Examination fee
In all states except Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, South Dakota and Washington State , the cost of the National Home Inspector Examination is $225. (Click on the links above for the states noted).
- Payment is required at time of online or phone registration.
- No payments are accepted at test centers.
- Examination fees are non-refundable, non-transferable and subject to change.
To change or cancel a reservation without penalty
- To change or cancel a reservation without a monetary penalty, notify PSI’s Customer Care Center no less than four business days before the scheduled examination.
- Cancellations received less than four business days before the scheduled examination will be charged the full examination fee.
- If you are absent for a scheduled examination and have not rescheduled or cancelled according to policy, the full examination fee for the missed examination session is due. You will not be permitted to take subsequent examinations until all fees owed to PSI, Inc. for previous examinations have been paid.
- If you are taking the exam through a different test administrator, contact them (See “Registration Information” section) for their policies and procedures
Permitted absence from a scheduled examination
If, on the day you are scheduled to test, you are unable to attend the examination for which you were scheduled, you may be excused for the following reasons:
- Illness, either yourself or an immediate family member
- Death in the immediate family
- Disabling traffic accident
- Court appearance or jury duty
- Military duty
Re-examination procedures
- To make an appointment for re-examination, follow the online or telephone procedures outlined above for making an examination appointment.
- You may retake the National Home Inspector Examination as many times as you wish (unless otherwise regulated by your state). However, you must wait 30 days between retakes. Each examination requires a separate fee.
Special examination arrangements and services
- EBPHI certifies that its test administrators comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USCG Section 12101, et. seq.) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000e, et. seq.) in accommodating individuals who, because of a disability, need special arrangements to enable them to take an examination. If you need special arrangements for testing because of a disabling condition, you may ask for special testing services. All examination sites have access for individuals with movement disabilities.
Any individual requesting special testing arrangements due to impaired sensory, manual, speaking skills, or other disability must submit a request to the appropriate test administrator which includes name, address, and social security number, the test date desired, test location, time of examination, and a description of the special requirements. This request must also include supporting documentation from a physician or other qualified professional reflecting a diagnosis of the condition and an explanation of the need for test aids or modifications.
- Test administrators will provide auxiliary aids and services, except where it may fundamentally alter the examination or results or result in an undue burden. Due to the unique nature of each request for special arrangements and the types of variables involved with testing (testing frequencies as permitted by each state and individual test center capabilities), an individual requesting special services should do so at least 15 business days in advance of his or her desired test date.
- Test administrators will determine the time and place of specially arranged examinations and confirm these arrangements with the individuals directly. All special examination arrangements are subject to Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors’ policies.
Reporting time
Specific reporting times will be given when you make your examination reservation. It is suggested that you report for testing at least 15 minutes before your examination appointment. Allow additional time to find the test center.
Tardiness
Individuals who arrive late for their scheduled examination forfeit their reservation. Persons excluded from testing because of lateness will be considered absent and will owe Pearson VUE the full examination fee.
What to bring
- Your confirmation number
- Two forms of signature identification, one of which must be photo-bearing, preferably a driver’s license
- Your failing score report, if you are retaking the examination
If you do not present all of the above items on examination day, you may be denied admission to the test and considered absent. You will owe the full examination fee.
At the testing center
- When you arrive at the test center, report to the test center manager. Present your confirmation number, identification, and the other required documents. The manager will request information from you and take your picture. This photograph will be printed on your score report.
- The test center manager will assign you a seat and assist you with your computerized testing unit. You will have an opportunity to go through a tutorial to become familiar with the system. The time you spend on the tutorial will not reduce the time allotted for taking your examination. When you feel comfortable, you may begin your examination.
- You are given four hours to complete the National Home Inspector Examination. The timing of the examination begins the moment you look at the first question on your examination. After four hours have elapsed, the testing unit will automatically turn off. Alert the test center manager when you have completed your test by raising your hand.
If you encounter any problem during the exam, please notify the test center manager immediately. If your problem is not addressed to your satisfaction, contact EBPHI by email at info@homeinspectionexam.org or call 847-298-7750.
