If you are a new or seasoned Home Inspector looking to further your career and stay updated on the latest industry knowledge and technology, joining a home inspection organization is an intelligent business decision.
While there are fewer home inspection organizations in 2023 than in previous years, these professional associations provide access to resources to help Home Inspectors stay competitive in this industry.
The most significant decision every Home Inspector needs to consider is which inspector association best suits their career path.
This article will provide a clear roadmap explaining the benefits of joining InterNACHI or ASHI. We’ll provide you with the membership sign-up criteria, their resources, and some tips for choosing the right one.
Should You Join a Home Inspection Organization?
The short answer is yes. Home inspection organizations provide a wealth of invaluable resources that can help you stay competitive in the industry.
These include home inspection training courses, certifications, access to cutting-edge technology and tools, continuing education opportunities, networking events with other professionals in the field, and much more.
Joining one of these professional home inspection organizations shows potential home-buying clients that you are serious about your profession and take the necessary steps to stay informed on the latest industry news, trends, and best practices.
Additionally, many home inspection organizations offer discounts on insurance premiums and access to legal advice, which can help protect you in case of liability issues.
Benefits of Joining Home Inspection Associations
The most popular home inspection organizations are InterNACHI and ASHI. Both organizations offer a wide range of resources and membership levels, which are beneficial in many ways. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the different membership options, certification programs, requirements, and continual education for their inspection business to maintain further.
However, there are a few benefits that both home inspection associations offer all home inspection profession members.
Benefit #1 — Learn Best Practices and Standards of Practice
Every association has a “Standards of Practice” that establishes an evenhanded inspection strategy for Inspectors.
These best practices and standards outline what is and isn’t inspected, protecting you and creating transparent anticipations for your clients – from homeowners and buyers to real estate agents, lenders, and insurance companies.
Benefit #2 — Continuing Education
InterNACHI and ASHI require members to continually improve and continue their education to keep your membership in good standing.
For any Inspector, it is essential to know about modifications in regulations and laws. By joining a home inspection association, you can stay informed of these updates, which will help you better understand how they may influence your professional practices.
Not only will equipping yourself with up-to-date knowledge of building standards and best practices improve your quality as an Inspector, but it can also reduce the risk associated with performing inspections.
Benefit #3 — Establishes Credibility
Where Home Inspectors are not mandated to be state-licensed, certifications from renowned organizations instantly instill trust. Realtors and homeowners/sellers will likely prefer working with those whom a reliable third party has audited.
Prominently displaying your certification demonstrates that you take your profession seriously and assures them of the quality of work they can expect.
Benefit #4 — Gain Insights from Fellow Members
A home inspection career is more like working from home or freelancing than most jobs. Joining an association can give you a sense of belonging: you’ll find yourself surrounded by fellow Inspectors you can rely on for advice and support.
This is one of the better ancillary benefits of joining InterNACHI or ASHI. Their mentorship programs are outstanding – they pair experienced Home Inspectors with those just beginning their journey.
2 Major Home Inspection Organizations to Consider Joining in 2023
About five years ago, three major home inspection agencies, or national organizations, existed. However, due to financial circumstances and a shift in the industry – specifically the advancement of online technology – two powerhouses remain in 2023.
Below are the facts about the two major home inspection organizations you should consider joining in 2023.
InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors)
InterNACHI, also known as NACHI to most Inspectors, is the leading Home Inspector association in the world. With 27,000 members across America (as of February 2023) and other countries such as Canada and South Africa, their membership continues to expand daily.
Nick Gromicko, a formerly successful real estate agent and Home Inspector, established InterNACHI to prioritize education. The organization offers an expansive range of courses predominantly conducted over the internet – all tailored around training aspiring Inspectors.
Home Inspectors enjoy numerous benefits, mainly the substantial range of certifications and training programs.
With over 40 qualifications to obtain and more than 700 hours of instruction available, aspiring professionals can become well-versed in their craft before venturing into real-world inspections. This tremendous advantage gives them an edge in their market.
Unlocking the membership of InterNACHI is easy and affordable – you can pay $499 annually or just $49 monthly. Once you become a member, they will require a few continual education credits every three years.
Requirements to Become a Member
Becoming a member of InterNACHI is a straightforward process. You must take the Online Inspector Examination to start your journey with InterNACHI. This test is open to all prospective Home Inspectors and is free to take. You can take the exam as often as you’d like for no extra cost.
The follow-up step is to enroll in their Code of Ethics course. Finally, before being admitted as an entry-level member, you’ll complete their Standards of Practice course. Again – there are no fees or time-length requirements to complete these three courses and exams.
Suppose you are a new Home Inspector who has yet to perform a fee-paid inspection. InterNACHI will ask you to submit four mock inspection reports in that case. Their committee will review these for approval. If they accept your mock inspections, they will have you sign an affidavit to become a certified member.
Requirements to Maintain Certification
- It is essential to strictly adhere to the InterNACHI Standards of Practice or the required standard by laws in your locality.
- Uphold the InterNACHI Code of Ethics consistently.
- To stay up-to-date with the most current industry knowledge, InterNACHI encourages members to fulfill their 24 hours of annual continuing education requirements.
- Keep a comprehensive, up-to-date Online Continuing Education Log for members.
Member Benefits
Once you become a certified InterNACHI member, you will receive numerous benefits. Here is a summary of the main ones:
- Over 1,300 hours of free continuing education.
- Over 2,000 practice questions to help you prepare for your licensing exam.
- Unlock 45+ Certifications at no cost at all.
- Experience unlimited electronic inspection agreements, electronically signed with ease.
