Sec. 20-492. License required. Exemptions. (a) No person shall engage in home
inspection without a license issued under section 20-492a or subsection (b) of section
20-492b, except that (1) nothing in sections 20-490 to 20-495a, inclusive, shall be construed to apply to an architect licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 390 or a
professional engineer licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 391, and (2) nothing
in sections 20-490 to 20-495a, inclusive, shall be construed to prevent any of the following persons from acting within the scope of their profession:
(A) Any person employed by this state, any department or agency of this state or
any political subdivision of this state, when acting within the scope of such employment;
(B) Any person employed by the United States or any of its departments or agencies;
(C) Any school, public or private, offering as part of a vocational education program
courses and training in any aspect of home inspection;
(D) Any person holding a current professional or occupational license or registration issued pursuant to the general statutes, provided such person engages only in that
work for which such person is licensed, including, but not limited to, an electrical contractor or plumber licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 393, a real estate appraiser certified or licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 400g or an insurance
adjuster;
(E) Any person holding a current home inspector intern permit who conducts home
inspections in accordance with subsection (c) of section 20-493b for the purpose of
qualifying for licensure as a home inspector; and
(F) Any person who has taken and successfully completed a board-approved training program, earned a home inspector intern permit and performs home inspections in
accordance with subsection (c) of section 20-493b.
(b) Any person seeking a license as a home inspector shall apply to the board, in
writing, on forms that the department shall provide stating: (1) Such person's name,
residence address and business address; (2) a brief description of such person's qualifications, including the length and nature of such person's experience; and (3) such other
information as the department may require by regulations adopted in accordance with
section 20-491.
(c) Each application for a home inspector license shall be accompanied by a fee of
forty dollars.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 5, 18; P.A. 01-116, S. 2, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 31, 131.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-116 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting references to Sec. 21a-6,
effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to make Subparas. (E) and (F) applicable to persons
who conduct home inspections in accordance with Sec. 20-493b(c) rather than under the direct supervision and in the
presence of a licensed home inspector, effective July 1, 2001.
Sec. 20-492a. Issuance of license. Holder to exhibit license, when. License not
transferable. Licensee's disclosure requirements. Expiration. Renewal. Register
of home inspectors. (a) The department shall issue to each applicant who achieves a
passing score on the examination administered by the department pursuant to section
20-491a and who meets the requirements for licensure set forth in subsection (a) of
section 20-492b and in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section
20-491 a home inspector license indicating that the holder is entitled to engage in home
inspection, and the holder of such license shall carry it upon such holder's person while
engaging in such work. The licensee shall show such license to any client on request.
No license shall be transferred to or used by any person other than the person to whom
the license was issued.
(b) Prior to performing a home inspection, each licensee shall inform the client, in
writing, that the licensee's work is subject to regulation by the department and that
inquiries and complaints concerning the licensee's work may be directed to the department.
(c) All licenses issued under the provisions of this section shall expire biennially
and may be renewed upon application and payment to the department of a renewal fee
in the amount of two hundred dollars.
(d) The department shall maintain a register containing the names of all persons to
whom such licenses are issued which shall be open to public inspection.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 6, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 20-492b. Qualifications for license. Exemptions. (a) To be eligible for a
home inspector license, an applicant shall:
(1) Have successfully completed high school or its equivalent;
(2) Have earned a home inspector intern permit and performed not less than one
hundred home inspections in accordance with subsection (c) of section 20-493b;
(3) Have passed an oral, written or electronic competency examination administered by the department; and
(4) Paid a fee of two hundred dollars.
(b) During the first three hundred sixty-five days following July 1, 2001, the board
shall issue to an individual, upon application, a home inspector license, provided the
applicant meets the requirements of subdivisions (1), (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of
this section and provided further, the individual:
(1) Became engaged in the practice of home inspections for compensation prior to
July 1, 2000; and
(2) Has performed not less than eighty home inspections for compensation prior to
July 1, 2001.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 7, 8, 18; P.A. 01-116, S. 1, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 30, 131.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-116 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by eliminating requirements that
applicants engage as an intern for not less than one year and perform not less than two hundred inspections or complete
an approved training program, and amended Subsec. (b) by extending grandfather clause from July 1, 2000, to July 1,
2001, by adding reference to Subsec. (a)(3), by eliminating requirement that inspectors engage in practice for not less than
two years and by reducing number of home inspections from one hundred sixty to eighty, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to provide that one hundred home inspections must be performed in accordance
with Sec. 20-493b(c), rather than under the direct supervision and in the presence of a license home inspector, effective
July 1, 2001.
Sec. 20-492c. Licensure of out-of-state licensees. Fee. Upon payment to the department of a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars and the submission of a written
application provided by the department, the department shall issue a home inspector
license to any person who holds a valid license issued by another state with standards
substantially equivalent to or exceeding the standards of this state, as determined by the
department.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 9, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 20-493. Application for home inspector intern permit. Fee. (a) Any person
seeking a permit as a home inspector intern shall apply to the board, in writing, on forms
that the department shall provide stating: (1) Such person's name and residence address;
(2) the name of a licensed home inspector who has agreed to supervise the applicant;
and (3) such other information as the department may require by regulations adopted
in accordance with section 20-491.
(b) Each application for a home inspector permit shall be accompanied by a fee of
twenty dollars. All such fees shall be paid to the department.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 10, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 20-493a. Issuance of intern permit. Holder to exhibit, when. Permit not
transferable. Expiration. Renewal. Register of home inspector interns. (a) The department shall issue to each applicant who meets the eligibility requirements set forth
in section 20-493b and the regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section
20-491 a home inspector intern permit indicating that the holder is entitled to engage
in home inspection under the supervision of a licensed home inspector, and the holder
of such permit shall carry it upon such holder's person while engaging in such work.
Such permit shall state that it must be shown to any properly interested person on request.
No permit shall be transferred to or used by any person other than the person to whom
the permit was issued.
(b) All permits issued under the provisions of this section shall expire biennially
and may be renewed upon application and payment to the department of an application
fee in the amount of one hundred dollars.
(c) The department shall keep a register containing the names of all persons to whom
such permits are issued which shall be open to public inspection.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 11, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 20-493b. Home inspector interns: Qualifications for permit; training program; supervision by licensed home inspector. (a) To be eligible for a home inspector
intern permit, an applicant shall:
(1) Have successfully completed high school or its equivalent;
(2) Have enrolled in and completed a board-approved training program that meets
the requirements of regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 20-491;
(3) Have an identified supervisor who (A) is licensed as a home inspector under
section 20-492a or subsection (b) of section 20-492b, (B) is in good standing with the
state as a home inspector, and (C) has agreed to perform supervisory functions as described in subsection (c) of this section; and
(4) Have paid a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars.
(b) Upon completion of a board-approved training program that meets the requirements of the regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 20-491, the
home inspector intern may take the home inspector licensure examination administered
under section 20-491a. If such intern does not pass such licensure examination, such
intern may take up to two additional examinations during the one-year period commencing on the date of the applicant's first examination application. If the applicant does not
pass a third examination the applicant may not be examined again until one year after
the date of such third examination.
(c) A home inspector intern shall perform functions of a home inspector only under
the supervision of a licensed home inspector and in accordance with rules and regulations
adopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of section 20-491. Such
supervision shall be direct supervision for a minimum of the first ten inspections, and
then may be indirect for the remaining training period. For the purpose of this section,
"direct supervision" means the supervisor shall be present at the site of a home inspection
where the home inspector intern is assigned one hundred per cent of the time and such
supervisor shall countersign all documents prepared and completed by the home inspector intern.
(d) The licensed home inspector supervising the home inspector intern shall be
responsible for all inspections done by the home inspector intern under the licensed
home inspector's charge.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 12, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 20-494. Disciplinary action. Discontinuance, suspension or rescission of
disciplinary action. (a) The board may, by majority vote of the entire board and upon
a finding of any cause specified in subsection (c) of section 21a-9:
(1) Revoke, suspend or refuse to issue a home inspector license or home inspector
intern permit;
(2) Issue a letter of reprimand to a home inspector and send a copy of such letter
to a complainant or to a state or local official;
(3) Place a home inspector on probationary status and require the home inspector
to report regularly to the board on the matter that is the basis for probation;
(4) Limit the home inspector's practice to areas prescribed by the board; or
(5) Order a home inspector to continue or renew the home inspector's education
until the home inspector has attained a satisfactory level of competence in any area that
is the basis for probation.
(b) By majority vote of the entire board and upon a finding that a person applying
for or renewing a home inspector license or home inspector intern permit is subject to
the registration requirements of chapter 969, the board may refuse to issue or renew the
home inspector license or home inspector intern permit.
(c) The board may discontinue, suspend or rescind any action taken under subsection (a) or (b) of this section.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 13, 18; P.A. 01-155, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-155 added new Subsec. (b) re refusal of license or permit for any
person subject to registration under chapter 969, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and made conforming
changes therein.
Sec. 20-494a. Fines. Civil penalites. (a) Except as otherwise provided in sections
20-490 to 20-495a, inclusive, any person who (1) conducts home inspection without
having first obtained the license or permit required by said sections, (2) employs or
supplies for employment a person who does not have a license or permit to conduct
home inspection, (3) falsely pretends to qualify to conduct home inspection, (4) engages
in or practices any of the work for which a license or permit is required by said sections
after the expiration of such license or permit, or (5) violates any other provision of said
sections, unless the penalty is otherwise specifically prescribed, shall be fined not more
than two hundred dollars for each such violation.
(b) The board may, after notice and hearing, impose a civil penalty on any person
who (1) engages in or practices the work for which a license or permit is required by
sections 20-490 to 20-495a, inclusive, without having first obtained such a license or
permit, (2) employs or supplies for employment a person who does not have such a
license or permit, (3) falsely pretends to qualify to engage in or practice such work, (4)
engages in or practices any of the work for which a license or permit is required by said
sections after the expiration of such person's license or permit, or (5) violates any of
the provisions of said sections or the regulations adopted pursuant to said sections.
Such penalty shall not exceed five thousand dollars for each violation, except that any
individual employed as a home inspector intern but improperly registered shall not be
penalized for a first offense.
(P.A. 99-254, S. 14, 18.)
History: P.A. 99-254 effective July 1, 2000.