Name: A-Train Academy
Address: 7013 S I-35, Corinth, TX, 76210, US
Telephone: 940-336-7482
Location: Maryland Training Facility
Rating: 5

Question 1

Is home inspection a good career in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Home inspection remains steady, skilled, independent work tied to real estate transactions — and every market has them, in every economy. Inspectors set their own schedules, most work for themselves or small firms, and demand comes from a transaction type (home sales) that never goes away. It's a trade you can enter without a construction background, and the inspectors who build a reputation for thorough work and clear reporting are the ones agents and buyers keep coming back to.

Question 2

What does a home inspector actually do?

Accepted Answer

A home inspector examines a property's major systems — roof, structure, electrical, plumbing, HVAC — and produces a written report the buyer uses to make their purchase decision. A typical inspection takes two to four hours on site plus report time. It's part detective work, part communication: finding what matters and explaining it clearly.

Question 3

Do I need a license to be a home inspector?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the state. In Texas, Maryland, and Tennessee — yes. Each of those states sets its own education, exam, and insurance requirements, and A-Train is an approved education provider in all three. Georgia is the opposite case: it does not license home inspectors at all, so no license, state course, or state exam is required to work there. See the state pages for exact paths.

Question 4

What if I fail the exam?

Accepted Answer

You can retake it — each state sets its own waiting period and retake fee. Give us a call and we'll point you to the next step and the prep that fits where you struggled.

Question 5

How long does it take to become a home inspector?

Accepted Answer

Most A-Train students finish their coursework in two to four months studying part-time, then complete their state's field or exam requirements. Your pace is up to you — the courses are self-paced, so motivated full-time students move faster, and working students fit it around their schedule. Although not a requirement, A-Train Academy strongly encourages students to dedicate the appropriate amount of time and attention to their coursework daily to ensure graduation within the first four months of starting the program. Records have shown that pass rates for students who take longer than four months begin to rapidly decrease. As a best practice, students should wisely manage their time and plan to graduate by the fourth month of the training.

Question 6

How much does home inspector training cost?

Accepted Answer

A-Train's tuition depends on your state — Georgia and Tennessee are the most affordable and Texas the most comprehensive, since it includes the 40-hour field practicum. Each package covers the full program and any required field experience, and the Standard Package and Advanced Package (where applicable) also include exam prep for the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). Call for current tuition and package options, and ask about financing through Affirm or our in-house installment plans — most students start with a fraction of tuition down.

Question 7

Do I need construction experience to become a home inspector?

Accepted Answer

No. A background in trades or construction helps, but it isn't required in Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, or Georgia. Our courses are built to take you from zero knowledge to exam-ready — many of our best students came from sales, military service, and office careers.

Question 8

Which states can I get licensed in through A-Train?

Accepted Answer

Texas, Maryland, and Tennessee. We're a state-approved education provider in all three, and we're one of only a handful of home inspection schools operating in multiple states. We also train inspectors in Georgia — but Georgia does not license home inspectors at all, so there's no state license to get there. Our Georgia course prepares you for the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) and gives you the credentials clients look for in a market the state doesn't regulate.

Question 9

What are the requirements to become a home inspector in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Texas home inspectors are licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). You'll complete 194 hours of TREC-approved training — 154 hours of coursework plus a 40-hour supervised field practicum — pass the Texas licensing exam, and carry the required insurance. A-Train's program covers the education and field-experience requirements in one enrollment.

Question 10

How fast can I finish the Texas practicum?

Accepted Answer

It's a 40-hour practicum, and most students complete it in about a week. Because our partner network inspects homes across Texas every day, we schedule you onto real inspections instead of leaving you to find them yourself.

Question 11

Is A-Train TREC-approved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A-Train Academy is a TREC Qualifying Education Provider (#701067) and a TREC Continuing Education provider (#10402).

Question 12

What does the 40-hour practicum involve?

Accepted Answer

Real inspections on real Texas homes, supervised through our statewide partner inspection network. You'll work actual inspections and produce real reports with a supervising inspector — and because we schedule the inspections for you, most students complete all 40 hours in about a week.

