Home & Building Inspection

This foundational course equips learners with the safety protocols, applied mathematics, technical literacy, digital tools, and professional communication skills that underpin every subsequent inspection course. Emphasis is placed on OSHA 10 construction safety, lockout/tagout, PPE selection, and first aid/CPR as non-negotiable prerequisites before any field activity. Career readiness content prepares learners to pursue state licensure, InterNACHI CPI, and ASHI ACI credentials and to present themselves professionally to employers.

How the course runs. 7 blocks: OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety & PPE for Home Inspectors; First Aid, CPR & Emergency Response on Inspection Sites; Trade Math & Measurement for Home Inspectors; Reading Construction Documents, Codes & Manufacturer Specs; Digital Tools for Inspection: Software, Meters & Cameras; Professional Communication: Written Reports & Client Briefings; Career Readiness: Licensure, Credentials & Professional Identity.

What competent looks like. Complete OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety training and demonstrate correct PPE selection and lockout/tagout procedures for common home-inspection hazards. Perform and document trade-specific math calculations—including area, volume, slope, load, and unit conversion—with an accuracy rate of 90% or better. Read and interpret construction drawings, material specification sheets, and applicable sections of residential building codes without assistance. Use standard inspection digital tools—tablet-based report software, moisture meters, thermal cameras, and laser distance measurers—to collect and organize field data. Produce a professional written field note and a verbal client briefing that are clear, jargon-free, and free of material error. Develop a personalized career plan that maps program coursework to state licensure requirements and to the exam domains of the InterNACHI CPI and ASHI ACI credentials.

Students learn to identify, evaluate, and report on the structural components of residential and light commercial buildings, including foundations, framing, floors, walls, and rooflines as observed from safe vantage points. Emphasis is placed on recognizing deficiencies, distinguishing cosmetic issues from structural concerns, and documenting findings in language that meets InterNACHI, ASHI, and state licensing standards. This course maps directly to the structural inspection domain tested on the InterNACHI CPI and ASHI ACI exams and required for state licensure.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Building Structure Fundamentals: Components, Load Paths, and Inspection Scope; Foundation Types, Soil Movement, and Recognizing Settlement; Floor and Wall Framing: Inspection Methods and Common Deficiencies; Roof Structure, Attic Inspection, and Structural Red Flags; Integrated Structure Assessment: Mock Inspection, Deficiency Documentation, and Referral Decisions.

What competent looks like. Identify and name the primary structural components of a residential building — foundation types, floor systems, wall framing, roof structure, and load path — from direct observation and reference drawings. Recognize and describe common structural deficiencies such as settlement cracks, deflection, rot, pest damage, improper spans, and missing connectors using accepted inspection terminology. Apply safe inspection practices including proper ladder use, PPE selection, and hazard recognition before entering crawlspaces, attics, or any structurally suspect area. Distinguish conditions that require a specialist referral (licensed structural engineer or pest control operator) from conditions that are maintenance items or within normal tolerances. Document structural findings accurately using field notes, photos, and a written narrative that meets the descriptive requirements of InterNACHI Standards of Practice and ASHI Standards of Practice. Demonstrate correct use of a four-foot level, moisture meter, flashlight, and probe in a supervised field exercise and record measurements that support a written deficiency finding.

Students learn to inspect and evaluate all common residential and light-commercial roofing systems, including materials, structure, drainage, flashings, and penetrations, using established home inspection standards of practice. The course develops the systematic observation, defect recognition, and documentation skills required for professional roof inspections. Lesson content maps directly to the roofing sections of the InterNACHI CPI and ASHI ACI credential exams and to state licensing competency requirements.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Roof Safety, Access, and Field Math; Asphalt Shingles and Wood Roofing Materials; Flashings, Drainage, and Roof Penetrations; Flat, Low-Slope, and Alternative Roofing Systems; Full Roof Inspection Simulation and Documentation.

