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NYS Home Inspector Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
NYS Home Inspector Exam
Based on the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) Division of Licensing
Services requirements, the Home Inspector license exam assesses knowledge across the approved 140-
hour curriculum.
Exam Coverage Summary
The exam is based on the 140-hour pre-licensing curriculum and the NY Home Inspector Professional
Licensing Act (Article 12-B of the Real Property Law) .
Module Topics Covered Exam Focus
Module Structural Systems, Exterior Components, Foundation types, framing defects, grading/drainage,
1 Roof Systems (25 hours) roofing materials, flashing, gutters
Module Interior Components, Insulation & Wall/ceiling finishes, attic/crawlspace ventilation, servic
2 Ventilation, Electrical Systems (25 hours) panels, wiring defects, GFCI/AFCI
Module Heating & Cooling Systems, Plumbing Systems Furnace/boiler types, distribution systems, water heate
3 (25 hours) supply/drain/waste/vent systems
Module Profession Overview, NYS License Law, Ethics, SOP, Code of Ethics, report standards, insurance
4 Report Writing (25 hours) requirements, prohibited acts
Module
Field-Based Training (40 hours supervised) Practical application of inspection techniques
5
Exam Facts :
• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Format: Multiple-choice
• Pass/Fail: Pass or fail reported (no numerical score)
• Cost: $50 exam fee
• Languages offered: Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian, Chinese
Structural Systems (Questions 1-25)
Question 1: During a home inspection in Buffalo, you observe a diagonal crack extending from the
corner of a basement window toward the foundation corner. What is the most likely cause of this crack?
A) Thermal expansion of the concrete
B) Differential settlement of the foundation
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C) Shrinkage during curing
D) Impact damage from construction
Answer: B
Diagonal cracks originating from stress points like window corners typically indicate differential
settlement, where one part of the foundation has settled more than another.
Question 2: You are inspecting a 1920s home in Albany with a fieldstone foundation. The mortar
between stones is soft and crumbly. This condition is best described as:
A) Dry rot
B) Spalling
C) Efflorescence
D) Deteriorated mortar requiring repointing
Answer: D
Soft, crumbly mortar in older stone foundations indicates deterioration that requires repointing
(tuckpointing) with appropriate lime-based mortar, not Portland cement.
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Question 3: A ridge board in an attic has a visible "sag" of 1 inch over a 30-foot span. The rafters appear
straight. What is the most likely cause?
A) Undersized ridge board
B) Rafter spread from inadequate ceiling joist or collar tie connections
C) Oversized ridge board
D) Roof deck shrinkage
Answer: B
A sagging ridge board with straight rafters suggests the rafters are spreading outward, pushing the ridge
down. Proper collar ties or rafter ties are missing or inadequate.
Question 4: What is the minimum required vertical clearance from finished grade to a wood sill plate in
New York State?
A) 4 inches
B) 6 inches
C) 8 inches
D) 12 inches
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Answer: C
New York State building codes require a minimum of 8 inches between finished grade and wood siding or
sill plate to prevent moisture wicking and termite entry.
Question 5: You observe a brick veneer wall with stair-step cracks following the mortar joints. The cracks
are wider at the top than the bottom. What is the most likely cause?
A) Thermal expansion
B) Foundation settlement
C) Brick delamination
D) Efflorescence pressure
Answer: B
Stair-step cracks that are wider at the top than the bottom indicate differential settlement. The cracks
follow the path of least resistance along mortar joints, not through the bricks themselves.
Question 6: A concrete foundation wall in a Rochester home has a horizontal crack approximately 3 feet
below grade. The wall is bowing inward slightly. What is the primary concern?
A) Normal shrinkage
NYS Home Inspector Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
NYS Home Inspector Exam
Based on the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) Division of Licensing
Services requirements, the Home Inspector license exam assesses knowledge across the approved 140-
hour curriculum.
Exam Coverage Summary
The exam is based on the 140-hour pre-licensing curriculum and the NY Home Inspector Professional
Licensing Act (Article 12-B of the Real Property Law) .
Module Topics Covered Exam Focus
Module Structural Systems, Exterior Components, Foundation types, framing defects, grading/drainage,
1 Roof Systems (25 hours) roofing materials, flashing, gutters
Module Interior Components, Insulation & Wall/ceiling finishes, attic/crawlspace ventilation, servic
2 Ventilation, Electrical Systems (25 hours) panels, wiring defects, GFCI/AFCI
Module Heating & Cooling Systems, Plumbing Systems Furnace/boiler types, distribution systems, water heate
3 (25 hours) supply/drain/waste/vent systems
Module Profession Overview, NYS License Law, Ethics, SOP, Code of Ethics, report standards, insurance
4 Report Writing (25 hours) requirements, prohibited acts
Module
Field-Based Training (40 hours supervised) Practical application of inspection techniques
5
Exam Facts :
• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Format: Multiple-choice
• Pass/Fail: Pass or fail reported (no numerical score)
• Cost: $50 exam fee
• Languages offered: Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian, Chinese
Structural Systems (Questions 1-25)
Question 1: During a home inspection in Buffalo, you observe a diagonal crack extending from the
corner of a basement window toward the foundation corner. What is the most likely cause of this crack?
A) Thermal expansion of the concrete
B) Differential settlement of the foundation
, Page 2 of 143
C) Shrinkage during curing
D) Impact damage from construction
Answer: B
Diagonal cracks originating from stress points like window corners typically indicate differential
settlement, where one part of the foundation has settled more than another.
Question 2: You are inspecting a 1920s home in Albany with a fieldstone foundation. The mortar
between stones is soft and crumbly. This condition is best described as:
A) Dry rot
B) Spalling
C) Efflorescence
D) Deteriorated mortar requiring repointing
Answer: D
Soft, crumbly mortar in older stone foundations indicates deterioration that requires repointing
(tuckpointing) with appropriate lime-based mortar, not Portland cement.
, Page 3 of 143
Question 3: A ridge board in an attic has a visible "sag" of 1 inch over a 30-foot span. The rafters appear
straight. What is the most likely cause?
A) Undersized ridge board
B) Rafter spread from inadequate ceiling joist or collar tie connections
C) Oversized ridge board
D) Roof deck shrinkage
Answer: B
A sagging ridge board with straight rafters suggests the rafters are spreading outward, pushing the ridge
down. Proper collar ties or rafter ties are missing or inadequate.
Question 4: What is the minimum required vertical clearance from finished grade to a wood sill plate in
New York State?
A) 4 inches
B) 6 inches
C) 8 inches
D) 12 inches
, Page 4 of 143
Answer: C
New York State building codes require a minimum of 8 inches between finished grade and wood siding or
sill plate to prevent moisture wicking and termite entry.
Question 5: You observe a brick veneer wall with stair-step cracks following the mortar joints. The cracks
are wider at the top than the bottom. What is the most likely cause?
A) Thermal expansion
B) Foundation settlement
C) Brick delamination
D) Efflorescence pressure
Answer: B
Stair-step cracks that are wider at the top than the bottom indicate differential settlement. The cracks
follow the path of least resistance along mortar joints, not through the bricks themselves.
Question 6: A concrete foundation wall in a Rochester home has a horizontal crack approximately 3 feet
below grade. The wall is bowing inward slightly. What is the primary concern?
A) Normal shrinkage
