A 30-day study plan for the home inspector exam

This is a sample schedule, not a rule. Some people need more time, especially without construction experience. Adjust it to your exam date and finish your state's required education first.

Days 1 to 3: get a baseline

Read the exam format overview and your state's rules.
Try the free practice questions without notes and write down your weakest systems.

Days 4 to 20: study by system

Cover one or two topics a day from the study guide. Spend the most time on the systems that dominate the outline: structure, electrical, roof, plumbing, heating and cooling. After each lesson, answer 20 to 30 questions on that topic and read every explanation, including the ones you got right.

Days 21 to 26: mixed practice

Switch to mixed sets so you practice spotting which system a question is about.
Keep a short list of missed concepts and review it daily. Use the glossary for unfamiliar terms.
Don't skip reporting, scope limitations and ethics; those questions are easy points to lose.

Days 27 to 29: full timed mocks

Take full-length timed mock exams to build focus for a long test. Review the misses the same day. Practice scores are estimates, not official scores.

Day 30: rest and logistics

Light review only. Confirm your ID, test center and arrival time on the official exam site.

Want daily practice sets and timed mock exams? Try the free sample or see study plans.

Sample plan only. No guarantee of results; your outcome depends on your own preparation.