How to Become a Home Inspector in Nevada: Training, Exam, and Costs

To become a home inspector in Nevada, you need a certificate of registration from the Nevada Real Estate Division (NRED). The path has five parts: finish 40 hours of approved pre-licensing education, observe 25 inspections under a qualifying inspector, pass the National Home Inspector Examination, line up errors and omissions and general liability insurance, and file Form 573 with the division along with about $575 in fees. Education, exam, and insurance costs sit on top of that. Plan on several weeks of processing once your packet is in.

Who Can Apply

You must be at least 18 years old to receive a certificate.1Nevada Legislature. NAC Chapter 645D – Inspectors of Structures You also have to clear a fingerprint-based background check, which NRED coordinates with the Department of Public Safety. Fingerprints expire six months after submission, so time that step toward the end of your preparation rather than the beginning.2Nevada Real Estate Division. Fingerprint Testing

Finish 40 Hours of Approved Education

The core classroom requirement is 40 hours of instruction in subjects related to structural inspections, taken through an NRED-approved classroom or distance-learning provider.1Nevada Legislature. NAC Chapter 645D – Inspectors of Structures Coursework covers building systems, safety protocols, and the standards of practice you’ll work under once certified.

Tuition varies by provider and format. Online self-paced programs usually cost less than in-person classes, and some association memberships bundle curriculum into their annual dues. A typical 40-hour program runs somewhere between $500 and $1,500. Format is your call; Nevada accepts both. Keep your course completion certificate because you’ll submit it with your application.

Observe 25 Inspections

Beyond the classroom, you must observe at least 25 real inspections performed by a certified general inspector, a certified master inspector, or an NRED-approved instructor.1Nevada Legislature. NAC Chapter 645D – Inspectors of Structures Each observation is logged on NRED’s Form 594, signed by the supervising inspector.3Nevada Real Estate Division. Form 573 – Inspector of Structures Original Licensing Application

If arranging a mentor is difficult, Nevada accepts completion of an approved 25-inspections course as a substitute for the observation log. Either the signed Form 594 or the course certificate satisfies the experience requirement when you apply.

Pass the National Home Inspector Examination

You must pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. The exam fee is $225 in Nevada, paid directly to the testing provider when you schedule.4Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors. Test Policies – National Home Inspector Examination

The test weights three domains:5Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors. NHIE Content Outline

  • Property and building inspection, 70 percent — site, exterior, roofing, structure, electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing, insulation, ventilation, interiors, and fireplaces.
  • Analysis and reporting, 20 percent — describing findings, documenting limitations, and flagging systems that need specialist evaluation.
  • Professional responsibilities, 10 percent — pre-inspection agreements, ethics, and objectivity.

National pass rates sit between 60 and 70 percent, so plan to study. The inspection domain is where under-prepared candidates lose points; if your 40-hour course felt thin on any system, shore it up before you test. Your official score report has to be sent to NRED with your application.

Line Up Your Insurance

Nevada law requires every certified inspector to carry two policies before performing any inspection:6Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 645D – Inspectors of Structures

  • Errors and omissions coverage of at least $100,000, which responds to claims of professional negligence or missed defects.
  • General liability coverage with a $100,000 aggregate minimum, which covers property damage or bodily injury during an inspection.

The policy must list your personal name as it appears on your certificate.3Nevada Real Estate Division. Form 573 – Inspector of Structures Original Licensing Application If coverage lapses, your certificate expires by operation of law 60 days after coverage ends.7Legal Information Institute (LII). Nevada Admin Code 645D-335 – Insurance: Failure to Maintain; Proof That is not a suspension with a grace period; your authority to inspect disappears automatically. Autopay on renewals is cheap insurance against losing your license.

Those are statutory minimums. Many inspectors carry higher E&O limits because a missed defect on an expensive property can produce a claim well above $100,000. Start getting quotes early, since proof of coverage has to go in with your packet.

File Your Application

The application is Form 573, the Inspector of Structures Original Licensing Application, on the NRED website.3Nevada Real Estate Division. Form 573 – Inspector of Structures Original Licensing Application A complete packet includes:

  • Form 573, with personal disclosures about your history and any prior professional licenses or legal actions.
  • Form 575, the Location of Records form, identifying where you’ll keep your business records.
  • Form 594 with the supervising inspector’s signatures, or a certificate from an approved 25-inspections course.
  • A signed and dated fingerprint background waiver, completed before you get printed.
  • Fingerprint verification — either a fingerprint card with a $40.25 cashier’s check or money order payable to the Department of Public Safety, or a verification form from an NRED-approved vendor.
  • Your 40-hour education completion certificate.
  • Your official NHIE score report sent to NRED.
  • Proof of $100,000 E&O and $100,000 general liability coverage in your name.
  • If you’re operating under a fictitious business name, proof of filing with the Clark County Clerk or the Nevada Secretary of State.

Fees total $350 to NRED: a $100 application fee plus $250 for certificate issuance.8Nevada Real Estate Division. Inspector of Structures and Energy Auditor Fees The application fee is non-refundable. Pay by check or money order made out to the Nevada Real Estate Division.9Nevada Real Estate Division. Forms

Submit the packet to NRED’s southern office at 3300 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 325, Las Vegas, or the northern office at 1818 East College Parkway, Suite 110, Carson City.10Nevada Real Estate Division. Contact Us You can file in person or send it by tracked mail. Processing runs several weeks and can stretch while the background check clears. Once approved, your certificate arrives by mail and you can start inspecting.

What It All Costs

Mapping the full outlay before you start keeps the budget honest:

Expect roughly $1,100 to $2,200 before your first paid inspection, with insurance premiums adding a few hundred dollars annually on top.

Keeping the Certificate Active

Certification isn’t one and done. Each renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education, including at least 3 hours on safety and 2 hours on law, plus a $265 renewal fee.11Nevada Real Estate Division. Inspectors of Structures Renewal Missing the deadline or letting your CE lapse puts you in the same position as letting insurance lapse: no legal authority to inspect. Spread the hours across the year rather than racing the clock.

What the Certificate Doesn’t Cover

A standard Nevada residential inspection covers the major visible systems of a home. It does not cover underground systems like sewer lines, environmental hazards such as asbestos, radon, or mold, pest infestations, code compliance, cosmetic issues, or systems that aren’t operating at the time of inspection. If you want to offer any of those, you’ll need separate training and, in some cases, separate licensing. Your pre-inspection agreement should set those limits in writing with every client.