To qualify for a New York home inspector license one must have "successfully completed a course of study of not less that 140 hours," and "40 of those hours must be unpaid field based," according to New York's Division of Licensing Services. Check carefully when searching for home inspecting courses to ensure they provide a qualified curriculum. The New York School of Home Inspection and Construction (nyshic.com) provides a state-approved 140 course. Kaplan Professional School (kaplanprofessionalschool.com) offers home inspection exam prep, but does not provide a state-approved home inspection course.
Home Inspecting courses are designed to give students an understanding of a home's structural elements, vital systems and local ordinances. Merrell Institute (merrellinstitute.com), located on Long Island, has five modules in its 140-hour program. Modules one to four, each 25 hours, address structure, roof, ventilation, electrical, insulation, heating, cooling, plumbing, licensing law and how to report violations. The fifth module provides 40 hours of field work. The Real Estate Education Center (reedc.com), and all other state-approved schools, use the five module approach. All real estate schools have a strict attendance policy mandated by New York.
New York requires passing a state exam to qualify for a home inspector license. The exam is based on the the state-approved curriculum. A score of at least 70 percent is considered passing. The current fee for the exam is $50 as of April, 2011. While home inspection courses prepare students to pass the state exam, extra study can help. CompuCram provides a computer based study guide for home inspection exams in New York. It provides nearly 1,000 questions and number of prep exams.
Home inspectors in New York are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their licenses. These courses provide updated information on new laws and building practices related to homes. The New York School of Home Inspection and Construction provides a number of courses designed to satisfy the continuing education requirement. The school offers one-, three-, six- and 21-hour classes. Some courses offered are Indoor Air Quality (one hour), Controlling Mold and Mildew (three hours) and Manufactured and Modular Housing (six hours).