Mississippi Licensure (Chapter 71) enacted in 2001. Mississippi law requires home inspectors to be licensed by the Mississippi Real Estate Commission (Commission) and is given the following powers: 1) receiving and approving applications for licensure and collecting fees, 2) implementing recommendations made by the Home Inspector Advisory Board, 3) adoption of a code of ethics and standards of practice 4) developing a licensing exam (the Commission adopted the National Home Inspector Examination to assess minimum competence) which meets nation ally recognized standards, as well as developing applications and licensing forms, 6) adopting rules and regulations for administering the law. The. The law also created a five person Home Inspector Regulatory Board (Board), members of which are to be licensed inspectors, and appointed by the Governor. The Board serves in an advisory capacity to the C ommission, and was given the following duties and powers: 1) responsibility for matters relating to the code of ethics, standards and qualifications, 2) holding hearings and preparing examination specifications for licensure, 3) conducting investigations, 4) further defining regulation, educational and equivalent experience, and 5) recommending suspension or revocation of licenses. To qualify for a license under this act, a person must: 1) have successfully completed high school or attained an equivalency degree, 2) be at least 21 years old, 3) have successfully completed an approved course of study of at least 60 hours, which may include field work as required by the Commission, 4) pass the National Home Inspector Examination, and 5) provide a certificate of insurance for errors and omissions and general liability. Certain individuals acting under their profession or license are exempted from additional licensure by the Commission for "visual inspections"--specialty and general contractors, architects, engineers, financial institution employee, licensed real estate broker, appraiser or home builder. There is also a three-year limitation included for clients seeking to recover damages from an inspection, a reciprocity provision, and a grandfather clause included in the act.

For more information, please go to the Mississippi Home Inspector Board website.