Founded in 1976, The American Society of Home Inspectors is North America's most reputable home inspector organization. ASHI also offers on-line and classroom inspection courses. The standard ASHI School Pre-licensing Home Inspection course is available in 12 states and includes 120 hours of classroom instruction. Eighty hours are spent in-class or in-field, and 40 hours are dedicated to on-line learning. The program targets those who are freshly entering the profession and offers coursework in areas such as exteriors, interiors, furnaces, roofing, insulation, plumbing, heating, electrical systems and appliances. As of February 2011, the course costs $3,295 and students must receive a score of at least 70 percent to pass the final exam.
With classroom, on-line, and continuing education courses, the American Inspectors Training Institute offers various state-based courses of study. The organization's website also has the perk of linking users to their state licensing code information. Although pricing of the AHIT Distance Study Master Course varies by state, the range is typically just under $1,000. Since some states require continuing education to maintain licensure, AHIT's continuing education courses begin at $49, as of 2011.
Established in 1978 as the Canadian extension of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Carson Dunlap and Associates' distance learning courses may serve as a viable option for both American and Canadian students. Since 2009, Consumer Protection British Columbia requires home inspector certification. The Carson Dunlap program consists of 10 modules, each with up to 500 pages of text and illustrations. At the conclusion of the module is a self-administered quiz and a test is required at the end of each section. Once successfully completed, the student receives a certificate of completion by Carson and Dunlap. The Canadian student can apply for national certification, while the American student may enter the field or apply for state certification, depending on his state's mandatory guidelines.
Kaplan students can take a 6- or 11-day live course, or choose an on-line option. Live courses are limited to a few states. The National On-line Home Inspection Course, offered by Kaplan, costs $999 and includes 100 hours of study with a one-hour final exam, as of 2011. Kaplan's continuing studies courses are $99. Although Kaplan may not be the most cost-efficient option, Kaplan has financial aid programs for qualifying students.