How to Become a Home Inspector in Washington (2026)

Short answer: Washington requires a Home Inspector License from the Department of Licensing (DOL). As of November 2026 you complete a 120-hour, board-approved Fundamentals of Home Inspection course in a classroom, 40 hours of field training that includes 5 complete inspections, pass an exam with state and national portions ($300), then pay a $720 first license fee.

Its neighbor Idaho has no state license at all, while Washington requires classroom hours, supervised inspections and a two-part exam before you can charge for an inspection. The rules also changed in August 2026, so older guides are out of date, and DOL has proposed higher fees from January 1, 2027.

Washington home inspector requirements at a glance

All figures are from the Washington State Department of Licensing, as of November 2026. They are the fees in force today. DOL's proposed 2027 fees are covered below the cost table.

How to get a Washington home inspector license, step by step

1. Take the 120-hour Fundamentals course. Pick a course from DOL's approved course search. DOL's FAQ is clear that the course "must be completed in a classroom setting". DOL does not recommend providers.
2. Complete 40 hours of field training. You train on real inspections under a licensed inspector with at least 4 years of licensure, and you must do at least 5 complete inspections. You write a report for each one, and your supervisor certifies that the reports comply with the Standards of Practice. Driving, meals and report-writing time do not count toward the 40 hours.
3. Apply to take the exam. Apply online through SecureAccess Washington (SAW), or mail the Home Inspector Examination Application with your course certificate and training log. Your education must be completed within 2 years before you apply to sit the exam.
4. Pass the exam. You pay the $300 fee when you schedule with PSI. Results are handed to you as you leave the test center. If you fail, you wait 30 days to retest, and there is no limit on attempts. A passing score on either portion is valid for 1 year.
5. Apply for the license. Upload your pass report through SAW, or mail the license application with a $720 check. Printing your license from SAW is free; a mailed copy is $5.

DOL's pages describe "state and national" exams without naming the test. EBPHI, which runs the National Home Inspector Examination, lists Washington as an NHIE state with a Washington section, and says Washington candidates must test through the state's contracted administrator. Book through DOL's vendor, not EBPHI's general registration page.

What it costs to get started in Washington

At current fees, the state fees alone come to $1,020 before any course fee. Budget for field training too: some mentors charge for the 40 hours, and DOL does not set that price.

Proposed fee increase from January 1, 2027

DOL has proposed new home inspector fees in WAC 308-408A-090 (proposed rule WSR 26-19-136), to take effect January 1, 2027. It held the public hearing on October 27, 2026. As of November 11, 2026, DOL's rulemaking page still lists the change as proposed, and no adoption has been posted. These figures are not law yet:

If the proposal is adopted as written, a new inspector's state fees would rise from $1,020 to $1,231. Check DOL's fee page before you pay.

How long it takes

Most of the time goes into the course and the field training. A 120-hour classroom course is three weeks of full days at the fastest, and longer if it runs on evenings or weekends. The 40 hours of field training depend on how quickly your mentor books 5 complete inspections. After that, exam approval, testing and license processing add a few weeks.

Two clocks matter. Your education must fall within the 2 years before you apply for the exam, and a passing score lasts 1 year. Do not pass the exam and then wait a year to apply. For a wider view of timelines by state, see how long it takes to become a home inspector.

What home inspectors earn in Washington

BLS does not publish a figure for home inspectors alone. The closest data is for SOC 47-4011, construction and building inspectors, which also covers municipal building, electrical and plumbing inspectors.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Washington's median for this occupation is well above the national figure. Self-employed inspectors are not in OEWS data, so your own income depends on your fee, volume and costs. See the home inspector salary guide for how fees turn into income.

Keeping your Washington license

Your license expires every 2 years on your birthday. The first term can be short, because a new license expires on your second birthday after issue. DOL mails a notice about 60 days out, and you can renew up to 120 days early.

You need 24 hours of DOL-approved continuing education per 2-year period. DOL does not accept CE from another profession or another state unless the course is DOL-approved, and unused hours do not carry over. Renewal costs $415, or $485 late, at current fees. DOL's proposal would raise the renewal fee to $519 from January 1, 2027. DOL advises finishing CE first and paying the late fee if needed, since the renewal form asks you to attest that the CE is done. More on course options in home inspector continuing education.

What is specific to Washington

The August 2026 rule changes. New rules took effect on August 8, 2026. Field training must now be supervised by an inspector with 4 years of licensure. Your pre-inspection agreement must include your contact information and license number, plus the property address, your fee, what you will and will not inspect, and a statement that mold, asbestos, lead paint, water, soil and air quality are excluded unless agreed in writing. The Standards of Practice in WAC 308-408C also changed. If your agreement lives in software, add the license number field now. Binsr's agreements, for example, support multiple signers and an audit trail, but the wording is yours to update.

Wood-destroying insects need a separate license. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) licenses Structural Pest Inspectors. Its FAQ says a home inspector must report wood decay and conducive conditions, but "CANNOT inspect for or report on the presence of wood destroying insects" without a Structural Pest Inspector license. Complete WDO inspections for a sale need the SPI General and SPI Practical exams, an Inspection Control Number on each report, and $25,000 of E&O or bond cover (or one of WSDA's other options). See WDO vs WDI inspections.

Septic inspections at sale. Under WAC 246-272A-0270, beginning February 1, 2027, owners must get an on-site sewage system inspection at property transfer from a third-party inspector authorized by the local health officer. Snohomish County has required one since November 1, 2026: a full septic system inspection by a certified septic contractor within the past 12 months before closing. That authorization is local, so ask your county health department. See how to become a septic inspector.

No insurance mandate, and no repairs for a year. DOL does not require insurance or a bond, but read our home inspector insurance guide before relying on that. The Standards of Practice bar you from repairing, replacing or upgrading components on a property for pay within 1 year of inspecting it.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• How to become a home inspector
• Home inspector license requirements by state
• How to become a home inspector in Oregon
• How to become a home inspector in Idaho
• How to start a home inspection business

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