Trade Association Qualifications
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
All ASHI members are required to abide by the ASHI Code of Ethics, which specifically forbids home inspectors from active brokerage or sale of real estate, or performing repairs on homes that they inspect. ASHI members also agree to perform and report inspections in accordance with the ASHI Standards of Practice. Not only is the ASHI logo widely regarded as the mark of a professional home inspector, its use by the ASHI membership is also carefully controlled.
National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)
The National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) is a non-profit professional association established in 1987 to promote and develop professional standards for home inspectors and the home inspection industry. Its reputation in the industry is similar to that of ASHI, and in fact, the two organizations have discussed collaborating on a joint task force to further serve the industry and its members. NAHI members also abide by its Code of Ethics and follow its Standards of Practice.
International Code Council (ICC)
This organization was established in 1994, and is dedicated to developing the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings. Its membership association is dedicated to building safety and fire prevention. There are many membership categories, all of which allows access to the organization’s vast technical resources. To obtain one of its professional certifications, one must pass one or more of a series of exams. The exams are designed to test the participant’s knowledge of building science, technical expertise and matters related to building codes, and are considered to be some of the most challenging and rigorous in the industry. Therefore, a professional certification obtained from this organization (or ICC-certified) is acknowledged by many to be a major accomplishment.
Exterior Design Institute (EDI)
The Exterior Design Institute (EDI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training and certifying Moisture Analysts and Building Envelope/ Exterior Insulated Finish Systems (EIFS) Inspectors. Its EIFS Third Party Inspector certification program is considered one of the best in the country for training and certifying inspectors to evaluate EIFS (also known as synthetic stucco). Inspectors who obtain a professional certification by this organization (or EDI-certified) agree to practice within its established Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)
Established in 1990, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) has successfully leveraged the power of the internet and other marketing tools to amass one of the largest membership bases in the industry. A highlight of this organization is its marketing efforts dedicated to helping its members grow their businesses. It also strives to help members improve their technical knowledge by offering relevant courses online for free. While there are no requirements for an inspector to have previously completed home inspections to become “NACHI-certified”, new members are required to pass an online exam and agree to participate in a list of courses within a specified time period.