Application Requirements

1. Citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
2. Resident of Texas at the time application is filed
3. Sponsored by a licensed professional inspector
4. At least 18 years of age
5. Satisfy the Commission’s requirements for honesty, integrity and trustworthiness (Background Investigation through DPS)
6. Must be sponsored by a licensed Professional Inspector who must provide indirect supervision for all inspections performed by the Real Estate Inspector

Education Requirements

• 10 hours in foundations
• 8 hours in framing
• 10 hours building enclosure
• 10 hours in roof systems
• 8 hours in plumbing systems
• 10 hours in electrical systems
• 10 hours in heating ventilation, and air conditioning systems
• 8 hours in appliances
• 4 hours in Texas Standards of Practice
• 4 hours in Texas Standard Report Form/Report Writing; and
• 8 hours in Texas Legal/Ethics AND one of the following (A or B):

1. Under Three Tier Progression

   Must have been actively licensed as an Apprentice for 3 months during the 12 month period prior to filing the inspector application AND must have completed 25 inspections while licensed as an Apprentice under the direct supervision of a qualified eligible licensed Professional Inspector. OR

2. Under the Education/Experience Alternative Method

   In addition to the 90 hours, must have completed an additional 30 hours in core inspection courses which must include 8 hours in Texas Standard Report Form/Report Writing and 6 hours in Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update; 16 additional hours in any core inspection subjects AND

   1. 60 hours in an approved interactive experience training module presented by a licensed professional inspector and submit a certificate of completion or
   2. 60 hours inspecting with a qualified eligible licensed Professional Inspector who can provide a letter certifying 60 hours of attendance; or
   3. 3 years of personal experience in a field directly related to home inspecting (provide 2 affidavits from persons other than the applicant who has personal knowledge of the applicant’s work, detailing the time and nature of the applicant’s relevant experience). Each reference letter must be from a different source and include a contact number and signature. OR
   4. In addition to the 90 hours, must have completed an additional 8 hours in Texas Standard Report Form/Report Writing and 6 hours in the Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update; AND has at least 2 years of experience as an active practicing licensed or registered architect, professional engineer, or engineer-in-training (and provide a license history documenting active practice under the license); and
   5. File the Real Estate Inspector License Application form

Fees

$89.00 Application Fee

$100.00 Recovery Fund paid to TREC after exam is passed

Exam

$61.00 exam fee made payable to PSI at time of scheduling

Three (3) hours, 150 questions, multiple choice

An application is valid for 6 months from date of receipt; if exam is not passed within this time period, the application will terminate and you will be required to meet current requirements to reapply.

May take 3 times during 6 months

No required waiting time between exams, subject to availability

(If an applicant fails the exam 3 consecutive times in connection with the same application, the applicant may not apply for reexamination or submit a new license application with the commission for 6 months from the date the last exam was failed.)

License examinations are administered by PSI, a testing service company. Once your application has been received, processed and accepted, you will receive notification that you may obtain a copy of the Candidate Information Brochure (CIB) to register for the exam. The CIB will provide instructions on how to schedule to take the examination and contains study material and instructions about licensing. A copy of the CIB can be downloaded from the PSI web site at http://psiexams.com. Please DO NOT attempt to register for the exam without first receiving notification from our office.

Upon passing the exam you must provide proof of liability insurance or any other insurance that provides coverage for violations of Subchapter G of Chapter 1102, Texas Occupations Code ($100,000 per occurrence) before an active license will be issued. Insurance information should be submitted to TREC by mail, email to or fax (512-936-3864) using the TREC Certificate of Insurance form.

Renewal Requirements for Real Estate Inspector

Reference: Complete Rules Governing Inspectors

Timely Renewal-

• Renewal Fee

  For a two year license term $70.00

• Insurance and Education Required for Renewal -

  To renew your license on ACTIVE status, you must provide proof of professional liability insurance or any other insurance that provides coverage for violations of Subchapter G of Chapter 1102, Texas Occupations Code by submitting a Certificate of Insurance form. Your insurance agent must complete the Certificate of Insurance and send it to TREC’s Licensing section by mail or fax (512-936-3864) at least 20 days prior to the expiration date of your license.

  For each 2-year license period the real estate inspector must complete 32 classroom hours of TREC approved continuing education real estate inspection courses, 6 hours of which must be in the Texas Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics Update. You must submit copies of course completion certificates to TREC ten (10) business days PRIOR TO renewing online.

  If you submit your renewal without the required proof of insurance or continuing education, you will be issued an inactive license until these requirements are met. An inactive license does not permit a person to perform inspections.

  See the list of Texas Real Estate Inspector Approved Courses.

  Renewal length: Two (2) years

Renewal After License Has Expired - (Up to two years)

Up to two years after license expiration, an individual can file another application for a license without having to re-take and pass the examination. However, additional education will be required.

For an ACTIVE license status you must provide proof of professional liability insurance or any other insurance that provides coverage for violations of Subchapter 6 of Chapter 1102, Texas Occupations Code by submitting a Certificate of Insurance form. This form should be mailed, emailed to or faxed to (512-936-3864) to TREC’s Licensing Department.

More Detailed Information

1. An application must be filed through the sponsorship of a Texas Professional Inspector who is qualified to sponsor applicants and who currently holds an ACTIVE license. The Sponsoring Professional Inspector should determine that the application is complete in all respects before it is filed. An application for a Real Estate Inspector license is considered the responsibility of the sponsoring professional inspector; all communications will be sent to the permanent mailing address provided with this application. The application is NOT TRANSFERABLE. A sponsoring professional inspector cannot be changed during the processing of an application. If an applicant desires a different sponsoring professional inspector, a new application and fees must be filed with the Commission.

2. To be eligible to file an application for a Real Estate Inspector License, an individual must be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien, 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of Texas.

3. The filing of an application authorizes an investigation of the applicant's background. Information revealed in an investigation may be cause for disapproval of an application even though other requirements for a license are met. If an investigation is necessary, it may not be conducted until the applicant has passed the examination.

4. The application fee must be submitted in the form of a single check, cashiers check or money order payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission. Cash will not be accepted. ALL FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE and NONTRANSFERABLE. Fees not pertaining to this application should NOT accompany the application.

   SEE FEE SCHEDULE

5. Upon successful completion of the examination and final processing of the application, the applicant must pay the Real Estate Inspection Recovery Fund fee of $100 made payable to TREC. This fee exists to compensate persons who successfully sue a real estate inspector and then find inadequate attachable financial resources to satisfy the judgment. The fund does not and should not substitute for general liability insurance or errors and omissions insurance. DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FEE UNTIL THE COMMISSION REQUESTS IT.

6. State law prohibits the renewal of a license if a licensee has defaulted on a student loan guaranteed by the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG) unless the licensee has entered into a repayment agreement with TG. YOU SHOULD CONTACT TG BEFORE FILING THIS APPLICATION if you have defaulted on a student loan. An application or renewal may be rejected if this agency has received information from TG that the applicant has defaulted on a student loan.

   TG^TM
   P.O. Box 83100
   Round Rock, Texas 78683-3100
   Telephone: (800) 252-9743
   (in Austin, call 219-5700)

7. The time involved in processing an application depends on work volume. Inquiry as to the status of an application delays processing. Inquiry should not be made unless there is reason to believe that information submitted to the Commission has not been received.

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