If you need help studying for the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free Home Inspector practice test!
How to Register
Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
Online Home Inspector Prep Course
FAQs
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 200 multiple-choice questions total, but only 175 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 4 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the Home Inspector exam.
1. Property and Building Inspection/Site Review
70% of the exam
- Identifying and inspecting site conditions
- Identifying and inspecting building exterior components
- Identifying and inspecting roof components
- Identifying and inspecting structural components
- Identifying and inspecting electrical systems
- Identifying and inspecting cooling systems
- Identifying and inspecting heating systems
- Identifying and inspecting insulation, moisture management systems and ventilation systems in conditioned and unconditioned spaces
- Identifying and inspecting mechanical exhaust systems
- Identifying and inspecting plumbing and fuel distribution systems
- Identifying and inspecting interior components
- Identifying and inspecting fireplaces, fuel-burning appliances and their chimney and vent systems
- Identifying and inspecting common life safety equipment and systems
2. Analysis of Findings and Reporting
20% of the exam
- Informing the client of what was inspected, the methodologies used, and describe building systems and components by their distinguishing characteristics
- Describing the limitations in the inspection report to inform the client what was not inspected and why
- Describing systems and components inspected that are not functioning properly or are defective
- Describing systems and components in need of further evaluation or action
3. Professional Responsibilities
10% of the exam
- Discussing the elements of and obtaining a written pre-inspection agreement with the client or client’s representative
- Maintaining quality, integrity and objectivity of the inspection process
How to Register
To get started with the registration process, you’ll need to submit an application on the NHIE website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $225.
Home Inspector Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 200 and 800.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the Home Inspector test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a 30-day waiting period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
Online Home Inspector Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online Home Inspector prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The Home Inspector course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 400+ Home Inspector Practice Questions
- More than 250 Digital Flashcards
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The Home Inspector prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their Home Inspector exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
How many questions are on the Home Inspector exam?
The exam contains 200 questions.
What is the time limit for the Home Inspector exam?
The exam is timed at 4 hours.
What is the passing score for the Home Inspector exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 500 to pass.
How much does the Home Inspector exam cost?
The testing fee is $225.