Question 13

Can I take just the 40-hour practicum?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you've completed your coursework elsewhere, you can purchase the Texas practicum on its own for $1,495. We schedule your 40 hours of real inspections through our statewide partner network, and most students finish in about a week.

Question 14

Can I use my GI Bill® benefits for the Texas course?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Texas Veterans Commission has approved A-Train Academy's Professional Home Inspector preparatory course for GI Bill® benefits, effective June 30, 2026. It works as a reimbursement rather than prepaid tuition: you pay for the course up front, complete your coursework and practicum, and pass your exams, then file with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs using VA Form 22-10272 — subject to your eligibility and remaining entitlement. Your 15% veteran and active-duty discount still applies up front, so you can use both. Call us when you're ready to file and we'll send the enrollment and completion documentation you'll need.

Question 15

How do I become a home inspector in Maryland?

Accepted Answer

Maryland licenses home inspectors through the Maryland Real Estate Commission. You'll complete 72 hours of approved education (a hybrid of online and in-person), pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), carry $150,000 in general liability insurance, hold a high school diploma or GED, and submit a $50 application fee. A-Train covers the education: online coursework on your schedule, then hands-on training at our Maryland facility.

Question 16

Why is A-Train so much cheaper than other Maryland schools?

Accepted Answer

Because we're new to Maryland and earning our reputation. The curriculum meets the same state approval standards as any other school — we've simply set introductory pricing for our first Maryland cohorts to make the decision easy while we build our name in the state.

Question 17

Where is the in-person training held?

Accepted Answer

At our facility at 23600 Three Notch Rd, Hollywood, MD 20636. Sessions are led by Dan DeBoodt, an Air Force veteran and licensed inspector.

Question 18

Do I have to live near the Maryland training facility?

Accepted Answer

No. Your coursework is online and self-paced, so you can complete it from anywhere in Maryland. Only the required in-person training portion happens at our facility in Hollywood, MD — call us for upcoming session dates and we'll help you plan around them.

Question 19

Can I really get my Tennessee home inspector license completely online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tennessee's education requirement is a 90-hour approved course that A-Train delivers fully online. You'll finish your coursework from home, pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), then get licensed.

Question 20

What does Tennessee require to get licensed?

Accepted Answer

A 90-hour approved course (fully online with A-Train), passing the NHIE, $500,000 in general liability plus errors-and-omissions insurance, being at least 18, a high school diploma or GED, and a $300 initial license fee. Licensed inspectors renew with 32 hours of continuing education every two years.

Question 21

Is A-Train approved in Tennessee?

Accepted Answer

Yes — A-Train Academy is an approved home inspection education provider in Tennessee (TDCI Education Provider #895).

Question 22

What insurance do I need to become a Tennessee home inspector?

Accepted Answer

Tennessee requires $500,000 in general liability coverage plus errors and omissions (E&O) insurance before you're licensed. You don't need it to start training — we'll walk you through exactly what to get and when, before you apply.

Question 23

Do I need a license to be a home inspector in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

No. Georgia does not license home inspectors — there is no state license, no state-mandated course, and no state exam. You can legally inspect homes in Georgia tomorrow with no training at all, which is exactly why training matters here more than anywhere else: in an unregulated market, your credentials are the only thing telling a buyer you know what you're looking at. A-Train's 90-hour Georgia course prepares you for the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), the nationally recognized benchmark inspectors use to prove competence.

Question 24

How long does the Georgia course take?

Accepted Answer

The course is 90 hours, delivered entirely online as distance education, and it's self-paced — you set the schedule. Most students working through it part-time finish in two to four months; motivated full-time students move considerably faster. There are no scheduled class times, no travel, and no in-person requirement.

Question 25

What's the difference between the Standard and Value packages?

Accepted Answer

Both packages contain the same core 90-hour training. The Standard Package ($499) adds National Exam Prep — unlimited practice simulations of the National Home Inspector Examination, so you walk into the NHIE having already sat it many times. The Value Package ($299) is the training on its own, without the exam prep. If you intend to sit the NHIE, take the Standard Package; the exam prep is the difference between studying the material and rehearsing the test.

