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

West Virginia certifies home inspectors statewide, and the program belongs to the Office of the State Fire Marshal rather than to the Division of Labor, which licenses contractors, plumbers, HVAC technicians and crane operators. All authority over home inspector certification moved to the Fire Marshal on 1 July 2020 under W. Va. Code 15A-10-2(h), and the operative rule is now 103 CSR 7, Certification of Home Inspectors, effective 1 May 2024. Nobody may perform, offer to perform or advertise home inspection work for compensation in West Virginia without a certificate, and a business may not sell home inspection services unless every inspector it employs holds one. There is a single grade of certificate, with no apprentice, associate or trainee tier below it. The certificate is issued to a person, but that person must also hold a West Virginia business registration certificate and keep general liability insurance of at least $250,000 in force, filing proof of each policy renewal with the Fire Marshal before the old one expires. Certificates expire on the last day of the anniversary month twelve months after issue and renew on 16 continuing education units a year.