Starting a Home Inspection Career

Becoming a Licensed Home Inspector with HIABC

Start Your Career as a Licensed Home Inspector in BC

Become one of BC’s most respected and top-booked Home Inspectors.

Your expertise is valuable, and as an inspector you will help home buyers and owners make the best decisions for their homes. With HIABC membership our Candidate Program will provide you access to unparallelled support for your business as well as a network of colleagues and professionals who share the values of quality and meticulous attention to detail. Designed to walk you through each stage from education and exams to field training and final licensing with personalized support at every step!

As a Candidate Member, you’ll gain access to:

A proven education and training program aligned with BC’s licensing requirements
Live webinars and in-person events that count toward your 20 mandatory annual continuing education credits
Valuable opportunities to network with industry professionals and fellow trainees
Expert guidance from HIABC’s experienced trainers and office staff, who are committed to supporting you from your first course through to licensing.

With enhanced field training standards, access to industry-recognized insurance options, and direct connections to Consumer Protection BC’s licensing process, HIABC equips you with the tools, knowledge, and professionalism needed to thrive in this growing profession.

Join the most respected home inspection association in BC and take the first confident step toward your new career.

Candidate Membership Fee $100 + GST

Canadian Home Inspection Exam (CHIE) Registration $400 +GST

1. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidate members must be completing (or have completed) their education through one of the approved home inspector programs as approved by Consumer Protection BC https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/get-keep-licence/home-inspections/.

Including, but not limited to:

The Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Online Training Program – comes with 10 online courses available through a comprehensive online learning platform. For details and Course Order Form: HIABC-How-to-Order-2024 Our Canadian Home Inspection Exams (CHIE) are closely based on the Carson Dunlop training program.

2. CANADIAN HOME INSPECTION EXAMS (CHIE) INDUSTRY EXAMS

Developed by HIABC in partnership with the University of British Columbia, the CHI Exams are approved by Consumer Protection BC under the Home Inspector Licensing Regulation.

Take your exams online via Zoom, proctored by HIABC, from the comfort of your own space. Each exam is one hour long and includes 50 multiple-choice questions, with a passing grade of 75%.

For candidate members, you can write all 8 exams for $400 + GST

Once you have completed your Home Inspection Educational Program, or any individual module within the program, you become eligible to take the corresponding CHI Exam.

The CHI Exams cover the following subjects:

Structure
Electrical
Heating
A/C & Heat Pumps
Plumbing
Exterior / Roofing
Interior / Insulation / Ventilation
Business Practices / Standards of Practice

If you don’t pass an exam on your first try, you’ll need to wait 7 days before attempting the exam a second time. If a second attempt is needed, there’s a 30-day waiting period before a third try. Unfortunately, if the exam is not passed on the third attempt, your candidacy cannot continue. Rewrite fees are $25 + GST, payable when you schedule your exam retake.

As part of your application to Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) for your home inspector license, a criminal record check is required.

If this is a concern, we recommend contacting our office before submitting your Candidate for Membership application to discuss your situation. We also suggest reaching out to Consumer Protection BC in advance of starting the program to confirm that your past record will not affect your eligibility for licensing

Candidate membership application and CHI exam registration – $500 +GST:

HIABC Candidate for Membership Application + CHIE Registration Jan25

CHI Exam Registration only – $500 +GST, does not include Candidate Membership:

Canadian Home Inspection Exam (CHIE) Application Only Jan25

3. FIELD TRAINING

HIABC provides hands-on training designed to fully prepare our candidate members for success. Our program meets the required minimum of 50 hours, with most new inspectors completing 70–100 hours of field training to gain real-world experience and confidence. A group trainer sign-off is required before moving forward to a PRI, ensuring every candidate is ready and supported throughout their training

After you have passed 5 of the 8 industry exams you can start your training and earn up to 20 hours of field training prior to completing your remaining exams.

Training is available in most areas of the province, however, the trainee may have to travel to other areas if there are not sufficient numbers of trainers in their immediate area. Based on typical candidate failure rates in Peer Review Examinations, HIABC recommends up to 100 – 125 hours of field training for most trainees, particularly those who do not have a background in the industry

HIABC Report Writing Course: All new candidates are required to complete our exclusive Report Writing Course. Developed by home inspectors, this course is designed to ensure you meet HIABC’s high reporting standards and is a crucial step in your training. We highly recommend taking the course before you begin your field training. It’s available online, takes approximately one hour to complete, and costs just $25 +GST. This course will provide you with the foundational skills to write clear, thorough reports that align with association and industry standards.

