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Alberta Home Inspector Licensing Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Alberta Home Inspector Licensing Exam,
SUMMARIZED EXAM TOPICS COVERED (POINT FORM)
• Licensing & Regulations: Alberta Safety Codes Act, Home Inspection Business Regulation,
licensing requirements (class 1 and 2), code of conduct, professional liability insurance ($1M
minimum), continuing education (120 hours/3 years for renewal), prohibited conflicts of
interest, advertising rules, contract requirements (written agreement signed before inspection,
scope, limitations, fees, client acknowledgement of limitations).
• Standards of Practice (Canserve 2017 or equivalent): Scope of inspection (building components:
roof, exterior, structure, electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing, insulation, interior), limitations
(not required to move furniture, not code inspection, not destructive testing), reporting (written
report, material defects, narrative or checklist, photos, urgent safety issues verbally before
leaving site).
• Roofing: roof covering materials (asphalt shingle, metal, wood, slate, tile, roll roofing), flashing,
vents, skylights, chimneys, roof structure (trusses, rafters, sheathing), gutters and downspouts,
observed deficiencies (leaks, curling, missing shingles, rust, improper slope, water ponding, ice
damming potential).
• Exterior: siding materials (wood, vinyl, aluminum, stucco, EIFS, fiber cement), windows and
doors (operation, seals, glazing), cladding attachment, caulking and sealant, decks, balconies,
steps, porches, railings (height, spacing), grading, drainage (positive slope away from
foundation), retaining walls, driveways, walkways.
• Structure: foundation types (basement, crawlspace, slab), foundation materials (poured
concrete, concrete block, stone, wood), signs of settlement (cracks, bowing, water penetration),
water infiltration and dampness, termite/wood rot (in Alberta primarily decay, less termite),
framing (joists, beams, columns, roof trusses, engineered wood), girder support, floor levelness,
observed structural defects.
• Electrical: service drop and entrance, meter base, panel (breakers vs fuses, aluminum vs copper,
sizing), branch circuits, grounding and bonding, wiring types (NMSC, BX, knob & tube – rare in
Alberta), GFCI and AFCI protection (bathrooms, kitchen, exterior, garages, unfinished
basements), outlets, light fixtures, smoke/CO alarms (location, age, operation testing not
required if not power-on), observed hazards.
• Heating & Cooling: furnace types (gas, oil, electric, high-efficiency, mid-efficiency), venting
(B-vent, direct vent, PVC for condensing furnaces), distribution (ductwork, air filter, registers),
heat recovery ventilator (HRV), boiler, water heater (tank, tankless), cooling (central AC,
evaporative cooler, heat pump), observed deficiencies (rust, flame rollout, improper slope of
vent, inadequate clearance to combustibles).
• Plumbing: supply pipes (copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized), drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipes (ABS,
PVC, cast iron), fixtures (toilets, sinks, tubs, showers), water heater (TPR valve, drain pan,
temperature setting), sump pump, water pressure, flow, leaks, cross-connections, hose bibs,
frost-free sillcocks.
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• Insulation & Ventilation: attic insulation (blown, batt, loose-fill), R-value, attic ventilation (soffit,
ridge, gable, roof vents), vapour barrier, crawlspace insulation and ventilation, observed
moisture stains, condensation, mould (visual only, no mould identification or remediation).
• Interior: walls, ceilings, floors, stairs (rise/run, handrail, guardrail), railings, balusters (spacing ≤
4″), doors, windows, cabinets, countertops, appliances (built-in: dishwasher, range, oven,
microwave exhaust, garbage disposal – operate with normal controls), signs of water
penetration, unusual odours, safety glazing.
• Site & Environmental: lot grading, drainage, vegetation/contact with building, attached garages
(fire separation, floor slope), driveway, walkway, patio, potential environmental hazards
(asbestos, UFFI, mould, lead paint, radon, oil tanks – not required to test but can note if visible).
• Reporting & Communication: written report within a reasonable time (standard 24-48 hrs),
urgent issues flagged immediately, non-technical language, photos, description of defect,
location, significance, recommendations, limitations disclosed, client acknowledgement of
contract and limitations.