What competent looks like. Identify and describe the condition of at least six roofing material types—including asphalt shingles, wood shakes, metal panels, tile, flat/low-slope membranes, and built-up roofing—using correct trade terminology. Inspect roof structure, decking, flashings, drainage components, and penetrations for defects, safety hazards, and deferred maintenance using a systematic, standards-of-practice approach. Apply appropriate personal protective equipment and fall-protection procedures before and during every roof-access scenario in compliance with OSHA general industry and construction fall-protection requirements. Measure roof area, slope, and drainage gradient using field math and record findings in a format suitable for a written home inspection report. Distinguish conditions that require immediate safety reporting from conditions that warrant monitoring or routine maintenance, using accepted inspector terminology. Produce accurate, complete roof-section field notes and a draft report narrative that would satisfy InterNACHI, ASHI, and typical state standards of practice.

Students learn to visually inspect and evaluate residential electrical systems from the service entrance through branch circuits, identifying defects, safety hazards, and code-significant conditions in accordance with InterNACHI and ASHI standards of practice. The course covers service panels, wiring methods, outlets, fixtures, and grounding, emphasizing the inspector's scope: visual observation only, no testing of concealed conductors or energized components beyond approved instruments. Lessons integrate documentation practices and defect reporting language used on real inspection reports.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Electrical Fundamentals and Inspector Scope; Service Entrance, Meter Base, and Service Panel; Wiring Methods, Branch Circuits, and Devices; Grounding, Bonding, GFCI, AFCI, and Safety Devices; Full Residential Electrical Inspection Simulation.

What competent looks like. Identify the components of a residential electrical service entrance, service panel, and subpanel and describe the function of each. Recognize common wiring methods, conductor types, and installation defects visible during a standard residential inspection. Use a non-contact voltage tester and a three-light receptacle tester safely and correctly to report circuit conditions. Identify grounding, bonding, and overcurrent protection deficiencies that represent safety hazards to occupants. Document electrical defects using clear, non-alarmist report language aligned with InterNACHI and ASHI reporting standards. Perform a complete visual electrical inspection of a residential panel and accessible branch-circuit components within the defined scope of practice.

Students learn to visually inspect residential and light-commercial plumbing systems — supply, drain-waste-vent, water heating, and fixtures — in accordance with InterNACHI and ASHI standards of practice. Emphasis is placed on identifying deficiencies, safety hazards, and conditions requiring further evaluation by a licensed plumber. Students practice documenting findings accurately and communicating them in plain language to a client.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Plumbing Fundamentals: Systems, Materials, and Safety; Water Supply Inspection: Distribution, Pressure, and Shutoffs; Drain-Waste-Vent Inspection: DWV Layout, Traps, and Venting; Water Heater and Fuel-Gas Line Inspection; Full Residential Plumbing Walkthrough: Field Simulation and Reporting.

What competent looks like. Identify and describe the components of a residential water supply, drain-waste-vent, and fixture system using correct trade terminology. Inspect plumbing systems for visible defects, improper materials, inadequate support, and functional concerns following InterNACHI and ASHI standards of practice. Evaluate water heater installations for safety devices, venting, fuel connections, and manufacturer clearances. Recognize plumbing conditions that exceed the inspector's scope and require referral to a licensed plumber. Document plumbing inspection findings with accurate field notes, photographs, and deficiency descriptions suitable for a formal report. Apply appropriate PPE and lockout/tagout awareness when working near water supply shutoffs, gas lines, and confined spaces during an inspection.

Students learn to inspect, evaluate, and report on residential and light-commercial heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems using industry standards of practice. The course covers forced-air furnaces, heat pumps, central air conditioning, ductwork, combustion safety, and ventilation requirements as they apply to home inspection. Lessons map directly to HVAC-related content areas tested on the InterNACHI CPI and ASHI ACI credential exams and required for state home inspector licensure.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: HVAC Fundamentals and Inspection Safety; Heating Systems: Gas, Oil, and Electric Furnaces; Cooling Systems, Heat Pumps, and Refrigerant Safety; Ductwork, Ventilation, and Indoor Air Quality; Integrated HVAC Inspection Practice and Reporting.

