Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 18.280 · 20 active provisions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means the home inspector advisory licensing board.(2) "Department" means the department of licensing.(3) "Director" means the director of the department of licensing.(4) "Entity" or "entities" means e…
(1) Beginning September 1, 2009, a person shall not engage in or conduct, or advertise or hold himself or herself out as engaging in or conducting, the business of or acting in the capacity of a home inspector within this state without first obtaining a license as provided in this chapter.(2) Any person performing the…
A person licensed under this chapter is responsible for performing a visual and noninvasive inspection of the following readily accessible systems and components of a home and reporting on the general condition of those systems and components at the time of the inspection in his or her written report: The roof, foundat…
(1) The state home inspector advisory licensing board is created. The board consists of seven members appointed by the director, who shall advise the director concerning the administration of this chapter. Of the appointments to this board, six must be actively engaged as home inspectors immediately prior to their appo…
The director has the following authority in administering this chapter:(1) To adopt, amend, and rescind rules approved by the board as deemed necessary to carry out this chapter;(2) To administer licensing examinations approved by the board and to adopt or recognize examinations prepared by other entities as approved b…
The board has the following authority in administering this chapter:(1) To establish rules, including board organization and assignment of terms, and meeting frequency and timing, for adoption by the director;(2) To establish the minimum qualifications for licensing applicants as provided in this chapter;(3) To approve…
In order to become licensed as a home inspector, an applicant must submit the following to the department:(1) An application on a form developed by the department;(2) Proof of a minimum of one hundred twenty hours of classroom instruction approved by the board;(3) Proof of up to forty hours of field training supervised…
Applicants for licensure must pass an exam that is psychometrically valid, reliable, and legally defensible by the state. The exam is to be developed, maintained, and administered by the department. The board shall recommend to the director whether to use an exam that is prepared by a national entity. If an exam prepar…
Licenses are issued for a term of two years and expire on the applicant's second birthday following issuance of the license.
The term "licensed home inspector" and the license number of the inspector must appear on all advertising, correspondence, and documents incidental to a home inspection. However, businesses and organizations that conduct national or interstate general marketing and advertising campaigns may omit the license number of t…
(1) As a condition of renewing a license under this chapter, a licensed home inspector shall present satisfactory evidence to the board of having completed the continuing education requirements provided for in this section.(2) Each applicant for license renewal shall complete at least twenty-four hours of instruction i…
(1) A licensed home inspector shall provide a written report of the home inspection to each person for whom the inspector performs a home inspection within a time period set by the board in rule. The issues to be addressed in the report shall be set by the board in rule.(2) A licensed home inspector, or other licensed…
(1) The director shall immediately suspend the license of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a child support order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for a license under this chapte…
The department has the authority to issue civil infractions under chapter 7.80 RCW in the following instances:(1) Conducting or offering to conduct a home inspection without being licensed in accordance with this chapter;(2) Presenting or attempting to use as his or her own the home inspector license of another;(3) Giv…
The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.
The director is authorized to apply for relief by injunction without bond, to restrain a person from the commission of any act that is prohibited under RCW 18.280.140. In such a proceeding, it is not necessary to allege or prove either that an adequate remedy at law does not exist, or that substantial or irreparable da…
The following persons are exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter when acting within the scope of their license or profession:(1) Engineers;(2) Architects;(3) Electricians licensed under chapter 19.28 RCW;(4) Plumbers licensed under chapter 18.106 RCW;(5) Pesticide operators licensed under chapter 17.21…
Persons licensed as home inspectors in other states may become licensed as home inspectors under this chapter as long as the other state has licensing requirements that meet or exceed those required under this chapter and the person seeking a license under this chapter passes the Washington portion of the exam under RC…
Any person licensed under this chapter who is not also licensed as a pest inspector under chapter 15.58 RCW shall only refer in his or her report to rot or conducive conditions for wood destroying organisms and shall refer the identification of or damage by wood destroying insects to a structural pest inspector license…
An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this chapter unless the director determines that the military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state.