The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation requires all home inspectors to obtain a license. The first step in obtaining a South Carolina Home Inspector License is completing the required 120-hour South Carolina state-approved home inspection course. Professional home inspection training from a reputable home inspection school is key to understanding common business practices as well as establishing yourself as a trusted expert.

After completing your home inspector courses, the next step that South Carolina requires is passing the National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) or a South Carolina-specific exam plus the South Carolina Business Management and Law Exam. (Applicants will receive an exam eligibility letter with information to contact PSI.) The National Home Inspector Exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions (25 of which are not scored) covering three major domains, or sections, that every home inspector should know. Those domains are: Property and Building Inspection/Site Review Analysis of Findings and Reporting Professional Responsibilities Test takers are given 4 hours to complete the exam, and each attempt costs roughly $225 (depending on your location). Due to the unignorable cost of taking the exam, we highly recommend taking an Exam Prep course to greatly increase your chances of passing on the first try. If an individual does not pass, they must wait 30 days before taking the exam again.

If you possess a prior conviction, the state of South Carolina requires that you submit to a national and statewide background check. It’s important to note that a criminal record does not necessarily disqualify an applicant from licensure.

Once everything has been completed, it’s time to apply for your Home Inspector License. The application costs $80 and can be completed online through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation website. If applying by mail, be sure to have your application notarized and include payment.