ILLINOIS HOME INSPECTOR EXAM
Questions and Answers with Rationales
Covering
1: Illinois Home Inspector License Act & Regulation
2: Standards of Practice, Scope & Ethics
3: Roofing
4: Exterior
5: Structural Systems
6: Electrical Systems
7: Plumbing Systems
8: Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
9: Insulation, Interior & Safety / Reporting
,1. Under the Illinois Home Inspector License Act, what is the minimum
age required to obtain a home inspector license?
A. 18 years old
B. 21 years old
C. 25 years old
D. There is no minimum age
Answer: B
Rationale: The Illinois Home Inspector License Act requires an applicant to be
at least 21 years of age at the time of application.
2. How many hours of pre-license education are generally required to sit
for the Illinois home inspector licensing exam?
A. 20 hours
B. 40 hours
C. 60 hours
D. 100 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Illinois requires completion of a 60-hour approved pre-license
education course covering inspection standards, systems, and components
before an applicant may test for licensure.
3. Which state agency administers and enforces the Illinois Home
Inspector License Act?
A. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
B. Illinois Department of Public Health
C. Illinois Attorney General's Office
D. Illinois Real Estate Commission
Answer: A
Rationale: IDFPR is the licensing and regulatory authority responsible for
issuing home inspector licenses and enforcing the Act and its administrative
rules in Illinois.
,4. How often must an Illinois home inspector renew their license?
A. Annually
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Illinois home inspector licenses are renewed on a two-year cycle,
and renewal requires proof of completed continuing education.
5. How many hours of continuing education (CE) are required within each
Illinois renewal period?
A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 20 hours
D. 30 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Licensees must complete 12 hours of IDFPR-approved continuing
education per two-year renewal cycle to maintain an active license.
6. Under Illinois law, is a home inspector required to carry general liability
and errors & omissions (E&O;) insurance?
A. No, insurance is optional in Illinois
B. Yes, proof of insurance meeting minimum coverage is required for
licensure
C. Only if the inspector inspects commercial property
D. Only required for inspectors who also hold a real estate license
Answer: B
Rationale: The Illinois Home Inspector License Act requires licensees to
maintain general liability insurance (and typically E&O; coverage) at
state-mandated minimum limits as a condition of licensure.
7. A home inspector in Illinois may NOT perform a home inspection on a
property if:
A. The property was built before 1978
, B. The inspector has an undisclosed financial interest in the transaction
C. The buyer is a first-time homebuyer
D. The seller is present during the inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: Illinois law and the Standards of Practice prohibit inspectors from
performing inspections where an undisclosed conflict of interest exists, since
this compromises the independence and objectivity required of the inspection.
8. Under the Illinois Act, which of the following is generally EXCLUDED
from the mandatory scope of a general home inspection?
A. Roof covering
B. Foundation
C. Swimming pools and spas
D. Electrical service panel
Answer: C
Rationale: Swimming pools, spas, and similar ancillary systems are typically
outside the mandatory scope of a standard general home inspection under
Illinois Standards of Practice unless specifically contracted for separately.
9. If a consumer believes an Illinois-licensed home inspector violated the
Act, where should the complaint be filed?
A. Local police department
B. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
C. The inspector's professional association only
D. The county recorder of deeds
Answer: B
Rationale: Complaints against licensed home inspectors are filed with and
investigated by IDFPR, which has authority to discipline licensees for violations
of the Act.
10. Which of the following is a valid disciplinary action IDFPR may take
against an Illinois home inspector for a substantiated violation?
A. Criminal imprisonment only
B. Reprimand, fine, suspension, or revocation of license
Questions and Answers with Rationales
Covering
1: Illinois Home Inspector License Act & Regulation
2: Standards of Practice, Scope & Ethics
3: Roofing
4: Exterior
5: Structural Systems
6: Electrical Systems
7: Plumbing Systems
8: Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
9: Insulation, Interior & Safety / Reporting
,1. Under the Illinois Home Inspector License Act, what is the minimum
age required to obtain a home inspector license?
A. 18 years old
B. 21 years old
C. 25 years old
D. There is no minimum age
Answer: B
Rationale: The Illinois Home Inspector License Act requires an applicant to be
at least 21 years of age at the time of application.
2. How many hours of pre-license education are generally required to sit
for the Illinois home inspector licensing exam?
A. 20 hours
B. 40 hours
C. 60 hours
D. 100 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Illinois requires completion of a 60-hour approved pre-license
education course covering inspection standards, systems, and components
before an applicant may test for licensure.
3. Which state agency administers and enforces the Illinois Home
Inspector License Act?
A. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
B. Illinois Department of Public Health
C. Illinois Attorney General's Office
D. Illinois Real Estate Commission
Answer: A
Rationale: IDFPR is the licensing and regulatory authority responsible for
issuing home inspector licenses and enforcing the Act and its administrative
rules in Illinois.
,4. How often must an Illinois home inspector renew their license?
A. Annually
B. Every 2 years
C. Every 3 years
D. Every 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Illinois home inspector licenses are renewed on a two-year cycle,
and renewal requires proof of completed continuing education.
5. How many hours of continuing education (CE) are required within each
Illinois renewal period?
A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 20 hours
D. 30 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Licensees must complete 12 hours of IDFPR-approved continuing
education per two-year renewal cycle to maintain an active license.
6. Under Illinois law, is a home inspector required to carry general liability
and errors & omissions (E&O;) insurance?
A. No, insurance is optional in Illinois
B. Yes, proof of insurance meeting minimum coverage is required for
licensure
C. Only if the inspector inspects commercial property
D. Only required for inspectors who also hold a real estate license
Answer: B
Rationale: The Illinois Home Inspector License Act requires licensees to
maintain general liability insurance (and typically E&O; coverage) at
state-mandated minimum limits as a condition of licensure.
7. A home inspector in Illinois may NOT perform a home inspection on a
property if:
A. The property was built before 1978
, B. The inspector has an undisclosed financial interest in the transaction
C. The buyer is a first-time homebuyer
D. The seller is present during the inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: Illinois law and the Standards of Practice prohibit inspectors from
performing inspections where an undisclosed conflict of interest exists, since
this compromises the independence and objectivity required of the inspection.
8. Under the Illinois Act, which of the following is generally EXCLUDED
from the mandatory scope of a general home inspection?
A. Roof covering
B. Foundation
C. Swimming pools and spas
D. Electrical service panel
Answer: C
Rationale: Swimming pools, spas, and similar ancillary systems are typically
outside the mandatory scope of a standard general home inspection under
Illinois Standards of Practice unless specifically contracted for separately.
9. If a consumer believes an Illinois-licensed home inspector violated the
Act, where should the complaint be filed?
A. Local police department
B. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
C. The inspector's professional association only
D. The county recorder of deeds
Answer: B
Rationale: Complaints against licensed home inspectors are filed with and
investigated by IDFPR, which has authority to discipline licensees for violations
of the Act.
10. Which of the following is a valid disciplinary action IDFPR may take
against an Illinois home inspector for a substantiated violation?
A. Criminal imprisonment only
B. Reprimand, fine, suspension, or revocation of license
