·  Reference: Complete Rules Governing Inspectors

1. Citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
2. Resident of Texas at the time application is filed
3. Sponsored by a licensed professional inspector
4. At least 18 years of age
5. Found to be honest, trustworthy, & possessing integrity (Background Investigation through DPS)
6. Qualifies in one of the following ways:

A. Has been actively licensed as an Apprentice for 3 months during the 12 month period prior to filing the inspector application AND has completed 90 classroom hours of core real estate inspection courses AND has completed 25 inspections while licensed as an apprentice under the direct supervision of the sponsoring professional; or
B. Has completed 120 classroom hours of core real estate inspection courses. Of the 120 hours, 30 hours of core inspector education must contain 10 hours credit EACH for the structural, mechanical (including appliances, plumbing, and HVAC components), and electrical systems found in improvements to real property; or
C. Has completed 90 classroom hours of core real estate inspection courses AND has three years of experience as a licensed or registered architect, professional engineer, or engineer-in-training or
D. Has completed 90 classroom hours of core real estate inspection courses AND can provide two reference letters documenting at least five years of personal experience inspecting, installing, servicing, repairing or maintaining each of the structural, mechanical and electrical systems found in improvements to real property. Documentation of experience must be in verified form and from persons other than the applicant who have personal knowledge of the applicant's occupation and work.

7. File the Real Estate Inspector License Application form
8. Pass exam within 6 months of filing application

$45.00 (+ $20.00 eval. fee if not paid within previous 1 year) = $65.00
$59.00 exam fee paid to PSI when scheduling exam
$100.00 Recovery Fund paid to TREC after exam is passed

• Three hours, 150 questions, multiple choice
  
• Six months to pass test after applying
  
• May take 3 times during six months
  
• No required waiting time between tests

Fee:

Education for Renewal:
NOTE: Increase in Education Hours Required as of January, 2006:
To renew your license on ACTIVE status, you must have completed 16 classroom hours of commission-approved core/continuing education real estate inspection courses during each twelve month period between your most recent license expiration date and your next license expiration date.

You must submit copies of course completion certificates to TREC PRIOR to renewing online. If you have NOT completed the required classroom hours, your license will automatically be renewed on an INACTIVE status.
Form Required: Original Renewal Form, Duplicate Renewal Form, or Letter

Renewal length: Two years

NOTE: Increase in Education Hours Required as of January, 2006:
Up to two years after license expiration, an individual can file another application for a license with no additional examination required; however, at least 16 hours of commission-approved core real estate inspection courses are required.

Any business day

1. An application must be filed through the sponsorship of a Texas Professional Inspector who is qualified to sponsor applicants and who currently holds an ACTIVE license. The Sponsoring Professional Inspector should determine that the application is complete in all respects before it is filed. An application for a Real Estate Inspector license is considered the responsibility of the sponsoring professional inspector; all communications will be sent to the permanent mailing address provided with this application. The application is NOT TRANSFERABLE. A sponsoring professional inspector cannot be changed during the processing of an application. If an applicant desires a different sponsoring professional inspector, a new application and fees must be filed with the Commission.



2. To be eligible to file an application for a Real Estate Inspector License, an individual must be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien, eighteen (18) years of age or older and a legal resident of Texas.



3. The filing of an application authorizes an investigation of the applicant's background. Information revealed in an investigation may be cause for disapproval of an application even though other requirements for a license are met. If an investigation is necessary, it may not be conducted until the applicant has passed the examination.



4. The Real Estate Inspector applicant must have been licensed as an Apprentice Inspector for at least 90 days; show evidence of having performed at least 25 inspections under the direct supervision of a Professional Inspector qualified to sponsor; proof of completion of at least 90 classroom hours in "core real estate inspection courses" approved by the Commission. Evidence of successful completion of the courses shall be presented via credit transcript or certificate accompanying the application.

An alternative to being previously licensed as an Apprentice Inspector and having performed at least 25 inspections, a Real Estate Inspector applicant may substitute additional education or experience in a related field.

• The education alternative:

The Real Estate Inspector applicant utilizing the education alternative would need to complete an additional 30 hours of education in "core real estate inspection courses" with 10 hours of credit each for the structural, mechanical (including appliances, plumbing, and HVAC components) and electrical systems found in improvements to real property. This means that this path requires a total of 120 hours of education.

• The experience alternative:

The Real Estate Inspector applicant utilizing the experience alternative would need to have three years of experience as a licensed or registered architect, professional engineer, or engineer-in-training or can provide two reference letters documenting at least five years of personal experience inspecting, installing, servicing, repairing or maintaining each of the structural, mechanical and electrical systems found in improvements to real property. Documentation of experience must be in verified form and from persons other than the applicant who have personal knowledge of the applicant's occupation and work. Also required in this path would be the regular 90 hours of core inspector education.

The form, Request for Evaluation of Inspector Experience and Education Documents must be submitted prior to submitting an application. A fee of $20.00 is required if not paid during the last 12 months. The fee should be submitted in the form of a single check or money order payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission. Submit copies of transcripts and/or course completion certificates. Keep the original(s) for your personal files. Educational documents may be retained by the commission only for a short period of time and will not be returned.

5. A FILING FEE OF $45.00 MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE TIME OF FILING AN APPLICATION. AN APPLICATION RECEIVED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE FEE WILL BE REJECTED AND RETURNED. The fee should be submitted in the form of a single personal check, cashiers check or money order payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission.

THE FEE LISTED ABOVE IS NONREFUNDABLE. Fees not pertaining to this application should NOT accompany the application.

6. License examinations are administered by PSI, a testing service company. Once your application has been received, processed and accepted, you will receive notification that you may obtain a copy of the Candidate Information Brochure (CIB) to register for the exam. The CIB will provide instructions on how to make reservations to take the examination and contains study material and instructions about licensing. A copy of the CIB can be downloaded from the PSI web site at http://www.psiexams.com. Please DO NOT attempt to register for the exam without first receiving notification from our office.

Note: The license examination must be passed within six (6) months from the date the application for a license is filed or the application terminates. IF A LICENSE APPLICANT FAILS THE EXAMINATION THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAME APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT MAY NOT APPLY FOR REEXAMINATION OR SUBMIT A NEW LICENSE APPLICATION WITH THE COMMISSION FOR SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE DATE HE OR SHE FAILED THE LAST EXAMINATION.

7. Upon successful completion of the examination and final processing of the application, the applicant must pay a fee of $100.00 into the Real Estate Inspection Recovery Fund which exists to compensate persons who successfully sue a real estate inspector and then find inadequate attachable financial resources to satisfy the judgement. The fund is not and should not substitute for liability insurance or errors and omission insurance which the inspector might be wise to carry. DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FEE UNTIL THE COMMISSION REQUESTS IT.



8. State law prohibits the renewal of a license if a licensee has defaulted on a student loan guaranteed by the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TGSLC) unless the licensee has entered into a repayment agreement with TGSLC. YOU SHOULD CONTACT TGSLC BEFORE FILING THIS APPLICATION if you have defaulted on a student loan. An application or renewal may be rejected if this agency has received information from TGSLC that the applicant has defaulted on a student loan. The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation can be reached at:

Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation
P.O. Box 15996
Austin, Texas 78761-5996
Telephone: 1-800-222-6297

9. The time involved in processing an application depends on work volume. Inquiry as to the status of an application delays processing. Inquiry should not be made unless there is reason to believe that information submitted to the Commission has not been received.

NOTE: An incomplete application might not be returned for completion. In such a case, a letter will be mailed requesting the additional information.