Construction and building inspectors are responsible for ensuring that buildings, highways and other construction site structures comply with the building codes, ordinances, zoning regulations and contract specifications declared by the state. Construction inspectors inspect the quality of the building structure and determine the safety of the buildings. The construction inspector will return to the site upon completion of the project to inspect the foundation and conduct a final inspection. There are steps which must be completed prior to becoming an inspector. Texas has specific requirements which must be met to obtain license and certification.

Complete the steps necessary to obtain a high school diploma or GED. This is the first requirement in obtaining a building inspector certification license in construction.

Obtain post-secondary educational training. An example would be a certificate from a community college or career technical school in the fields of building inspection, home inspection, construction technology, drafting, and mathematics.

Enroll in an apprentice program to receive on-the-job training in order to observe inspection procedures on construction sites and to learn how to complete the necessary paperwork required.

Provide documentation to prove that you are a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien and a resident of Texas when the application is filed.

Provide documentation to prove that you are 18 years of age.

Pass a background investigation conducted by the Texas Department of Safety.

Complete 128 classroom hours of core real estate inspection courses in an experience training module prior to submitting an application for an inspector license. Eight hours must be in the study of standards of practice.

Make a choice between the three-tier progression path or the education and experience waiver path for obtaining license.

Under the three-tier progression path you must have been actively licensed as a real estate inspector for at least 12 months during the two-year period prior to filing the professional application and you also must have completed 200 inspections. This could have been by sponsorship by a qualified, eligible licensed professional inspector. That inspector must join the applicant in making the application. The professional inspector must have accepted responsibility for the apprentice's inspection activities.

Under the education and experience waiver path you must complete an additional 200 classroom hours of core inspector education.

You must meet one of the following requirements in addition to the mandatory 328 hours: Must complete120 hours in an experience training module which provides a course completion certificate; or 120 hours inspecting with a qualified eligible licensed professional inspector who will provide a letter certifying attendance; or five years of personal experience in a field directly related to home inspecting, providing two reference letters from persons other than the applicant who has personal knowledge of the applicant’s work. Each reference letter must be from a different source and include a contact number and signature.

If you do not meet the requirements of step ten, you may instead complete eight hours in the Standards of Practice/Legal/Ethics; eight hours in Standard Report Form/Report Writing; and you must have had at least three years of experience as an active practicing licensed or registered architect, professional engineer, or engineer-in-training with a license history documenting active practice.

Upon completion of the above requirements file form REI 6-9 for the professional inspector license with the state of Texas. Send the form to: Texas Real Estate Commission - P.O. Box 12188 - Austin, TX 78711-2188.

Pay the required fees. The fee should be submitted in the form of a single check or money order payable to the Texas Real Estate Commission.

Once your application has been received, processed and accepted, you will receive notification that you may obtain a copy of the Candidate Information Brochure to register for the exam. The CIB will provide instructions on how to schedule to take the examination and contains study material and instructions about licensing. Do not attempt to register for the exam without first receiving notification from this office. If an applicant fails the exam 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 months from the date the last exam was failed. An application is valid for six months from date of receipt; if exam is not passed within this time period the application will terminate and you will be required to meet current requirements to reapply.

Provide proof of liability insurance upon passing the exam. Upon passing the exam you must provide proof of liability insurance before an active license will be issued. Insurance information should be submitted to TREC by mail or fax (512-465-3913) using the TREC Certificate of Insurance form.