What competent looks like. Identify and describe the major components of gas, oil, and electric forced-air heating systems, heat pumps, and central air-conditioning systems and explain how each component functions. Perform a systematic visual inspection of an HVAC system following InterNACHI and ASHI Standards of Practice, documenting deficiencies using correct trade terminology. Use an IR thermometer, combustible-gas detector, and flue-draft gauge safely and correctly to gather field data during an inspection without creating hazardous conditions. Recognize safety-critical defects—including improper flue venting, cracked heat exchangers, inadequate combustion air, and refrigerant leaks—and determine the appropriate reporting action. Apply OSHA lockout/tagout principles and proper PPE selection when working around energized HVAC equipment during an inspection. Produce a clear, defensible written narrative and checklist report section for HVAC findings that meets InterNACHI and ASHI reporting standards.

Students learn to produce clear, accurate, legally defensible written inspection reports that satisfy InterNACHI, ASHI, and state licensing standards of practice. Emphasis is placed on objective language, systematic organization, defect classification, photo documentation, and digital report software used in professional practice. Graduates can deliver a complete written report that communicates findings to clients and withstands regulatory and legal scrutiny.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Anatomy of a Professional Inspection Report; Writing Clear, Objective, and Defensible Defect Descriptions; Photo Documentation and Digital Report Software; Legal Language, Liability, and Report Delivery; Full Report Production and Quality-Control Review.

What competent looks like. Produce a complete, organized inspection report using professional report-writing software that documents all inspected systems and components in the order required by applicable standards of practice. Classify and describe defects using objective, non-alarmist language that distinguishes safety hazards, major defects, and maintenance items without exceeding the inspector's scope of practice. Integrate field photographs with written narrative so that each image is captioned, located by system and component, and directly supports the written finding. Apply correct legal and liability-limiting language, including scope limitations, exclusions, and referral recommendations, consistent with InterNACHI and ASHI standards and state licensing requirements. Review and self-edit a draft report against a quality-control checklist to eliminate ambiguous language, unsupported conclusions, and omissions before delivery. Deliver a finalized digital report to a simulated client within the timeframe required by typical state licensing rules and professional practice standards.

This course teaches students to apply the InterNACHI Standards of Practice and ASHI Standards of Practice as the governing frameworks for every residential inspection, defining what must be inspected, what may be excluded, and how findings must be communicated. Students analyze real inspection scenarios to distinguish required observations from optional services, practice applying limitation and exclusion language correctly, and learn how state licensing law layers on top of industry standards. By the end of the course, students can conduct and document a compliant inspection under both major SOP frameworks and explain their legal and ethical obligations to clients and regulators.

How the course runs. 5 blocks: Anatomy of an SOP: Structure, Purpose, and Legal Standing; Required Scope: What Must Be Inspected and How It Must Be Reported; Limitations, Exclusions, and Specialist Referrals; Codes of Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, and Professional Conduct; Simulated Full-Scope SOP Compliance Inspection.

What competent looks like. Apply the InterNACHI Standards of Practice and ASHI Standards of Practice to identify the required scope of a residential inspection, including systems and components that must be inspected, reported, and described. Distinguish correctly between items that are outside the scope of an inspection, items the inspector may exclude with written notice, and items that are deferred for a specialist, using SOP language precisely. Explain how state home inspector licensing statutes and administrative rules interact with and sometimes expand or restrict industry SOP requirements, and identify the controlling document in cases of conflict. Apply the InterNACHI and ASHI Codes of Ethics to realistic scenarios involving conflicts of interest, fee splitting, referral relationships, and inspector conduct. Recognize conditions that trigger safety-related reporting obligations under both SOPs and communicate those findings to clients in compliant, plain-language report language. Complete a compliant inspection scope checklist for a single-family residential inspection that satisfies the minimum requirements of both the InterNACHI SOP and the ASHI SOP simultaneously.