- Free legal documents.
- Access to their members-only forum for on-site help.
- Discounts on credit card processing and terminals.
- Home inspection tools and mentorship program.
ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)
ASHI has been around for a long time. They were established in 1976 by a group of Inspectors who cared about the growth of the home inspection industry.
ASHI’s Standards of Practice were innovative and inspired many State SOPs. Thanks to ASHI, laws, and SOPs safeguarding Home Inspectors have been passed over the years.
ASHI is a fantastic membership organization due to its longevity and established credibility. This home inspection organization offers three tiers of membership. These membership levels are designed to help increase the skillset of Home Inspectors. The application fee is $25 for all levels, with annual dues of $449 or $45/month.
Requirements to Become a Member
As noted above, ASHI is unique as it offers three different membership levels, each with its requirements.
Associate Member
The associate membership is the entry point to ASHI. They are permitted to access several of the resources that will help them build their career. To become an associate member, candidates must complete the following.
- Apply for a membership online.
- Complete a background check through the Background Verified Inspector Program.
- Demonstrate mastery of the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics education modules.
- After your first year, you must begin to earn 20 ASHI-approved continuing education credits.
ASHI Inspector
For experienced Home Inspectors who want to strengthen their technical knowledge, the ASHI Inspector membership level is the ideal next step with ASHI. This level provides an invaluable opportunity for enhancing your practice and continuing education.
Inspector Level Requirements:
- Complete all Associate-level requirements.
- If your state requires licensing for Home Inspectors, make sure to obtain or keep yours up-to-date. If it does not demand certification, you must prove that you passed the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE).
- Earn your certification by mastering the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics course module.
- Complete 50 fee-paid home inspections.
- To pass the Report Verification process, ASHI members must submit five complete home inspection reports through their portal. The selected report verifiers will assess these documents and see if they meet all criteria outlined in the Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics. This ensures you have completed all the qualifications to join ASHI as an active member.
- Obtain a notarized affidavit from ASHI documenting the total number of inspections performed.
- You must remain current in your ASHI dues and obtain 20 ASHI-approved CEs annually.
ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI)
ASHI Certified Inspectors (ACI) are the highest level of ASHI membership, and their credentials have been fully accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
This recognition highlights ACIs as leaders in home inspection with access to all ASHI member benefits. Reaching this pinnacle is a testament to their commitment to high standards and dedication within the profession.
Certified Inspector Level Requirements:
- Completion of all Associate and Inspector qualifications.
- Secure and sustain the state license to provide home inspection services if applicable.
- To be certified, one must complete the ASHI Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics education module.
- Pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE).
- Complete 250 fee-paid home inspections.
- Pass report verification.
- Obtain an officially notarized affidavit from ASHI concerning the exact number of inspections performed.
- To maintain your current ASHI membership, you must pay your dues and obtain 20 CE credits annually from approved sources.
Member Benefits
While each membership tier has benefits levels, the top tier offers the full complement. Some of the critical benefits for Certified Inspectors include the following.
- Certification by ASHI and the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- Voting rights for ASHI Board Members and Officers.
- Voting rights for proposed bylaw changes.
- The profile is searchable in the “Find an Inspector” section of the ASHI website.
- Eligible to serve as an ASHI officer, director, committee or task force chair, committee or task force member.
- Access to ASHI Advanced Education and associated badges.
Other member benefits for different levels include:
- Logo Use for Promotional Opportunities
- Custom Logo Design
- ASHI Discount Program
- Multi-Inspector Program
- Mentorship Program
- Member Networking Opportunities
- Consumer Awareness & Education
InterNACHI vs. ASHI: 3 Tips to Choose the Best Home Inspectors’ Association for You
If you’re an aspiring Home Inspector, deciding which Home inspector’ association is correct can be challenging. Should you join the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or opt for the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)? To help you make this critical decision, here are three tips to consider when deciding between these two Home Inspectors’ associations.
Tip 1: Consider Your Professional Goals
First, you must consider your professional goals as a Home Inspector. Do you want to be certified? Are there collaborations or mentorships that one offers over the other? Are you looking for marketing and networking opportunities?
The best tip we can offer is to choose the Home Inspectors’ association that best supports your goals – not just for the short term but your entire career.
Tip 2: Research Each Organization’s Requirements
Each Home Inspectors’ association has its requirements and qualifications for joining, so it’s essential to research each one closely before deciding which one to join. For example, ASHI requires its members to complete exams and training courses. At the same time, InterNACHI’s requirements are more relaxed.
In the end — both will cost members about the same each year.
Tip 3: Review Their Member Benefits
Finally, it’s essential to review the member benefits each Home Inspectors’ association offers its members. ASHI and InterNACHI provide a wide range of benefits, including discounts on insurance, access to marketing materials, and networking opportunities.
A key consideration is that ASHI’s memberships are progressive – and unlock different benefits as you climb their ladder. Whereas InterNACHI opens the door to all benefits from the outset.
Choose the Home Inspectors’ association that offers you the most benefits.
Final Points on Home Inspector Organizations
Ultimately, joining a Home Inspector organization is essential for any aspiring Home Inspector. By considering your professional goals, researching each organization’s requirements, and reviewing their member benefits, you can decide which association to join. You can join both if you feel they benefit your career path.
One essential item to consider is whether a professional organization membership alone will provide you with valuable Home Inspector business resources. While both organizations provide excellent resources, HomeGauge offers business solutions that help new or existing Home Inspectors manage their day-to-day activities.
Contact our team today if you’d like to couple your home inspection organization memberships with the power of HomeGauge resources.