If you are considering a career as a home inspector in Florida, it is essential to be familiar with the licensing requirements set by the state. This comprehensive guide will outline the steps for how to become a licensed home inspector in Florida, ensuring you are well-prepared to begin your new career in the Sunshine State.
Florida’s home inspection market continues to grow as home sales, new construction, and insurance-driven re-inspections create steady demand for licensed inspectors across the state. The steps and requirements described in this guide reflect Florida DBPR rules as of 2026.
Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements to Become a Florida Home Inspector
Before you can pursue a home inspector license in Florida, you must be at least 18 years old, and be in good moral standing. There is no citizenship requirement for licensure in Florida.
Learn how to earn any licenses in our blog on Florida’s contractor license requirements!
How will you demonstrate your good moral character? When submitting your application (see Step 5 below), you will have to undergo a background check and submit fingerprints. These checks ensure that you have no criminal history that would disqualify you from obtaining a home inspector license.
Step 2: Complete an Approved 120-Hour Home Inspection Pre-Licensing Course
Gold Coast School of Construction offers an approved 120-Hour Florida Home Inspection Course that is head-and-shoulders above the rest. The class is available on-campus or livestream via Zoom with a live instructor who is an experienced inspector and industry professional.
If you really want to learn how to be a great home inspector, and not just satisfy the 120-hour requirement, this is the course for you.
The instructor will cover topics such as:
- Structure
- Electrical systems
- HVAC systems
- Roof covering
- Plumbing systems
- Interior components
- Exterior components
- Site conditions that affect the structure
The classes are held on consecutive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sessions from 8:00am –6:00pm. There are four weekends required to complete the course.
We also offers a fifth weekend that includes the Wind Mitigation Training class, the Exam Prep Workshop, and the On-Campus Proctored State Exam. Application Assistance is also offered, if needed, so this is a one-stop shop for your Florida home inspector license!
Step 3: Obtain the Required Liability Insurance
Before you can obtain your home inspector license, you must secure general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000. This insurance will protect you from potential financial losses arising from accidents, property damage, or other unforeseen incidents during your work.
Step 4: Pass an Approved State Licensing Exam
After completing the 120-hour pre-licensing course, you will need to pass an approved state examination.
Types of Florida Home Inspector Exams
You can choose to take any of these exams:
- InterNACHI Florida Home Inspector Licensing Exam – This exam has 120 questions and you will have 1 hour to complete it. Every attempt at this exam costs $125 and can be taken at one of their proctored locations.
- Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI) – This exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and you should use their specific textbook to study, Principles of Home Inspection: Systems and Standards 3rd Ed. Update. You will have 2 hours to finish the exam which costs $200 with each attempt. This is an in-person exam.
- National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) – This exam costs about $225 depending on where you live and is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions, 25 of which are practice questions that won’t count toward your score. You will have 4 hours to finish this exam.
- Association of Construction Industry’s Certified Home & Property Inspector Exam (CI-HPI) – This exam costs $250 for in-person and $150 for online. ACICP has not released the number of test questions on its exam but it does note that test takes will have 2 hours to complete it.
Gold Coast School of Construction offers a home inspection program complete with a unique hands-on inspection experience and an exam prep workshop to get you ready for the exam.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
Once you have met the education, insurance, and examination requirements, you can submit your application for a home inspector license to the Florida DBPR.
The application process includes:
- Filling out the required application form
- Providing proof of your completed pre-licensing course
- Attesting that you have obtained general liability insurance
- Submitting a copy of your exam results
- Paying the application fee
- Obtaining a background check and fingerprints
If you would like to have your application done by a professional, Gold Coast School of Construction has a dedicated Application Services Team that can help.
Step 6: Maintain and Renew Your Florida Home Inspector License
Once you receive your Florida home inspector license, you must meet certain requirements to maintain and renew it. Licenses must be renewed every two years, and during each renewal period, you will need to complete 14 hours of continuing education from an approved provider.
Gold Coast School of Construction’s state-approved Florida home inspector continuing education programs can be completed online, live-streamed, or in-person at Florida campuses.
Ready to start your home inspector career in Florida? Enroll in our Florida Home Inspector course or contact Gold Coast School of Construction to find upcoming course dates, enrollment options, and application assistance or call 1-800-732-9140.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best home inspection courses in Florida?
Gold Coast School of Construction offers Florida’s most comprehensive home inspector pre-licensing course. Their 120-hour program is DBPR-approved and available on-campus in South Florida and as a live-streamed course via Zoom. The curriculum covers all inspection categories required by the state, plus a Wind Mitigation Training and on-campus proctored exam option.
How long does it take to get a home inspector license in Florida?
Most candidates can complete the process in six to twelve weeks: four weekends for the 120-hour course, a few weeks to schedule and sit for the exam, and several weeks for DBPR application processing. Gold Coast’s fifth-weekend package, which includes the on-campus exam, can compress the timeline significantly.
Do I need experience to become a Florida home inspector?
No prior inspection or construction experience is required to apply for a Florida home inspector license. The 120-hour pre-licensing course and licensing exam are the primary educational requirements.
Can I work as a home inspector while waiting for my Florida license?
No. Florida law prohibits performing home inspections for compensation without a valid license. Do not inspect homes commercially until your license has been issued by DBPR.
What continuing education is required to renew a Florida home inspector license?
Florida home inspector licenses renew every two years and require 14 hours of CE per cycle. Gold Coast School of Construction offers DBPR-approved home inspector CE courses.
Written by Chris Clausing. Chris Clausing is the Program Director for Gold Coast School of Construction and Curriculum and Program Innovation for Colibri Group’s Construction Education Ecosystem. Chris is a Certified General Contractor (CGC1515171) in the State of Florida with over 20 years of experience in the Construction and Inspection industries. Chris also sits as a Consensus Committee Member for the IECC helping shape the energy codes of the future as well as a LEED GA. If you have any questions, please reach out to Chris directly at Contractor@GoldCoastSchools.com.
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