At the present time California does not require that a home inspector be licensed. It is because of this lack of licensure, that it is so important for you to choose a home inspector who has a minimum of a B-General contractors license and adheres to the NACHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The NACHI Standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a home inspection and all NACHI members agree to conduct their home inspections in accordance with the NACHI Standards of Practice/Code of Ethics. While the Standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a home inspection, the NACHI Code of Ethics sets a standard of professional behavior for members. The B-General contractor license indicates that the individual has passed the California state board exam required for a general building classification and has the experience within the field.
Before a home inspector is hired, we recommend that the consumer, “check him or her out.” Check to see if the inspector is a licensed contractor , see if the home inspector carries a membership with a national non-profit trade association, such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc. (NACHI) and if so, call to verify that the individual is a member in good standing. Check with California State License Board – click here to check a license number – CSLB and your local municipalities to see if the inspector and/or Inspection Company has had any complaints registered against them. It may take a few minutes to check out the individual, but by doing so you are making a better decision in choosing an inspector.