Section 0780-05-12-.04 - Application Requirements(1) Any person who desires to obtain a license as a home inspector shall submit an application to the commissioner, along with the required application fee.(2) An applicant for licensure shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant: (a) Is at least eighteen (18) years of age;(b) Has graduated from high school or earned a general education development ("GED") certificate;(c) Has not been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the applicant's ability to perform competently and fully as a licensee;(d) Is not the subject of a disciplinary enforcement action by another state or a local jurisdiction in connection with the performance of home inspections or the licensing or certification of home inspectors;(e) Has successfully completed ninety (90) hours of education approved by the commissioner in the performance of home inspections and the preparation of home inspection reports;(f) Has passed the National Home Inspector Examination developed by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI);(g) Has a current certificate of general liability insurance in the amount of at least five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00); and(h) Has a current certificate of errors and omissions insurance to cover all home inspection activities contemplated under T.C.A. § 62-6-301 et seq. and these rules.(3) Reciprocity. The commissioner may grant a license as a home inspector to an individual who holds a like, unexpired license in good standing as a home inspector in that state if the requirements for licensure are at least equivalent to the requirements for licensure in Tennessee. Such applicant shall file with the commissioner the required application form and fee, along with proof that the applicant holds a current, valid license as a home inspector in another state.(4) Temporary Practice Permit: An applicant for licensure as a home inspector, who holds an active home inspector license in another state whose licensure requirements are not considered substantially equivalent for reciprocity and whose spouse is an active member of the armed forces of the United States, who is the subject of a military transfer to Tennessee may be granted a temporary practice permit for up to six (6) months to complete specific education and/or examination requirements where the state of original licensure is not deemed to be substantially equivalent to the licensure requirements in Tennessee as specified in 0780-05-12-.04(3). (a) In addition to the requirements of0780-05-12-.04 (1) & (2) Temporary Practice Permit applicants must provide: (i) Evidence that applicant's spouse is a member of the armed forces and is subject to a military transfer to Tennessee;(b) The temporary practice permit will expire six (6) months from the date of issuance or upon issuance of a license as a home inspector in Tennessee which ever may occur first.(c) No renewal of the temporary practice permit will be granted.(d) If a temporary practice permit holder's out-of-state license is revoked, suspended, denied renewal or restricted, then the Commissioner may revoke, suspend, or restrict a permit holder's temporary practice permit.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-05-12-.04
Public necessity rule filed April 7, 2006; effective through September 19, 2006. Original rule filed July 3, 2006; effective September 16, 2006. Repeal and new rule filed August 6, 2014; effective 11/4/2014.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 62-6-303(a)(5) and 62-6-305 [effective July 1, 2006]; Public Chapter No. 230 and Chapter 65 of the Public Acts of 2005, §§ 4, 6, 11, and 12.