The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) grants registration to Certified House Inspectors (CHI) and Certified Property Inspectors (CPI) who meet the registration requirements and standards established by the Professional Governance Act and the ASTTBC Bylaws­.

ASTTBC confirms an applicant meets these standards through a careful review and validation of an applicant’s education, training, and work experience as well as requiring completion of a professional practice and ethics examination.  The application process is detailed and thorough and ensures ASTTBC registrants meet the highest standard to protect the public and environment.

Prior to submitting a CHI or CPI application for registration, please read the information below to ensure that you are familiar with ASTTBC’s registration requirements.

NOTICE: Educational, experiential, and competency requirements, as well as ASTTBC policies and procedures in place at the time a complete application is submitted will apply.

House and Property Inspection

Inspection is the visual inspection, limited testing, collection of information, and reporting of results to provide the client with an objective description of the condition of a house at the time of inspection in compliance with the ASTTBC Standards of House and Property Inspection.

CHI’s can inspect single-family dwellings, duplexes, individual townhouse units, single units in apartment buildings and multi-family complexes up to four units which commensurate with their level of certification, qualification, experience and knowledge.

CPI’s can inspect all residential properties as well as commercial, industrial or investment real estate property which commensurate with their level of certification, qualification, experience and knowledge.  A CPI must be registered as an Applied Science Technologist (AScT) or Certified Technologist (CTech) in a related discipline and have been registered a CHI for a minimum of one year before reclassifying to become a CPI.

Registration Requirements

Applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the bylaws­, including:

  • be legally authorized to work in Canada,
  • be a person of good character,
  • have met the English Language Proficiency Policy requirements, and
  • have completed the following educational, experiential and competencies requirements:
  • Certified House Inspectors (CHI) Requirements

    EDUCATION

    BCIT BLDG 2915 House Inspection 1,

    BCIT BLDG 2925 House Inspection 2,

    BCIT BLDC 2935 House Inspection 3: Report Writing,

    BCIT BLDC 2945 House Inspection 4: Field Inspection,

    BCIT BLDC 1500 BC Building Code Part 9,

    BCIT BLDC 3050 Building Envelope Performance, and

    RJ & Associates, Asbestos Awareness Training

    or

    equivalent post-secondary training satisfying the CHI competencies for inspecting residential properties to applicable codes, standards and bylaws.

     

    EXPERIENCE

    Completion of a minimum of 50 hours of field experience under the supervision of a *person approved by the credentials committee, and

    Submission of inspection reports drafted by the applicant of two residential properties which were inspected by the applicant that are in accordance with the Standards of Inspection for Certified House Inspectors and demonstrate the applicant meets the CHI competencies.

    *The credentials committee has approved the following people as being a supervisor for the purposes of meeting the experiential requirements for registration as a Certified House Inspector pursuant to part 4 of Appendix A of Schedule A of the ASTTBC Bylaws:

    1.  a practicing CHI or CPI registered with ASTTBC in good standing; or

    2. a person registered with Consumer Protection BC as either a approved trainer or approved evaluator as defined in the “Home Inspector Approved Trainer and/or Evaluator Policy” as dated December 2, 2016 and issued by Consumer Protection BC.

     

    COMPETENCIES

    See Appendix D under Schedule A, Part 4 of the bylaws

     

  • Certified Property Inspectors (CPI) Requirements

    EDUCATION

    Be registered as a practising CTech or AScT in the Building, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, or other relevant discipline, and

    Successful completion of the following:
    Okanagan College (Vernon) CON 051 Commercial Inspections,

    Okanagan College (Vernon) CON 055 Advanced Building Envelope,

    Okanagan College (Vernon) CON 056 Building Code for Commercial Inspections, and

    RJ & Associates Inspecting Hazardous Materials

    or

    equivalent post-secondary training satisfying the competencies set out at Appendix D under Schedule A, Part 4 of the bylaws and for inspecting commercial properties to applicable codes, standards, and bylaws.

     

    EXPERIENCE

    One year of work experience as a Certified House Inspector (CHI) including 50 hours of field experience under the supervision of a person approved by the credentials committee, and

    Submission of inspection reports drafted by the applicant of two properties which were inspected by the applicant that are in accordance with the Standards of Inspection for Certified Property Inspectors and demonstrate the applicant meets the CPI competencies

     

    COMPETENCIES

    See Appendix D under Schedule A, Part 4 of the bylaws

     

ASTTBC Guidance and Standards of Practice for Home and Property Inspection

Review the information on the Standards of Practice, Practice Guidelines and Practice Bulletins pages.

