Working independently or for a company, an insurance inspector identifies problems that may result in future claims. While not always required, a college degree in engineering or law enforcement is a plus. Large insurance companies provide on-the-job training, but you can also take an independent course to gain additional background about the field. Some states require special certification to be a home insurance inspector.

Earn a College Degree

You can become a home insurance inspector without going to college, but a degree will make you more marketable. Pursuing an education in engineering or construction management will give you important foundational courses to help with this job. Common coursework covers these topics:

• Construction management
• Electrical engineering
• Building codes
• Safety procedures
• Residential and commercial building
• Concrete and masonry
• Land, route and construction surveying
• Mechanical systems
• Statics and strength of materials
• Construction estimating
• Structural components of construction
• Engineering
• Structural analysis
• Finite elements methods
• Steel structures
• Reinforced concrete
• Earthquake engineering
• Probabilistic load and design
• Fracture and fatigue
• Civil engineering
• Course modeling
• Truss analysis
• Wind effects on structures

Review the Insurance Inspector Job Description

Insurance inspector training leads to a job in which you will try to help an insurance company save money. A strong understanding of building and maintenance issues will help you determine structural and environmental issues that need to be fixed. A proactive approach to building upkeep will lower premiums and reduce claims. Strong attention to detail, writing skills and technical knowledge are all essential for this position.

Begin Working in the Field

The best way to become a home insurance inspector is to get a job with an insurance company. Once you get your foot in the door, express your interest in working in this area. The company may offer you free claims adjuster training or allow you to shadow an experienced inspector. Once you’re established, you can consider opening an independent consulting business.

Take Insurance Inspector Training

In addition to a college degree, you may want to take an insurance inspector training course. You can even take an online catastrophe adjuster training. It’s important to look into insurance adjuster licensing requirements, since only 13 states don’t have specific guidelines. You can take a comprehensive course that will cover all aspects of the job. Here’s a sample of some of the subjects you might study:

• Claims adjustment process
• Aspects of health and accident insurance
• Life insurance
• Automobile insurance
• Mathematics for claims adjustment
• Liability insurance
• Catastrophe insurance
• Legal and ethical issues
• Safety concerns of inspection
• Computer and technical tools
• Insurance ethics fundamentals
• Underwriting

Establish a Positive Reputation

If you want to excel in this field, you’ll need to demonstrate mastery of building inspection issues and be timely with your findings. If you’re working independently, showing that you performed your due diligence in your work will lead to more job assignments and references that can help you increase your client list.

Look at the Potential Salary

As of 2020, insurance inspectors can expect an average annual salary of $68,130, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest reporting earnings were $41,950, and the highest was as much as $103,610. If you work on your own, your income will be contingent on the relationships that you build with companies and prospective clients. Licensing and special certifications may increase your pay potential.

Consider the Job Outlook

For a home insurance inspector, a slight decrease in jobs of 4.2 percent is expected between now and 2028. Technology and predictive modeling impact the demand for these positions. Natural disasters and a projected increase in health insurance claims may balance the decline.