CREIA stands for The California Real Estate Inspection Association which is a non-profit association dedicated to using all its resources for the benefit of members and the home buying public they serve. CREIA is an association of members for members, founded on the principle that joining and working together they can do much more to advance the home inspection profession and protect the public than could possibly be accomplished individually.
Inspecting real estate is an incredibly knowledge-intensive profession and more than anything else CREIA is all about educating and training its members to do the best inspection possible for their clients. CREIA members must first pass a rigorous competency test and accept a strict code of ethics to become a member and then requires the most extensive annual continuing education from its membership of any similar association.
CREIA’s Path to Success Program to become a Certified CREIA Inspector (CCI) includes:
STEP 1: Join CREIA – Complete an Associate member Application and CREIA Background Check. Membership Fee: First year Associate membership is $495 due to cost of new member materials. Subsequent years are $449.
Your membership fee includes:
- The National Home Inspection Examination (NHIE) Study Guide (a $259 savings!)
- Study materials for the CREIA’s SOP/Ethics Examination
- A thumb drive containing additional resources to help you get started.
STEP 2: Pass the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) Exam fee is $225/exam.
STEP 3: Pass the CREIA SOP & Ethics Examination
STEP 4: Earn at least sixty (60) CREIA and CREIA-approved Continuing Education Credits (CECs).
STEP 5: Complete two (2) Ride-Alongs with a CREIA Certified Trainer or Master CREIA Inspector.
STEP 6: Participate in one (1) CREIA SOP Group Inspection.
STEP 7: Report Reviews: This should be your final step. The purpose is to assess compliance with the CREIA Standards of Practice (SOP), Code of Ethics, the California Business and Professions Code 7195, and the CREIA L.I.D.E.R. (Locate, Identify, Describe, Explain, Recommend) method of report writing.