Question 26

Does Georgia require continuing education for home inspectors?

Accepted Answer

No. Because Georgia does not license home inspectors, the state has no continuing education requirement — there is no renewal cycle and no CE hours to report. Many Georgia inspectors still take CE voluntarily to hold national certifications or association memberships current. A-Train's CE catalog is approved in Texas and Tennessee, so if you carry a license in another state, ask us how your Georgia work fits your renewal there.

Question 27

Are ride-alongs available with the Georgia course?

Accepted Answer

Yes — ride-alongs are an optional add-on to either package, starting at $200. They put you on real inspections alongside a working inspector, which is the fastest way to turn coursework into judgment. Availability and scheduling vary, so call our office at 940-336-7482 and we'll walk you through the details and current options.

Question 28

If Georgia has no license, what rules apply to home inspectors?

Accepted Answer

Georgia's Trade Practice Act of 1994 (Title 8, Chapter 3 of the state code) still governs how inspections are conducted. It requires you to give your client a document setting out the scope of the inspection, to confirm that the inspection is a visual one, and to report any defects you find along with recommendations for expert specialists. Those obligations apply to every home inspector working in Georgia whether or not they've had a day of training — which is a good reason to have had the training. (For real estate licensing generally, Georgia's governing body is the Georgia Real Estate Commission; it does not license home inspectors.)

Question 29

Can I finance my home inspector course?

Accepted Answer

Yes — through Affirm at checkout, split-pay installments, or A-Train's in-house installment plan where each payment unlocks your next course modules. Most students start training the same day they enroll, regardless of which option they choose.

Question 30

How much do I need to start?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the plan you choose — Affirm sets its own terms at checkout, and our in-house plans are set up in one phone call based on what works for you. Either way, most students start training the same day they enroll.

Question 31

Do veterans get a discount?

Accepted Answer

Yes — veterans and active-duty personnel receive 15% off any package. Mention your service when you enroll and we'll apply it. Our Texas course is also approved for GI Bill® benefits through the Texas Veterans Commission: you pay up front, then file for reimbursement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after you complete the course and pass your exams.

Question 32

Can I just pay in full?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Plenty of students pay tuition in full at enrollment and skip financing entirely — full access to your course, no payment schedule to think about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Texas

Maryland

Tennessee

Georgia

Cost & Financing

Didn't See Your Question?

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

1.Is home inspection a good career in 2026?

2.What does a home inspector actually do?

3.Do I need a license to be a home inspector?

4.What if I fail the exam?

5.How long does it take to become a home inspector?

6.How much does home inspector training cost?

7.Do I need construction experience to become a home inspector?

8.Which states can I get licensed in through A-Train?

Texas

1.What are the requirements to become a home inspector in Texas?

2.How fast can I finish the Texas practicum?

3.Is A-Train TREC-approved?

4.What does the 40-hour practicum involve?

5.Can I take just the 40-hour practicum?

6.Can I use my GI Bill® benefits for the Texas course?

Maryland

1.How do I become a home inspector in Maryland?

2.Why is A-Train so much cheaper than other Maryland schools?

3.Where is the in-person training held?

4.Do I have to live near the Maryland training facility?

Tennessee

1.Can I really get my Tennessee home inspector license completely online?

2.What does Tennessee require to get licensed?

3.Is A-Train approved in Tennessee?

4.What insurance do I need to become a Tennessee home inspector?

Georgia

1.Do I need a license to be a home inspector in Georgia?

2.How long does the Georgia course take?

3.What's the difference between the Standard and Value packages?

4.Does Georgia require continuing education for home inspectors?

5.Are ride-alongs available with the Georgia course?

6.If Georgia has no license, what rules apply to home inspectors?

Cost & Financing

1.Can I finance my home inspector course?

2.How much do I need to start?

3.Do veterans get a discount?

4.Can I just pay in full?

Didn't See Your Question?