How To Become A Home Inspector In Ontario? (2023)

During the escrow process of a home sale transaction in the building sales industry, Home Inspectors are usually contracted to determine the condition of the house and to point out any major damage or repairs that should be made.

There are no formal education requirements to become a Home Inspector in Ontario, although you will need to start a certification programme which you must complete within three years.

As a Home Inspector, you will have to inspect the major systems of the house, such as the electrical lines, plumbing, and air conditioning unit, the interior and exterior areas of the house that will be going on sale, including crawl spaces and attics.

How To Become A Home Inspector In Ontario

You will need to have an Ontario secondary school diploma, be 19 years of age or older, and have a little previous knowledge of or experience in the construction industry to begin your application process. Also, you are required to complete twenty-four hours of Continuing Education every year to renew your certification if you apply for an online course.

You will complete courses on the components of a house such as:

• roofing, and electrical systems
• heating systems, air conditioning, heat pumps, and plumbing
• Ontario building code general legal process
• house health and safety, exterior parts
• insulation and home interior.
• home flood risk training
• professional communication practices
• structural inspections
• Introduction to Home Inspection Terminology
• Limits and Exclusions for Home Inspections
• Site, Grounds, and Grading
• Exterior and Structure
• Roof Components
• Plumbing Systems
• Electrical Systems
• Attic Inspection
• Insulation & Ventilation
• Interior Components
• Bathrooms and Kitchens
• Basement & Crawlspace
• Heating and Air Conditioning
• Garage and Carport
• Conducting a Home Inspection
• Home Inspection Business Start-Up
• Mold and Allergens
• Radon in Air and Water
• Commercial Inspections

These courses will help you acquire the knowledge and professional communication skills you need to succeed in the industry. You can choose to take the courses part-time, online, flexible, in-person, and hybrid.

After completing the courses, you should be able to:

• describe the types and the materials involved in housing and construction
• recognize important components primarily through visual inspection
• identity conditions and defects of various parts on the overall system performance
• stick to safety guidelines for the occupant and yourself
• visually inspect properties and make accurate reports on observations made
• describe the features of adequate installation and recognize modifications to original installations
• employ the use of proper terminology to make inferences and reports, and perform home inspections in a manner that is consistent with the North American Standards of Practice of the home inspection profession.

The successful completion of your programme must fulfill the core educational requirements of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Home and Property Inspectors, and include exposure to an OAHI recognized Standard of Practice (SOP).

You can join an accredited professional body such as InterNACHI, as a member for $49 per month or $499 per year. There are no prerequisites to becoming a member. Being a member will give you unlimited access to free, online training and continuing education, the Online Inspector Exam, and free job practice questions.

There is currently no provincial licensing required to become a home inspector in Ontario. However, as a Home inspector, you must follow the rules and laws related to your professions such as contracts and fair trade practices.

It is possible to earn your Ontario home inspector working certificate in a matter of weeks. Within a few months, you could be working for a public organization, as the owner of a home inspection business, or for a private company.

How Much Does It Cost To Be A Home Inspector In Ontario

Typically, the price range for a full programme is between $4,495 and $6,000

or $495 for any single Course.

On average, the total cost to become a home inspector in Ontario, including learning supplies, is within the range of $20,000.

The breakdown of the fees include:

• Home Inspection Course which is $5,000
• A HIABC Candidate Membership Application for $100
• 8 Canadian Home Inspection Exams (CHIE) for $400
• Virtual Exam Proctoring fee for $160
• Field Training which is between $3,000 and $3,500 (You can get group & individual training is available through CPBC approved trainers, and fees for group training with 7 hours is $250 plus a portion of the house rental for the day)
• Report Writing Course which is $25
• Peer Review Inspection (PRI) for $500
• Errors & Omissions through the HIABC Professional Insurance Plan (PIP) which is $2750 per year
• Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) through Capri Insurance which is $330 per annum
• A $500 Association Membership billed annually every September 1st
• Inspection Reporting System for $1,200
• New license through Consumer Protection BC for $1159, and it is billed annually every April 1st.

Are Home Inspectors In High Demand In Ontario?

Data released by the Ontario government shows that the demand for home inspectors is increasing, as 50-70% of resale homes and new constructions now have home inspections as part of the real estate transaction. While new job openings are expected to reach a total of 11,100 within the next five years.

Many home-buyers in Ontario now engage the services of a Home Inspector before purchasing or renovating a property. They require the services of professional Inspectors to perform pre-renovation consultations or identify problems related to the structure, and conditions of the property.

Some companies and industries also require the services of Home Inspectors to perform services such as the inspection of commercial buildings, and pre-delivery quality control inspections of new buildings and constructions.

How Much Can I Earn As A Home Inspector In Ontario?

The average annual pay for a Home Inspector in Ontario is $60,229 per year, $1,158 per week, $5,019 a month, and approximately $28.96 an hour.

You can also earn as high as $102,544 per year with more than two years of work experience.

Building Inspector salaries in Ontario can range from $87,030 to $93,434 per year.

Job Opportunities For Home Inspectors In Ontario

Generally, Home Inspectors in Ontario find work in multi-inspector companies, construction companies, consulting firms, large industries, small businesses, and as sole owners of businesses.

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