How to Become Florida Home Inspector
The steps to becoming a home inspector in Florida can be confusing, but this guide will clear things up.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Before starting the process of becoming a Florida Home Inspector, there are a few basic qualifications you should be aware of. You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and be able to pass a background check and fingerprinting. If you think your background check may cause issues, it is strongly recommended that you complete that step first before spending any money on courses or study materials. If everything checks out, you can move forward with the process.
Required 120-Hour Pre-Licensing Course
Before sitting for the Florida state or national home inspector exam, you are required to complete 120 hours of approved coursework. InterNACHI is one of the most affordable options, costing roughly $50 per month and providing access to a large library of additional resources. AHIT is another reputable provider, but as of 2026 the cost to enroll is around $699. We can only personally vouch for the InterNACHI course, as both of our inspectors used it to satisfy the 120-hour requirement. The InterNACHI course is self-paced, significantly cheaper, and very manageable from a difficulty standpoint. While some of the content is outdated, it still meets the requirement. If you are looking for more Florida-specific material, AHIT may be the better option. Both of our inspectors completed the course in about two months, and even then it was far less expensive than other alternatives. Most of the real skills you gain as a home inspector come from code references and on-the-job experience. The coursework is primarily focused on general concepts, with code information mixed in throughout.
Choosing Between State and National Exams
Once you complete the 120-hour course requirement, you are eligible to sit for either a Florida-approved state exam or a national exam. We personally do not see a strong reason to take a national exam over a Florida-specific exam. The national exam is more expensive, covers much denser material, and offers little benefit since home inspection businesses are generally localized. Unless you plan on moving out of state or working near multiple state borders, we recommend taking a Florida-approved inspector exam.
Florida State Exam Options
Florida-approved state exam options include the FABI exam and the ACICP exam. The FABI exam costs $200, or $125 if the 120-hour course was completed through an affiliate school. It consists of 100 questions, requires a score of 70 percent or higher to pass, and allows two hours to complete. The ACICP exam costs $150 when taken online or $250 in person. It is a two-hour exam, open book using approved reference materials, and typically includes around 100 to 120 questions with an estimated passing score of about 70 percent.
National Exam Options
National exam options include the NHIE and the InterNACHI exam. The NHIE costs $225, consists of 200 questions, and allows four hours to complete. The InterNACHI exam costs $125, includes 120 questions, and has a one-hour time limit.
Which Exam Is the Easiest?
If your primary concern is ease of testing, we recommend the ACICP exam. It is open book using approved reference materials and can be taken at home. One of our inspectors took this exam and found it significantly easier, since tricky code references can be quickly located in the reference materials. If you are looking to truly test your knowledge, you can take the NHIE and sit for four hours, but that is entirely up to you.
Licensing Steps After Passing the Exam
After passing the exam, you will need to complete fingerprinting and a background check, which can typically be done at a UPS Store. Once that is completed, you must obtain $300,000 in general liability insurance. We recommend using the insurance option available through your InterNACHI membership, as most general insurance agencies do not have carriers willing to cover activities such as drone use or roof climbing. The InterNACHI carrier is reasonably priced and much easier than trying to source coverage on your own. You are not required to keep your InterNACHI subscription long-term; we personally only use it when continuing education is needed, which is once every two years.