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

1. 1Pre-license course. Complete the required pre-license course. An approved course of study of at least 60 hours, which may include field work, required by Section 73-60-11. The Division's guidance accepts coursework that any state home inspector board accepts, pre-licensing education certified by a home inspector society, institute, council or association, or a program approved by the U.S. Department of Education; the course needs to meet only one of these. The Division has not yet published its own list of approved providers. Attach the original completion certificate or a certified copy to the application. The course fee is set by the provider..
2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. The National Home Inspector Examination, developed by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors and given at PSI test centers. The Division states that you must pass it to obtain the basic license, and Mississippi adds no state-specific portion. Proof of passing goes in with the application..
3. 3Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($225). National Home Inspector Examination fee, paid to the test vendor when you register and again for each retake. The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors lists $225 per test in most states and asks you to confirm the price when registering. The fee is nonrefundable and is forfeited if you cancel less than two business days ahead, miss the appointment, or do not test within one year of registering..
4. 4Application fee. Pay the application fee ($175). Application fee, paid by check or money order to the Mississippi Home Inspection Division with the application. Section 73-60-29 sets $175 as the maximum for the combined application and examination fee..
5. 5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($325). License fee, sent with the application fee for $500 in total. The license expires two years after the date it is issued..
6. 6Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($250,000). General liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, required by Section 73-60-13. The certificate must be in your own name, not a company's, list general liability separately from errors and omissions, and name the Mississippi Home Inspection Division, 239 North Lamar Street, Suite 502, Jackson, MS 39201, as certificate holder. The policy must give the Board at least 10 days' written notice before cancellation or nonrenewal..
7. 7Insurance. Carry the required insurance ($250,000). Errors and omissions insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, also required by Section 73-60-13 and filed with the application on the same terms as the liability certificate. Mississippi requires this cover outright; a bond cannot replace it. Operating without the required cover is a ground for discipline..
8. 8Background check. Complete a background check. A fingerprint-based criminal history check of the Mississippi central criminal database and the FBI database, required by Section 73-60-47. After the Division approves your application it mails a fingerprint card and an authorization form, which must be signed in front of a witness, to the residence address on your application. If you have an arrest record, declare it on the application with a notarized statement of the facts and the outcome. The Board charges you what the check costs it but does not publish the amount; ask the Division at (601) 359-5440..

Published fees on this path total $725, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.