How to Submit a CHI or CPI Application

Applications are submitted through ASTTBC’s online application platform at asttbcapply.ca.

Please follow the CHI/CPI Application Instructions to prepare and complete the online application.

A work log detailing the hours of inspection completed under supervision is required, upload the completed log to your application.

Applicant’s may access the application as many times as needed before submitting.  An application fee will be required when the complete application is submitted.  

Inspection Reports

CHI Applicants are required to submit inspection reports drafted by the applicant of two residential properties which were inspected by the applicant in accordance with the Standards of Inspection for Certified House Inspectors and that demonstrate they meet the competencies found at Appendix D under Schedule A, Part 4 of the bylaws.

CPI Applicants are required to submit inspection reports drafted by the applicant of two properties which were inspected by the applicant that are in accordance with the Standards of Inspection for Certified Property Inspectors and that demonstrate they meet the competencies found at Appendix D under Schedule A, Part 4 of the bylaws­.

Examinations

Submission and review of a complete application is required prior to completing any exams.  Staff will advise on when the exams are required.

1. ASTTBC House Inspector Competency Exam (HICE)

The ASTTBC’s House Inspection Competency Exam is available once we receive a complete application for registration.

2. ASTTBC Professional Practice and Ethics (PP&E) Exam

All practising registrants are required to complete the PP&E exam.  This exam is completed as one of the final requirements before registration. Information is available on the Exams page.

Find a CHI or CPI

A current listing of registrants can be found in the ASTTBC Registrant Directory.

The Application Process

  • Step 1: Start the online application

    Applications are completed through ASTTBC’s online application platform at asttbcapply.ca. Please see the How to Submit a application section above.

    Applicants may start application once they begin completing the experiential requirements for registration.  A work log detailing the hours of inspection completed under supervision is required, upload the completed log to your application.

  • Step 2: Submitting your application through the ASTTBC application portal

    Once started, an applicant may access the application as many times as needed before submitting their complete application.  Remember to save your work regularly and check to the application is complete and up to date before submitting. Payment of the application fee will be required to submit the complete application.

  • Step 3: Initial Review – Document Collection & Completion of the HICE Exam

    All applicants will receive an initial email to acknowledge their application, any clarification required, and any outstanding items.  During this phase, ASTTBC requests and/or files documentation received from third parties (e.g., referees, transcripts, letters of good standing, verification of certification etc.) and reminds applicants of any outstanding information required in order to review their file. The onus is on applicants to ensure that all required documentation is sent to ASTTBC.

    To meet Consumer Protection BC’s (“CPBC”) licensing requirements, a CHI is required to provide evidence of successful completion of an examination listed as meeting their requirements. The ASTTBC HICE examination is one of four exams that meet the CPBC’s
    licensing requirements. The exam is available once we receive a complete application for registration.

  • Step 4: File Review

    Once all the required documentation has been collected, and the HICE exam has been successfully completed, the application will be reviewed by two qualified individuals (file reviewers) for evaluation and recommendation to the credentials committee. These file reviewers will review and provide an assessment report to the credentials committee and/or registrar that recommends whether an applicant’s education and experience meet the requirements for registration.

  • Step 5: Review by Credentials Committee

    After file review, the Credentials Committee review the application and assessment report provided by the file reviewers and may require clarification, request further information, or determine the applicant has met the basic requirements for registrant and is permitted to proceed to examinations. The Credentials Committee may also reject the application if the applicant has not demonstrated they meet the requirements for registration

  • Step 6: Examination

    Applicants recommended for approval are required to successfully complete the Professional Practice and Ethics (PP&E) examination before registration.  See the Exams page for information.

  • Step 7: Placement on the Register

    Once all requirements have been successfully completed, the credentials committee moves to approve the application for registration and place them on the Register. Applicant must submit payment for the annual registration fee(s) before registration is granted.  Upon receipt of the payment, ASTTBC will issue a registration number and certificate and the applicant will be added to the Register.

ASTTBC Registrant Obligations

Once registered, all registrants are required to adhere to the Professional Governance Act and ASTTBC Bylaws, including Schedule D, Standards of Competence and Code of Ethics. Registrants must also adhere to ASTTBC guidance on practice, policies, and procedures. 

ASTTBC registration must be renewed annually.  Practising registrants are required to complete continuing education and professional development (CPD) credits annually, including credits for Indigenous awareness learning.  For information, visit the CPD page.