporation
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
How to become an approved trainer and/or evaluator
You are required to provide the following to be qualified as an approved trainer and/or evaluator.
Read the Home Inspector Approved Trainer and/or Evaluator Policy.
Licence application forms