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How do I get a home inspector license in Illinois?

If you are starting out, Illinois asks you to be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED. You then finish a 60-hour pre-license course and a field course, and pass a written exam. The fee to apply is $250.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Age 18 or older, with a high school diploma or GEDThe agency's chart lists both as minimums for this license.
Verified. idfpr.illinois.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Course hours
60-hour course plus a field course: 5 field inspections and a final field examinationThe field course is a separate course from the 60-hour one.
Same source and date as above
Cost
$250 application feeThe chart lists this fee beside the other minimums.
Same source and date as above
Scheduled repeal
Listed among the Acts repealed on January 1, 2032The list is Section 4.42 of 5 ILCS 80.
Verified. www.ilga.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check the basics. You must be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or a GED.

  2. Step 2. Choose a school that DFPR, the licensing agency, has approved and licensed. Before you can sit for the exam, you must finish 60 hours of pre-license classes and at least 5 field events with such a provider.

  3. Step 3. Take the 60-hour pre-license course, then the pre-license field course. The field course holds 5 field inspections and a final field test.

  4. Step 4. Pass the written licensing exam. The agency lets you sit for it only after the classes and field work are done.

  5. Step 5. Apply and pay the $250 fee the agency lists.

Before you pay

We haven't confirmed course prices or the exam fee. This page rests on the agency's license chart and its one-page summary of the Act. The repeal date comes from the Illinois General Assembly's text of Public Act 104-0746.

Before you pay a school, check that DFPR has licensed it as an education provider.

Questions

Is the Illinois Home Inspector License Act still set to end in 2027?

No. The bill was introduced to change the repeal date to January 1, 2032, rather than January 1, 2027. The enacted text lists the Act among those repealed on January 1, 2032. Public Act 104-0746 says it takes effect upon becoming law.

Does my company need a license too?

Yes, if it runs as a corporation, an LLC or a legally formed partnership. The agency says all home inspectors must be licensed, firms included.

How many continuing hours do I need?

The agency lists the equivalent of 6 hours per year, or 12 hours per renewal, from a provider it has approved and licensed.

What does a firm's first license cost?

The agency's summary lists $250 for an entity's initial license.

What to do next

Start with the agency's home inspector license chart. Then read its one-page summary of the Act.

idfpr.illinois.gov

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