Texas home inspector license overview

Texas licenses inspectors through the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). This page summarizes the general path as published by TREC as of late 2026. Rules change, so always confirm on the TREC inspector page before you enroll or pay.

License levels

TREC uses tiers, including apprentice inspector, real estate inspector and professional inspector. Each tier has its own education and experience rules, and some routes require sponsorship by a licensed professional inspector.

Education modules

TREC lists qualifying modules such as Property and Building Inspection Modules I and II, a Business Operations and Professional Responsibilities module, a Texas Standards of Practice module and a Texas Practicum. Which ones you need, and how many hours, depends on the license level and whether you use sponsored or substitute experience. Courses must come from TREC-approved providers.

Two exam parts

National part: Texas rules adopt the National Home Inspector Examination for this portion. The Texas candidate handbook lists 200 items and 240 minutes. See our exam format overview.
State part: a shorter Texas-specific exam on state law and standards of practice (the handbook lists 30 items and 45 minutes).

Eligibility for each part depends on finishing the required modules first. The handbook also limits the number of attempts before more education is required, so check the current rules.

Other steps

Fingerprints and a background check through Texas DPS.
Proof of financial responsibility (insurance) as required by TREC.
Application and fees paid to TREC and the testing vendor.

How to prepare for the national part

The national portion covers building systems, reporting and professional responsibilities. Work through our free study guide, try the free practice questions, then use timed mock exams in the practice app. Our questions are original practice items, not real exam questions, and they do not cover the Texas state portion.

See study plans

General information only, not legal or licensing advice. Sources: TREC and the Texas inspector candidate handbook, reviewed November 2026. Always verify with TREC.