Students conduct a complete, unsupervised mock inspection of a residential property, produce a professional-grade written report that meets InterNACHI and ASHI Standards of Practice, and defend their findings and methodology before an instructor panel. This capstone integrates every technical domain covered in the program — structure, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and safety — into a single documented deliverable that mirrors real-world professional practice.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Capstone Orientation, Scope Planning, and Pre-Inspection Preparation; Integrated Field Inspection on Capstone Property; Report Writing, Editing, and Client-Ready Document Production; Oral Defense: Findings Presentation and Client-Simulation Q&A.

What competent looks like. Conduct a full residential inspection following InterNACHI and ASHI Standards of Practice, identifying and correctly classifying deficiencies across all major systems without instructor prompting. Produce a complete, narrative-style inspection report with photographs, deficiency descriptions, and recommended actions that meets the documentation standards required for state licensure applications. Apply job-site safety protocols — including PPE selection, hazard identification, and OSHA 10 general-industry principles — throughout the inspection without violation. Defend inspection findings, explain the reasoning behind deficiency classifications, and respond accurately to client-simulation questions during a formal oral examination. Accurately use digital inspection software to generate a formatted, client-ready report within the time constraints typical of professional practice. Demonstrate adherence to the InterNACHI and ASHI Codes of Ethics, including conflict-of-interest avoidance and scope-of-inspection limitations, in all capstone activities.

Students complete 108 supervised hours alongside a licensed home inspector at an approved inspection firm, applying classroom knowledge to real residential and light-commercial inspections under direct professional mentorship. Each student documents every inspection attended, receives structured feedback from the site supervisor, and builds a professional portfolio that demonstrates readiness for independent practice. Placement hours and employer evaluations satisfy externship requirements tied to InterNACHI CPI, ASHI ACI, and most state licensing boards.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Externship Orientation and Site Readiness; Supervised Shadow Inspections; Assisted and Lead Inspections; Portfolio Compilation and Employer Final Evaluation.

What competent looks like. Conduct a full residential inspection from arrival to client debrief under the supervision of a licensed inspector, following InterNACHI and ASHI Standards of Practice. Identify and correctly document at least four major system deficiencies per inspection using industry-standard terminology and field notes. Apply PPE protocols, ladder safety, and lockout/tagout awareness on every live worksite without a safety prompt from the supervisor. Produce complete, professional inspection field notes that a supervising inspector can use to generate a final report with no material corrections. Demonstrate professional communication skills with homeowners, buyers, real estate agents, and supervising inspectors across a variety of inspection scenarios. Compile a portfolio of a minimum of ten documented inspections that records systems inspected, deficiencies found, and supervisor feedback received.

This course systematically reviews every major content domain tested on the InterNACHI CPI, ASHI ACI, and state home inspector licensing exams through targeted lessons, timed practice sets, and two full-length mock exams. Students identify personal weak areas, apply focused remediation, and develop test-taking strategies so they enter each credentialing exam with confidence and verified readiness. Passing the mock exams at or above each credential's published passing threshold is required to complete the course.

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Domain Mapping and Diagnostic Assessment; Focused Domain Review: Systems, Structure, and Site; Standards of Practice, Ethics, Report Writing, and Credential Application Procedures; Full-Length Mock Exams and Final Remediation.

What competent looks like. Correctly answer practice questions covering all major exam content domains—structure, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, interiors, site, and standards of practice—at a passing rate consistent with each credential's published benchmark. Identify and remediate personal knowledge gaps by analyzing practice-set results and returning to authoritative references such as InterNACHI's Standards of Practice, ASHI Standards of Practice, and applicable state statutes. Apply test-taking strategies—question parsing, process of elimination, time management—to complete timed mock exams within the allotted time without sacrificing accuracy. Demonstrate command of home-inspection standards of practice and code of ethics language as tested on both the InterNACHI CPI and ASHI ACI exams. Complete two full-length mock exams that replicate the format, length, and passing threshold of the target credentials and earn a passing score on at least one before sitting the live exam. Organize and submit all required documentation—training hours, proof of completed inspections, and application materials—for the credential applications and state licensing board.