How many questions are on the NHIE?

The NHIE has 200 multiple-choice questions and you get 4 hours. 175 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions.

What score do I need to pass the NHIE?

Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and 500 or higher passes. The scale is not the same as percent correct, so this site uses 70% correct as a practice goal.

Are these real NHIE questions?

No. NHIE questions are confidential. Every question here is an original AI practice question written from the public exam topics and checked in a separate review step.

Does every state use the NHIE?

No. Many states use it, but some use a different exam or none at all. Check your state's home inspector licensing board.

National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE)

Past exam questions and practice questions based on official past exams

Full mock exam200 questions · 240 min · 4 choices →Key conceptsAI-written · VerifiedRead the key concepts by subject and unit before you practice.1 subjects · 9 unitsOpen key concepts →

Exam info

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Type: Professional certification
Field: Construction
Provider: Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI)
Sections: Home Inspection (All Domains) (200)
Questions · Time: 200 questions · 240 min
Format: The real NHIE has 200 multiple-choice questions and you get 4 hours. 175 questions are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions mixed in at random. Questions come from three domains: Property and Building Inspection/Site Review, Analysis of Findings and Reporting, and Professional Responsibilities. Each question here has 4 answer choices with one correct answer. All questions on this site are original AI practice questions. The chapters on this site are study groupings, and chapter weights are estimates.
Passing score: The real NHIE is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, and 500 or higher passes. The scaled score is not the same as percent correct. This site uses 70% correct as a practice goal only.
Eligibility: Many U.S. states use the NHIE as part of their home inspector license. Each state sets its own rules for training hours, field inspections, and how to apply for the exam. Check your state's home inspector licensing board before you register.

Exam outline

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Tap a unit name to see its key concepts and sample questions.

Home Inspection (All Domains)200 questions

Unit 1: Site, Grounds, and Exterior★★★★☆Weight 10%Concepts
Unit 2: Roof Systems★★★★★Weight 10%Concepts
Unit 3: Structure and Foundation★★★★★Weight 10%Concepts
Unit 4: Electrical Systems★★★★★Weight 12%Concepts
Unit 5: Heating and Cooling Systems★★★★★Weight 12%Concepts
Unit 6: Plumbing Systems★★★★★Weight 12%Concepts
Unit 7: Interiors, Insulation, Ventilation, Fireplaces, and Appliances★★★★☆Weight 9%Concepts
Unit 8: Analysis of Findings and Reporting★★★★★Weight 15%Concepts
Unit 9: Professional Responsibilities★★★★☆Weight 10%Concepts

National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) study tips

Written by our team

Study order: Start with the house systems, because Property and Building Inspection/Site Review makes up most of the 200 questions. On this site that means working through structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling first, then the exterior and interior chapters. Leave Analysis of Findings and Reporting and Professional Responsibilities for last, but do not skip them.
Topics people often miss: Electrical Systems and Heating and Cooling Systems carry the largest chapter weights here and mix many safety rules, such as GFCI locations, panel defects, and combustion venting. Analysis of Findings and Reporting is tricky because more than one answer can sound reasonable; pick the one that describes the problem, says why it matters, and recommends the right specialist.
Test day tips: You get 4 hours for 200 questions, which is about 1 minute 12 seconds per question. Twenty-five of the questions are unscored pretest items, but you cannot tell which ones, so answer every question with the same care. Answer the questions you know first, then go back to the hard ones so that no question is left blank.

▼ More about National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) (trends · overview · FAQ)▲ Hide

National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) exam trends

Most NHIE questions come from Property and Building Inspection/Site Review, which covers the site, exterior, roof, structure, electrical, heating and cooling, plumbing, interiors, insulation and ventilation, fireplaces, and appliances. The other domains cover analysis of findings and reporting, and professional responsibilities such as standards of practice, ethics, and the limits of a home inspection. The chapter splits and weights on this site are study estimates, not official numbers.

Start with the house systems that make up most of the exam, one system at a time. For each defect, learn what it looks like, why it matters, and what to recommend. Finish with reporting and professional responsibilities, which are short but easy points.

National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE) Sample Questions and Explanations →

About National Home Inspector Exam (NHIE)

The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) tests the knowledge an entry-level home inspector needs: how to inspect the main systems of a house, how to judge and report what you find, and how to act as a professional. Short practice sets here let you study one system at a time, and a mock exam puts 200 questions together.

FAQ

Q. How many questions are on the NHIE?: The NHIE has 200 multiple-choice questions and you get 4 hours. 175 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions.
Q. What score do I need to pass the NHIE?: Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800, and 500 or higher passes. The scale is not the same as percent correct, so this site uses 70% correct as a practice goal.
Q. Are these real NHIE questions?: No. NHIE questions are confidential. Every question here is an original AI practice question written from the public exam topics and checked in a separate review step.
Q. Does every state use the NHIE?: No. Many states use it, but some use a different exam or none at all. Check your state's home inspector licensing board.

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