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Maryland Home Inspector License Requirements (2026)

Gabriel Giner

By Gabriel Giner, Editor  ·  Reviewed 2026-06-29  ·  CLR Editorial Review Desk

Maryland licenses home inspectors at the state level. An individual must hold a Home Inspector License issued by the Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies and Home Inspectors before providing home inspection services in the State. The Commission operates within the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, under the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 16, and COMAR Title 09, Subtitle 36. To qualify, an applicant must provide evidence of a high school diploma, GED, or higher education, complete 72 hours of a Commission-approved on-site, classroom-based home inspector training course, pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) administered by PSI, and carry at least $150,000 in general liability insurance with the applicant's name on the Certificate of Insurance. The license is issued for a two-year term.

The Licensing Authority

Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies and Home Inspectors is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 16 (Home Inspectors); COMAR Title 09, Subtitle 36. State commission within the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, that licenses and regulates home inspectors. An individual must be licensed by the Commission before providing home inspection services in the State.

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 0 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No state residency requirement is stated on the official source; out-of-state applicants must meet the same standard qualifications.

Good moral character

Applicants with felony or misdemeanor convictions must submit certified (True Test) copies of the conviction proceedings, which are evaluated case by case and do not automatically disqualify the applicant.

Background investigation

No fingerprint or criminal background check is listed as a routine requirement. Applicants with a conviction history must disclose it and submit certified copies of the conviction proceedings for case-by-case review.

Disqualifying conditions

Experience and Education Requirements

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is 72 hours of a Commission-approved on-site, classroom-based home inspector training course. No statutory supervised or parallel field-inspection requirement applies; the 72-hour approved training course is required instead..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

  • Certificate of completion for the 72-hour Commission-approved training course
  • Evidence of a high school diploma, GED, or higher education (transcripts or diploma)
  • Passing NHIE score report

Education substitution

None stated; the 72-hour Commission-approved course is mandatory and is not waivable by years of experience on the official source.

The Licensing Examination

There is no statewide written trade test for this credential in the cited record; the controlling process is: PSI Examination Services

Examination fee: Set by PSI; not published on the Commission site

Retake policy: Scheduling, fees, and retake policies are governed by PSI; consult the PSI Home Inspection Candidate Bulletin for current details. The Commission requires submission of a passing NHIE score report.

Financial Security and Insurance

For this credential the financial-responsibility question is one of professional liability coverage, not a contractor surety bond. The state-specific position is detailed below.

General liability

E&O insurance is not specifically required. Maryland requires proof of general liability insurance of at least $150,000, with the applicant's name appearing on the Certificate of Insurance. Proof of this coverage is also required to renew.

Workers' compensation

Not addressed by the Commission as a licensing prerequisite; standard Maryland workers' compensation law applies to any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

Not required.

Fee Schedule

Fee Amount
Application (non-refundable)$50
Initial license$325
Renewal (every 2 years)No separate state fee

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Maryland home inspector.

License Renewal

The Home Inspector License must be renewed every 2 years. A standalone statewide renewal fee is not published in the cited record. Licenses are issued for a two-year term. The renewal fee amount is not confirmed: one record reported $325 while two could not confirm it, so verify the current renewal fee with the Commission before filing.

Continuing education: 30 hours of continuing professional competency (CPC) education per renewal cycle, not required for the first renewal (COMAR Title 09, Subtitle 36). Proof of $150,000 general liability insurance is also required to renew.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Maryland Home Inspector License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Whether Maryland recognizes a home inspector licensed elsewhere — and on what terms — is detailed below.

Reciprocal State Accepted Exam Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Out-of-state inspectors generally must meet Maryland's standard requirements: the 72-hour Commission-approved course, the NHIE exam, and $150,000 general liability insurance. One reviewing record reported that the Commission publishes a reciprocal home inspector license application form, but the specific qualifying-state criteria were not detailed and reciprocity could not be confirmed on the official pages consulted. Applicants should confirm reciprocal eligibility directly with the Commission before relying on it.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Home Inspector license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Home Inspector Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Maryland's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

The Licensing Roadmap

  1. Confirm baseline eligibility. Obtain evidence of a high school diploma, GED, or higher education. No minimum age is stated on the official source.
  2. Complete the 72-hour approved course. Enroll in and complete a Maryland Commission-approved on-site, classroom-based home inspector training course totaling 72 hours, and retain the certificate of completion.
  3. Pass the National Home Inspector Examination. Register with PSI Examination Services, sit for the NHIE, and obtain a passing score report to submit with the application.
  4. Obtain general liability insurance. Secure at least $150,000 in general liability insurance and obtain a Certificate of Insurance showing the applicant's name.
  5. Submit the original license application. File the Apply for an Original Home Inspector License application with the $50 non-refundable application review fee and the $325 two-year license fee, attaching the course certificate, education evidence, NHIE score report, and Certificate of Insurance.
  6. Maintain and renew the license. Renew every two years, providing proof of $150,000 general liability insurance and, after the first renewal, 30 hours of continuing professional competency education.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

  • PSI Home Inspection Candidate Bulletin — PSI Examination Services. Official candidate bulletin for scheduling and details on the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE).
  • Maryland Commission-approved 72-hour home inspector training course — Commission-approved providers. Required on-site, classroom-based course; confirm provider approval with the Commission before enrolling.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies and Home Inspectors, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

Common Application Pitfalls

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Maryland Home Inspector application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Carrying the wrong insurance

Maryland requires at least $150,000 in general liability insurance, not E&O specifically, and the applicant's name must appear on the Certificate of Insurance.

Assuming online courses qualify

The 72-hour training course must be a Commission-approved on-site, classroom-based course; confirm a provider's approval status before paying tuition.

Relying on an unconfirmed renewal fee or reciprocity

The renewal fee and reciprocity terms conflict across records and were not confirmed on official pages; verify both directly with the Commission before filing.

Overlooking continuing education timing

30 hours of CPC education is not required for the first renewal but is required for every renewal thereafter; failing to track hours can delay renewal.

Other Maryland Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Maryland trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Maryland require a license to perform home inspections?

Yes. Maryland licenses home inspectors at the state level. An individual must be licensed by the Maryland Commission of Real Estate Appraisers, Appraisal Management Companies and Home Inspectors before providing home inspection services in the State.

What education and exam are required?

Applicants must provide evidence of a high school diploma, GED, or higher education, complete 72 hours of a Commission-approved on-site, classroom-based training course, and pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), which is administered by PSI Examination Services.

What insurance must a Maryland home inspector carry?

Maryland requires proof of general liability insurance of at least $150,000, with the applicant's name on the Certificate of Insurance. Errors-and-omissions insurance is not specifically required, and no surety bond is required.

How much does the license cost and how long is it valid?

The Commission charges a $50 non-refundable application review fee plus a $325 license fee for the two-year cycle. The NHIE exam fee is set by PSI and is not published on the Commission site, and course tuition is separate.

Is continuing education required to renew?

Continuing education is not required for the first renewal. After that, 30 hours of continuing professional competency (CPC) education is required for each two-year renewal cycle under COMAR Title 09, Subtitle 36, along with proof of $150,000 general liability insurance.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

  1. Maryland Commission - Home Inspector License Requirements
  2. Apply for an Original Home Inspector License
  3. Home Inspectors Licensing FAQs
  4. Taking the Exam (PSI / National Home Inspector Examination)
  5. Renew or Reinstate a Home Inspector License
  6. Forms & Fees
  7. Commission home page

Verified 2026-06-29  ·  Next scheduled review 2026-09-27