Introduction

The National Institute of Building Inspectors® Online Learning Program (NIBI® Online) offers courses designed to help prepare students for a career in home inspections and to provide continuing education opportunities for individuals currently performing home inspections.  NIBI Online courses will:

• Provide an introduction to the home inspection industry

• Provide background information on standard residential construction, materials and installation practices

• Identify special concerns and issues related to specific house components

• Review resources, tools, and equipment used for home inspections

• Review common safety concerns and personal protection issues

• Provide general guidelines on inspection procedures

• Cover common reporting and communication issues

• Provide links to additional resources and references

Online training allows learning to take place at the student’s own pace without the added cost of travel, and lodging, or the lost business time and opportunities that occur with traditional classroom programs. In addition, studies show that online learning programs can provide a 20-30% increase in information retention compared with traditional classroom instructional methods.

Performance Objectives

Upon successful completion of all the NIBI Online core home inspection courses, students (inspector trainees) should have a basic knowledge of the issues that must be addressed in a home inspection.  This includes the ability to:

• Recognize and describe basic residential construction materials and techniques.

• Inspect a home pursuant to general industry standards.

• Utilize basic inspection tools and equipment.

• Identify common defects found in residential construction.

• Understand the significance of component defects.

• Determine the appropriate remedial recommendations.

• Report on inspection findings in an appropriate manner.

• Know how to locate additional resources and reference materials.

Students successfully completing all courses will have: 

• A basic knowledge of the information typically found in  standard home inspection exams

• An alternate means of obtaining membership or continuing education credits (where approved

Note:   Completion of the NIBI Online Learning program is only one component of the requirements needed to enter the home inspection industry.  Additional research, training, and field work must be completed to complement the basic educational information provided in NIBI Online courses.  The actual benefits derived from completed courses will depend on the individual student's ablility, motivation, program usage, and other factors.  

Many states and organizations are in the ongoing process of reviewing their policies and approvals for online courses.  Many of the course approvals are listed in the course catalog.  If you plan to take a NIBI Online course to meet the requirements for licensing, continuing education, or membership in an organization, confirm that the course you select has been approved by the appropriate agency or organization.  

  Click here to review additional features of the NIBI Online Learning System