1. Under the Alberta Home Inspection Business Regulation, a licensed home inspector must maintain
professional liability insurance with a minimum coverage of:
A) 250,000peroccurrenceB)250,000peroccurrenceB)500,000 per occurrence
C) 1,000,000peroccurrenceD)1,000,000peroccurrenceD)2,000,000 per occurrence
Answer: C
Rationale: The regulation requires a minimum of $1 million per occurrence professional liability
insurance.
2. A client asks the home inspector to also perform a pest inspection for termites. In Alberta, termites
are rare but the inspector has no pest certification. The inspector should:
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A) Perform the pest inspection anyway
B) Decline and recommend a licensed pest control operator
C) Include pest inspection at no extra charge
D) Note “no termites found” in the report
Answer: B
Rationale: Home inspectors must work within their scope of competence; pest inspection requires
separate licence or refer.
3. A home inspector notices a cracked basement floor during a routine inspection. The crack is less than
1/4 inch wide with no displacement. According to Standards of Practice, the inspector should:
A) Report the crack as a structural defect requiring immediate engineering evaluation
B) Describe the crack and note that it is common and typically not structural
C) Ignore the crack because it is cosmetic
D) Recommend filling the crack with epoxy
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Answer: B
Rationale: Minor shrinkage cracks are common; report as observed but not necessarily a structural
defect.
4. Which of the following is a prohibited conflict of interest for a licensed home inspector in Alberta?
A) Recommending a general contractor for repairs
B) Accepting a referral fee from a contractor for work identified in the inspection
C) Providing a written report within 48 hours
D) Refusing to inspect a house where the owner is also a real estate agent
Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting a referral fee or kickback is a conflict of interest prohibited by the Code of Conduct.
5. An inspector performing a roof inspection on a two-storey home notes that several asphalt shingles
are curled and missing granules. The roof slope is 6/12. Access is safe with a ladder. The inspector
should:
Alberta Home Inspector Licensing Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Alberta Home Inspector Licensing Exam,
SUMMARIZED EXAM TOPICS COVERED (POINT FORM)
• Licensing & Regulations: Alberta Safety Codes Act, Home Inspection Business Regulation,
licensing requirements (class 1 and 2), code of conduct, professional liability insurance ($1M
minimum), continuing education (120 hours/3 years for renewal), prohibited conflicts of
interest, advertising rules, contract requirements (written agreement signed before inspection,
scope, limitations, fees, client acknowledgement of limitations).
• Standards of Practice (Canserve 2017 or equivalent): Scope of inspection (building components:
roof, exterior, structure, electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing, insulation, interior), limitations
(not required to move furniture, not code inspection, not destructive testing), reporting (written
report, material defects, narrative or checklist, photos, urgent safety issues verbally before
leaving site).
• Roofing: roof covering materials (asphalt shingle, metal, wood, slate, tile, roll roofing), flashing,
vents, skylights, chimneys, roof structure (trusses, rafters, sheathing), gutters and downspouts,
observed deficiencies (leaks, curling, missing shingles, rust, improper slope, water ponding, ice
damming potential).
• Exterior: siding materials (wood, vinyl, aluminum, stucco, EIFS, fiber cement), windows and
doors (operation, seals, glazing), cladding attachment, caulking and sealant, decks, balconies,
steps, porches, railings (height, spacing), grading, drainage (positive slope away from
foundation), retaining walls, driveways, walkways.
• Structure: foundation types (basement, crawlspace, slab), foundation materials (poured
concrete, concrete block, stone, wood), signs of settlement (cracks, bowing, water penetration),
water infiltration and dampness, termite/wood rot (in Alberta primarily decay, less termite),
framing (joists, beams, columns, roof trusses, engineered wood), girder support, floor levelness,
observed structural defects.
