(A) To obtain a license to perform home inspections, a person shall submit both of the following to the superintendent of real estate and professional licensing:

(1) An application meeting the requirements of division (D) of this section on a form the superintendent provides;

(2) The fee established in rules adopted by the Ohio home inspector board pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of section 4764.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) Each person applying for a license shall submit one complete set of fingerprints directly to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for the purpose of conducting a criminal records check. The person shall provide the fingerprints using a method the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation prescribes pursuant to division (C)(2) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and fill out the form the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation prescribes pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code. Upon receiving an application under this section, the superintendent of real estate and professional licensing shall request the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, or a vendor approved by the bureau, to conduct a criminal records check based on the applicant's fingerprint impressions in accordance with division (A)(15) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding division (K) of section 121.08 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of real estate and professional licensing shall request that criminal record information based on the applicant's fingerprints be obtained from the federal bureau of investigation as part of the criminal records check. Any fee required under division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code shall be paid by the applicant.

(C) The superintendent shall issue a license to perform home inspections to applicants who satisfy the requirements set forth in this section, subject to section 4768.14 of the Revised Code.

(D) Except as otherwise specified in division (E) of this section, the application shall include all of the following:

(1) A pledge the applicant signs, agreeing to comply with the rules adopted by the board pursuant to division (A)(10) of section 4764.05 of the Revised Code;

(2) A statement that the applicant understands the grounds for any disciplinary action that may be initiated under this chapter;

(3) Proof of holding a comprehensive general liability insurance policy or a commercial general liability insurance policy in accordance with division (A) of section 4764.11 of the Revised Code;

(4) Proof of successfully passing, within two years before the date of the application, the national home inspector examination;

(5) Proof of successfully completing a curriculum of education approved by the board in accordance with rules the board adopts pursuant to division (A)(3) of section 4764.05 of the Revised Code;

(6) Proof that the applicant has experience in the field of home inspections through either of the following:

(a) Successful completion of a curriculum of experience approved by the board in accordance with rules the board adopts pursuant to divisions (A)(4) and (D) of section 4764.05 of the Revised Code;

(b) Successful completion of ten parallel inspections or equivalent experience as determined by the board pursuant to division (A)(5) of section 4764.05 of the Revised Code;

(7) Proof that the applicant is at least eighteen years of age;

(8) Proof that the applicant has graduated from the twelfth grade, received a general educational development diploma, or satisfactorily completed a program that is the equivalent to graduating from the twelfth grade or receiving a general educational development diploma;

(9) Any other information the board requires that the board determines is relevant to receiving a license to practice as a licensed home inspector.

(E) The superintendent shall not require a person described in division (B) or (C) of section 4764.03 of the Revised Code who wishes to obtain a license to perform home inspections under this chapter to submit proof of education and experience as required under divisions (D)(5) and (6) of this section in the person's application in order for that person to receive a license. Such a person, however, shall satisfy all other requirements specified in divisions (A) and (D) of this section and provide proof of licensure in good standing described in division (B) or (C) of section 4764.03 of the Revised Code to receive a license.

(F) The act of submitting an application to the superintendent does not create, shall not be construed as creating, and is not intended to indicate licensure as a home inspector.

Added by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 255, §1, eff. 4/5/2019.