FAQ’s about the Law in Pennsylvania

Until just recently, Pennsylvania had no licensing requirements for the Home Inspection Industry. Virtually anyone with a flashlight and a clipboard could call themselves a "Home Inspector"! Many did.

On December 20, 2001 however, Act 114 was passed. Among other things, this Act requires that home inspections be conducted by or be supervised by inspectors who are "full members of good standing of a national home inspection association". To attain membership, an inspector must pass the testing requirements of the association as well as have performed the required number of "fee paid" inspections.

Not All associations are created equal.

ASHI - The American Society of Home Inspectors - has very stringent testing standards; tests are taken at a test center with a proctor, and further require its candidates to have completed a minimum of 250 "fee paid" inspections before acceptance for membership. These inspections are randomly sampled and checked for compliance with the ASHI Standards of Practice.

Some of the other associations have their membership test on-line!! Can you imagine visiting a doctor or attorney who only had to pass an online test?!? Others mail the test.

Many other associations require their members to have performed only 100 fee paid inspections. And then they take their word for it. There are no compliance checks.

Don’t Be Fooled
Act 114 has been passed for your protection, but for further assurance that you are hiring a qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable inspector we strongly recommend only hiring an ASHI INSPECTOR.

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