• Electrical: service drop and entrance, meter base, panel (breakers vs fuses, aluminum vs copper,
sizing), branch circuits, grounding and bonding, wiring types (NMSC, BX, knob & tube – rare in
Alberta), GFCI and AFCI protection (bathrooms, kitchen, exterior, garages, unfinished
basements), outlets, light fixtures, smoke/CO alarms (location, age, operation testing not
required if not power-on), observed hazards.
• Heating & Cooling: furnace types (gas, oil, electric, high-efficiency, mid-efficiency), venting
(B-vent, direct vent, PVC for condensing furnaces), distribution (ductwork, air filter, registers),
heat recovery ventilator (HRV), boiler, water heater (tank, tankless), cooling (central AC,
evaporative cooler, heat pump), observed deficiencies (rust, flame rollout, improper slope of
vent, inadequate clearance to combustibles).
• Plumbing: supply pipes (copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized), drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipes (ABS,
PVC, cast iron), fixtures (toilets, sinks, tubs, showers), water heater (TPR valve, drain pan,
temperature setting), sump pump, water pressure, flow, leaks, cross-connections, hose bibs,
frost-free sillcocks.
, Page 2 of 153
• Insulation & Ventilation: attic insulation (blown, batt, loose-fill), R-value, attic ventilation (soffit,
ridge, gable, roof vents), vapour barrier, crawlspace insulation and ventilation, observed
moisture stains, condensation, mould (visual only, no mould identification or remediation).
• Interior: walls, ceilings, floors, stairs (rise/run, handrail, guardrail), railings, balusters (spacing ≤
4″), doors, windows, cabinets, countertops, appliances (built-in: dishwasher, range, oven,
microwave exhaust, garbage disposal – operate with normal controls), signs of water
penetration, unusual odours, safety glazing.
• Site & Environmental: lot grading, drainage, vegetation/contact with building, attached garages
(fire separation, floor slope), driveway, walkway, patio, potential environmental hazards
(asbestos, UFFI, mould, lead paint, radon, oil tanks – not required to test but can note if visible).
• Reporting & Communication: written report within a reasonable time (standard 24-48 hrs),
urgent issues flagged immediately, non-technical language, photos, description of defect,
location, significance, recommendations, limitations disclosed, client acknowledgement of
contract and limitations.
1. Under the Alberta Home Inspection Business Regulation, a licensed home inspector must maintain
professional liability insurance with a minimum coverage of:
A) 250,000peroccurrenceB)250,000peroccurrenceB)500,000 per occurrence
C) 1,000,000peroccurrenceD)1,000,000peroccurrenceD)2,000,000 per occurrence
Answer: C
Rationale: The regulation requires a minimum of $1 million per occurrence professional liability
insurance.
2. A client asks the home inspector to also perform a pest inspection for termites. In Alberta, termites
are rare but the inspector has no pest certification. The inspector should:
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A) Perform the pest inspection anyway
B) Decline and recommend a licensed pest control operator
C) Include pest inspection at no extra charge
D) Note “no termites found” in the report
Answer: B
Rationale: Home inspectors must work within their scope of competence; pest inspection requires
separate licence or refer.
3. A home inspector notices a cracked basement floor during a routine inspection. The crack is less than
1/4 inch wide with no displacement. According to Standards of Practice, the inspector should:
A) Report the crack as a structural defect requiring immediate engineering evaluation
B) Describe the crack and note that it is common and typically not structural
C) Ignore the crack because it is cosmetic
D) Recommend filling the crack with epoxy
, Page 4 of 153
Answer: B
Rationale: Minor shrinkage cracks are common; report as observed but not necessarily a structural
defect.
4. Which of the following is a prohibited conflict of interest for a licensed home inspector in Alberta?
A) Recommending a general contractor for repairs
B) Accepting a referral fee from a contractor for work identified in the inspection
C) Providing a written report within 48 hours
D) Refusing to inspect a house where the owner is also a real estate agent
Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting a referral fee or kickback is a conflict of interest prohibited by the Code of Conduct.
5. An inspector performing a roof inspection on a two-storey home notes that several asphalt shingles
are curled and missing granules. The roof slope is 6/12. Access is safe with a ladder. The inspector
should:
