From your first class to a
thriving inspection business.
Licensing, exam prep, continuing education, and business coaching for home inspectors in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, taught by a working Certified Master Inspector® with 20+ years in education.
Wherever you are, there's a next step
Pick the stage that fits you today. Every program is built and taught by the same instructor, so each one picks up where the last left off.
Get licensed
The 80-hour Maryland pre-licensing course with NHIE prep built in.
Pre-licensing →Pass the NHIE
Concept-first prep for anyone who's taken the national exam and come up short.
NHIE prep →Launch & grow
Toolkits, mindset training, group coaching, and 1-on-1 sessions.
Coaching →Stay licensed
Maryland and Virginia continuing education, live and self-paced.
Continuing ed →Gear up
The Inspector's Field Guide: the tools we actually carry.
Gear store →One academy, start to finish
Everything the Academy offers
Become a Home Inspector
A state-approved, 80-hour course that goes past Maryland's 72-hour requirement, with NHIE exam prep built in and a hands-on finish: you'll inspect a real house in a mock inspection and shadow working inspections in the field.
- 80 classroom hours with NHIE prep and practice tests
- Mock inspection capstone and supervised ride-alongs
- 15 free Spectora reports and first-year pay-per-report pricing
- Joe A. Sanders Vo-Tech Fund Scholarship available
Training packages
Early-bird pricing and scholarships are announced each enrollment period. See the course page for current dates and terms.
NHIE Exam Prep Course
Didn't pass the National Home Inspector Examination? It usually isn't about effort. This course teaches the concepts behind the questions, so you understand the material instead of memorizing it.
- 11 hours of visual, illustration-based video lessons
- 500+ practice questions and 14 field exercises
- Monthly group coaching and a private student community
- Spanish-language resources
Enrollment
Already enrolled in the pre-licensing course? NHIE prep is included in every package.
Stop guessing. Start building.
A license doesn't come with a business plan. Our coaching programs give new and growing inspectors the tools, habits, and accountability to land the first 20 inspections and keep going from there.
- 35 editable business templates across 7 categories
- 38-lesson Success Mindset course
- Monthly group coaching, live Q&A, and a private community
- 1-on-1 sessions with a custom 30/60/90-day plan
Coaching options
Academy students get a separate Inspector's Circle path, starting with a free 90-Day Ramp Up.
All your renewal hours, one provider
Maryland's 30-hour renewal through live virtual classes and self-paced courses, with no commuting. Virginia's 16 hours are fully online at your own pace.
- Maryland: 21 live virtual hours in a Tuesday–Thursday block, plus 9 self-paced
- Live blocks offered quarterly
- Virginia: six 4-hour self-paced courses, take any four
- Topics include structure, electrical, HVAC, environmental hazards, and report writing
Renewal packages
Maryland approves CE courses individually. Check the Commission's approved-course list before you buy.
More than a classroom
Academy students get software, equipment pricing, and gear guidance that most new inspectors have to figure out alone.
Spectora software
15 free inspection reports, video training, and first-year pay-per-report pricing.
See student benefits →
Radon & IAQ equipment
Negotiated Academy-member pricing on professional radon and air quality gear through Breeze.
Ask about pricing →The Inspector's Field Guide
A curated list of the tools we use, from starter kit to environmental and IAQ gear.
Browse the gear store →Graduate spotlight
Graduates running their own businesses get featured on our site to help them land their first clients.
Meet our graduates →
Ditanyan Sye, CMI®
Owner of DS Home Inspection Services and an educator for more than 20 years, Ditanyan teaches from what he sees in the field every week, across home inspection and environmental consulting.
- Certified Master Inspector® · InterNACHI® Partner Instructor
- Dual Master's degrees in Education and Public Administration
- Maryland licensed for asbestos, accredited for lead paint
- Board member, Joe A. Sanders Vo-Tech Fund Inc.
Frequently asked
Do I need any construction experience to start?
No. The pre-licensing course starts with the fundamentals and builds to a full mock inspection, and the ride-alongs let you see real inspections before you do your own.
Is NHIE prep included in the pre-licensing course?
Yes. Every package includes NHIE exam prep and practice tests. The standalone NHIE Prep Course is for people who've already taken the exam and want to retake it.
Can I get help paying for the course?
Yes. The Joe A. Sanders Vo-Tech Fund Scholarship is awarded each class. Email academy@dsinspects.com to apply. Silver Spring classes are offered through the Housing Opportunities Commission's Family Self-Sufficiency program for eligible participants.
I'm already licensed. What's here for me?
Maryland and Virginia continuing education, plus coaching programs to grow your business, from a one-time Toolkit to private sessions.
Not sure which program fits?
Book a free fit call and we'll talk through where you are and what makes sense next.
Ready to take the next step?
Talk with us about your goals, or email academy@dsinspects.com with any questions.