HIABC Defect Recognition Course (DRC): All new candidates are required to complete one of the HIABC DRC courses prior to moving forward to the PRI. These courses provide members with training to identify, assess, and document common home defects. Through practical exercises and real-world examples, candidates develop the skills and confidence needed to recognize issues accurately and provide professional, thorough reports that meet HIABC’s high standards. Course cost is $175 +GST. Courses are offered online regularly and in person once a year.

4. REPORT REVIEW

During your field training, you’ll submit inspection reports to your trainers for review. These reports help ensure your work meets the HIABC Scope of Inspection and our association’s report writing standards.

Being comfortable with a report writing software system is essential, so we strongly recommend becoming proficient in your chosen system before training begins.

Strong report writing is a key part of your professional development as most Peer Review Inspection failures, complaints, and legal claims come from poorly written reports. Taking the time to master your system and follow HIABC standards will set you up for suc

5. PEER REVIEW INSPECTION

As part of the HIABC Candidate membership and CPBC licensing requirements, all candidates must successfully complete a Peer Review Inspection (PRI).

Before you can schedule your PRI, your most recent Group Field Trainer must confirm that you are ready to proceed.

Your PRI will be arranged with an HIABC/CPBC-approved examiner. The examiner will have prior knowledge of the property’s key deficiencies and safety issues before your inspection takes place.

Once you complete the inspection, you will submit your report to the examiner for review. Your performance will be evaluated, and your PRI Scoresheet will be sent to you after scoring is complete.

6. INSURANCE

Once you successfully complete your PRI, you’ll be ready to purchase the mandatory Errors & Omissions (E&O) and Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance required for licensing. Legislation requires that all inspectors carry a minimum of $1 million in both E&O and CGL, and your E&O must include water ingress coverage.

HIABC Professional Insurance Plan (PIP)

HIABC members have access to our exclusive Professional Insurance Plan (PIP)—a program created by home inspectors, for home inspectors back in 2004.

Our plan exceeds the mandatory limits, offering $1M per claim / $2M aggregate coverage.

Additional benefits include:

Competitive, below-market premiums
Pro-rated fees based on our membership year (September 1st)
Access to complaint assistance as a member benefit

While participation in the plan is optional, most members choose PIP because it provides strong coverage tailored specifically to the profession.

CGL Coverage

Members can also purchase Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance at a reduced rate through HIABC.

Payment Options & Requirements

Flexible payment plans are available for E&O insurance.
All PIP participants must follow the current PIP Guidelines & Procedures.

7. LICENSING

To apply for your license with Consumer Protection BC, you must submit your licensing application documents along with payment, proof of education, proof of successfully completing your industry exams, signed field training hours, a successful PRI letter from your examiner, and proof of insurance coverage. Your license will be issued after a criminal record check is completed.

As of January 1, 2026, the CPBC annual license fee for new inspectors is $1461. For early renewal (2 weeks before April 1st), the fee is $1344, or $1424 if renewed after that. New inspectors applying between October and April will pay a reduced fee of approximately $700.

8. COSTS – Approximate costs of becoming a home inspector include:

Home Inspection Course $5,000 -/+
HIABC Candidate Membership Application $100
8 Canadian Home Inspection Exams (CHIE) $400
Exam Proctoring fee virtually $160
Field Training $3,000+. Group & individual training is available thru HIABC/CPBC approved trainers; fees for group training with 7 hours is $250 plus a portion of the house rental for the day. Fees are paid directly to the trainer who will provide you with a tax receipt.
HIABC Report Writing Course $25
HIABC Defect Recognition Course $175
Peer Review Inspection (PRI) $500
Inspection Reporting System $1,200 +
HIABC Professional Insurance Plan (PIP) Errors & Omissions Coverage – $4025
HIABC Member Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) Coverage – $400 +
Association Membership – $650 annually prorated to September 1st
New license through Consumer Protection BC $1461 annually as of January 1st 2026
+ Business start up costs; Tools; Vehicle expense; Advertising/Marketing; Ongoing Education

Becoming a licensed home inspector requires an investment. On average, your total start-up cost including education may be around $20,000.

We strongly recommend creating a five-year business plan to guide you as you establish and grow your business. Many new inspectors rely on an additional source of income during the early years while they build their client base.