This comes down to where you plan on being a home inspector. If you are reside and plan on operating outside of Alberta or British Columbia, you would choose whether you want to start your own company, join an established home inspections company, or purchase a franchise. We work with our students to help them get placed with a franchise or an established home inspections company as well as offering some start up guidance during the direct training sessions for those that prefer to create their own company.

If you reside in either Alberta or British Columbia: there are additional requirements in order to become a licensed home Inspector.

In Alberta: The first step is to complete your home inspections training from an approved provider. Once you complete your training, you must complete what is called a test inspection. This is where you are tested by an approved examiner at a mock residential inspection. The examiner will pretend to be your client who you are inspecting for. Once you pass this test you will need to obtain home inspection insurance. Every home inspector in Alberta must have insurance and be bonded. This $10,000 security bond can often can be purchased through your insurance provider or bank. You will need to provide the home inspections contract which you will be providing to your clients to sign before each inspection and this contract must also be approved by Service Alberta. Service Alberta requires a criminal background check which must be submitted with your application to the province. The last two items that will need to be submitted to Service Alberta for approval is the Home Inspections Application Form(s) and a License Fee. After your initial course training is complete, the remaining steps do not necessarily have to fall in the order written above but all need to be completed before your application is reviewed and approved by Service Alberta. Approval may take in as short of time as a few weeks to several months depending on the current backlog.

For British Columbia: An individual must complete the educational training portion from an approved provider. They then must pass one of the 4 approved provincial exams. The individual must “shadow” an active practicing home inspector from the province for a minimum of 50 hours. Upon completing the practical home inspection mock test, a letter of recommendation to the Director has to be sent stating that you are competent to perform inspections and write home inspection reports. Following this; proof of incorporation and a municipal business license criminal background check, and insurance are required before applying to the province for your license.

For all other provinces and territories; no additional requirements are currently required.

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