Moving to Illinois as a home inspector: every state's rule

1. 1Pre-license course. Complete the required pre-license course. A 60-hour pre-license course approved by IDFPR and taken from a licensed education provider, completed before the examination. It covers exteriors, interiors, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, structure, appliances and fireplaces, Illinois law (the Home Inspector License Act and rules, the Illinois Human Rights Act and contract law) and the standards of practice. Where the provider gives a final exam you must score at least 70%, and a home-study version ends in a proctored 120-question exam with the same pass mark. The course and the field course stay valid for two years after you finish them. Course fees are set by the provider..
2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. The Home Inspector Examination for Illinois, the National Home Inspector Examination given by PSI with an Illinois law and rules section inside the same paper: 200 multiple-choice questions in four hours, a scaled pass mark of 500 out of 800, and a 30-day wait between attempts. You must take it through PSI for an Illinois license..
3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($125). Per attempt, paid to PSI rather than IDFPR. Not refundable or transferable, and forfeited if you do not test within one year of PSI receiving it; cancelling at least two days ahead keeps it..
4. 4Application fee. Pay the application fee ($250). Non-refundable application fee for an initial home inspector license, paid through IDFPR's ePay site or by check or money order to IDFPR with the Application for Licensure by Examination. No separate fee is charged when the license is issued..
5. 5Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($100,000). General liability insurance of at least $100,000, required of every applicant and licensee. You attest to it by signing the application and must be able to show a current certificate in your name as it appears on the license. Cover must stay in force for at least one year after the last report you deliver. Errors and omissions insurance is not required..
6. 6Background check. Complete a background check. Disclosure questions on the application rather than fingerprinting: convictions, guilty pleas or administrative sanctions in any jurisdiction (minor traffic offenses excluded), denial or discipline of any professional license, delinquent Illinois taxes or child support, and delinquent workers' compensation obligations for business owners. A yes answer must be supported with court or agency records. IDFPR may not ask about or consider juvenile records, arrests without a conviction, or overturned or sealed convictions..
7. 7Business license. Obtain a business license ($250) (if applicable). A Home Inspector Entity license ($250, then $400 per renewal) for a corporation, LLC or partnership that provides home inspections. It is not needed for a sole proprietorship, single-member LLC or single-shareholder corporation owned by the one licensed inspector who does all its inspections, or for a company co-owned only with that inspector's unlicensed spouse..

Published fees on this path total $375, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.