Home inspectors in California are not regulated, therefore licensing is not a requirement.  Only certifications are available in  California.  Further, insurance is not required because there is no licensing or regulatory oversight.
Do I have your attention?? 

You should use home inspectors that are certified by a recognized certification organization that requires members to earn continuing education credits. ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)  and CREIA (California Real Estate Inspection Association) are 2 highly recognized organizations in California.  ASHI requires 20 CEC’s to maintain membership and CREIA requires 30 CEC’s.  Both organizations require a proctored exam to establish membership. The pass rate on these exams is approximately 42%.

Keep in mind that there are other organizations available that offer certifications, however they may not have requirements like proctored testing and CEC’s.  Rumor has it, that these other organizations offer online testing that can be taken numerous times until the individual passes the test!

Insurance is also not a requirement in California.  E & O and general liability insurance is available for home inspectors from a variety of carriers.  Limits vary from $300,000 to $1,000,000.  The bottom line is if the home inspector is not covered neither are you!

There are only two reasons that a home inspector is not covered. He / she chooses not to carry insurance, or they have been canceled by the insurance company for numerous claims.

When purchasing a home, it is always a good idea to get a full home inspection from one that is certified by either ASHI and / or CREIA and insured.

If you have any questions on this or any real estate matter, feel free to give me a call.

Scott Ivey Real Estate @ 916-899-4839

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