Examination comments
- Should you wish to comment on any question on the exam, be sure to flag it and then follow the instructions at the end of the test. Comments are accepted only for specific, individual questions; a failing score on the NHIE is not considered grounds for comment.
- Comments on questions on the National Home Inspector Examination are reviewed by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors with the advice of its test development contractor. Should a question require modification or elimination such that failing scores might be changed, affected candidates will be rescored. In no case will resolution of candidate comments result in modification of individual candidate scores. Comment determinations that do not affect passing scores will not be applied, but may affect future versions of the exam.
Test center regulations
To ensure that all individuals are tested under equally favorable conditions, the following regulations and procedures are observed at each test center:
- No personal belongings, such as briefcases, large bags, study materials, extra books or papers, electronic pagers or cellular phones, are permitted in the testing room. Any such items brought into the testing room will be collected and returned after the test is completed. Test administrators are not responsible for lost or misplaced items.
- No one is permitted to eat, drink, or smoke during the examination.
- Under no circumstances will you be permitted to work beyond the time allotted for the examination. Time limits are generous, with ample time to answer all questions and to check all work.
- You may not leave the room during an examination without permission from the test center manager. If you need to leave the examination for any reason, no extra time will be allowed for the examination.
- Examinees using notes, books or other aids; taking part in an act of impersonation; or removing test materials or notes from the testing room, will be summarily dismissed from the examination and reported to the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors.
- Use of calculators is not permitted.
- Test center personnel are not familiar with the questions on the NHIE and have been instructed not to attempt to assist with tested material.
Nondiscrimination
EBPHI, the Board of Directors, and any subcontractors and/or vendors do not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, marital status, family status, gender identity or expression, creed, age, colour, disability, national origin, political or religious belief, or any other status protected by law.
Misconduct/Grounds for Sanctions
EBPHI has a policy for misconduct. The grounds for sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
- Violation of Board of Directors’ rules, requirements, and/or policies.
- Fraud, falsification, or misrepresentation in an initial application.
- Falsification of any material information requested by the Board.
- Misrepresentation of passage status, including abuse of logo.
- Cheating on any examination.
Actions taken under this policy do not constitute enforcement of the law, although referral to appropriate federal, provincial, or local government agencies may be made about the conduct of the individual in appropriate situations. Individuals initially bringing complaints are not entitled to any relief or damages by virtue of this process.
Cancellations and delays
Test administrations are delayed or canceled only in emergencies. If severe weather or a natural disaster makes the test center inaccessible or unsafe, the test administration may be canceled. Listen to your local radio stations for announcements and information regarding severe weather conditions that may result in test delays and/or cancellations.
How the test is scored
- Official scoring of your examination will take place immediately. You will leave the test center with your official score sheet in hand.
A criterion-referenced standard setting process is used to establish the passing point for each exam. This means that each candidate’s performance on the exam is measured against a predetermined standard. Candidates are not graded on a curve and do not compete against each other or against a quota. This passing point is established using a panel of subject matter experts who understand the content standards and the performance of candidates. Based on the difficulty rating for each item, the panel of experts sets the passing score under the guidance of a psychometrician.
The passing point for the exam is established to identify individuals with an acceptable level of knowledge and skill. Receiving a higher than passing score is not an indication of more advanced knowledge or a predictor of better job performance. All individuals who pass the exam, regardless of their score, have demonstrated an acceptable level of knowledge.
The National Home Inspector Examination is “scale scored” from 200-800, with 500 as the pass point. Scaling allows scores to be reported on a common scale. Your pass/fail status is determined by whether you answered enough questions correctly to meet or exceed the pass point of the examination.
Using your score report
- If you took this examination to qualify for licensing or other regulation in your state, contact the regulating agency to determine how to submit your passing score report.
- At test centers, you will receive one original of your score report. If you are taking the exam through a different test administrator, contact them for information about duplicate score reports.