More than 4 million homes are sold in the U.S. each year, and the American Society of Home Inspectors estimates that around 77% of them undergo a home inspection. That’s a huge market of potential clients; are you ready to become a home inspector and join the lucrative marketplace?

Here are the steps you should take to become a home inspector.

Check your state requirements

The path to becoming a home inspector varies by state. 39 states require a specific license. Check this free map from the National Association of Home Inspectors, or NAHI, to learn about the pre-requisites in your state.

To obtain a license, you may need to complete a certain number of course hours, successfully perform a set number of supervised inspections, pass an exam, prove your citizenship, obtain liability insurance or some combination of all of these.

You may opt to enroll in a hands-on home inspector education course that will give you on-site training and count toward your required number of course hours.

Join a professional organization

It’s not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended that you join a professional association as you set off on your path to becoming a home inspector.

Not only does this show potential clients that you’re legitimate, you’ll also have access to a wealth of learning materials, courses, forums and ongoing support from veteran home inspectors.

There are many professional organizations to choose from; the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) are all highly regarded and a great place to start.

Get certified

Once you’ve obtained the appropriate license to operate in your state, the next step is to get certified. You can do this through one of the professional groups named above.

Just as it’s not mandatory for a physician to be board certified, certification is not required to be a home inspector. However, it demonstrates your expertise and shows potential clients you’re a trusted professional.

Obtain a Tax ID

If you’re going to be earning income from your home inspections (and we certainly hope you are!), you’ll need a tax ID from the federal government.

Your local chapter of the Small Business Association (SBA) or the non-profit organization SCORE can help walk you through the steps and provide guidance for getting your business off the ground in your community.

The type of business you choose to run is up to you, whether you’re self-employed, work with a partner or decide to incorporate.

Market yourself

The hard part is over; now the fun starts. Marketing yourself as a home inspector is an ongoing job.

Luckily, you’ve got plenty of resources–many of them completely free–at your disposal through Inspector Pages.

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