How to Become a Home Inspector in Tennessee (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | Brad Fishbein Reviewed by Brad Fishbein, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA1408), Council-certified Microbial Investigator

Tennessee employs about 2,500 home inspectors earning a median $59,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Inspector here means completing a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Home Inspector Schools in Tennessee

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
169.9$8,160 in-state / $14,610 out-of-state$58,40784%—312 mi
255.7$3,675 in-state / $8,556 out-of-state$48,98041%Yes*324 mi
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355.0$3,524 in-state / $6,092 out-of-state$50,46932%Yes*220 mi
454.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*243 mi
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553.6$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state$44,49043%Yes*160 mi
651.3$3,980 in-state / $7,190 out-of-state$44,75434%Yes*222 mi
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751.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*186 mi
849.2$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state$53,36940%Yes*286 mi
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947.9$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state$40,96449%Yes*216 mi
1046.8$3,380 in-state / $5,948 out-of-state$37,26565%Yes*317 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Tennessee employs approximately 2,500 home inspectors according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,870 1. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Home Inspector in Tennessee, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: home-inspector training program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary
  • Exam: state home-inspector exam where required; otherwise ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI
  • Median wage (Tennessee): $59,870 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Inspector in Tennessee

How to become a Home Inspector in Tennessee? Complete a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do home inspectors earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Tennessee is $59,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,670 and experienced professionals can earn $84,600 or more 1.

How to Become a Home Inspector in Tennessee

  1. Complete inspector training. Finish a home-inspector course. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Hour totals vary; confirm with the program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Pass a state exam only where the state licenses inspectors. Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Tennessee licenses this occupation.
  3. Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials. Those credentials help hiring. They do not replace a state license in states that license the occupation.
  4. Confirm with a real board only. Do not treat a contractor class as the inspector credential. Confirm current rules with the employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Home Inspector License Requirements in Tennessee

Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Tennessee licenses this occupation. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Typical path

  1. Complete a home-inspector course.

  2. Pass the state exam only in states that license home inspectors.

  3. Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Home Inspector Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Construction and Building Inspectors Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction and building inspectors wages in Tennessee vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin790$61,310$65,160$44,910$93,270
Memphis570$59,750$62,680$42,870$89,420
Knoxville440$58,150$59,070$39,520$82,540
Chattanooga170$55,620$57,800$39,960$81,330
Clarksville110$62,850$64,740$45,480$81,220
Kingsport-Bristol110$56,820$59,430$39,400$77,830
Jackson60$54,450$58,960$43,070$81,190
Johnson City30$50,720$57,370$36,940$90,200
Morristown30$56,300$54,040$30,420$77,490

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for home inspectors in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 2,500 home inspectors 1. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a home inspector in Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

What training programs are available in Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Tennessee.

How much do home inspectors earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Tennessee is $59,870, which is $12,250 below the national median of $72,120 according to BLS data 1.

In Tennessee

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

Citations

Brad Fishbein Licensed Mold Assessor

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He is the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad helps homeowners and tradespeople make informed decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)