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A Registered Home Inspector (RHI) is a home inspector who has earned the RHI designation from a recognized home inspector association, such as the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI). To get it through CAHPI, an inspector passes the CAHPI National Exam, completes mentored inspections, documents at least 250 inspections and agrees to a code of ethics. It matters in Ontario because, as of October 2026, the province has no home inspector licence in force, so a designation like RHI is one of the few ways to check an inspector's qualifications.
Does Ontario License Home Inspectors?
No, not as of October 2026. Ontario passed the Home Inspection Act, 2017, which would require home inspectors to be licensed, but its licensing provisions have not been brought into force by proclamation. The Government of Ontario says "Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors," and a real estate explainer published October 25, 2026 by Arthur Zhao reports that, as of the e-Laws currency date of October 21, 2026, no proclamation has set a start date.
In practice, anyone can advertise home inspections in Ontario. That makes association designations, insurance and experience the main things buyers can check.
How Ontario got here
Ontario has been working toward regulation for more than a decade:
| Year | Step | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act, 1994 receives royal assent on December 9, 1994 | OAHI |
| October 2012 | Minister Tracy MacCharles commits to working toward mandatory qualifications for home inspectors | OREA |
| August 2013 | The minister asks a volunteer expert panel to review home inspector qualifications; the panel's report makes 35 recommendations, including licensing | OREA |
| 2017 | Home Inspection Act, 2017 enacted as Schedule 1 of the Putting Consumers First Act (Consumer Protection Statute Law Amendment), 2017 | Arthur Zhao |
| 2019, 2024 | Amendments to the Act, still not in force | Arthur Zhao |
| October 2026 | Act's licensing provisions still not proclaimed | Government of Ontario |
What licensing would require if the Act is proclaimed
If the Home Inspection Act, 2017 is brought into force, it would change the rules significantly. According to the Arthur Zhao summary of the Act's sections:
- Two licences. Individuals would need a home inspector licence (s. 37(1)) and companies arranging inspections would need a home inspection provider licence (s. 37(2)).
- An administrative authority. The province could designate one by regulation to run licensing (s. 3(1)).
- Written contracts. A written contract with the client before the inspection, with prohibited terms set by regulation and disclosure of prescribed insurance (s. 51).
- Standard reports. A written report in a form the Minister prescribes (s. 52(1)).
- Conflict disclosure. A licensee with an interest in the client's transaction would have to disclose it in writing (s. 54).
None of that applies today. Until it does, the buyer does the checking.
What Does It Take to Become an RHI with CAHPI?
CAHPI's RHI designation is earned in two stages: first the National Certificate Holder (NCH) designation, then an upgrade to RHI. According to CAHPI, new inspectors start as Candidate members.
- National Certificate Holder (NCH). A new inspector passes the CAHPI National Exam and completes 10 mentored inspections, with reports verified by a mentor. An experienced inspector passes the National Exam and has an inspection report and contract verified by a mentor.
- RHI upgrade. An NCH member submits an upgrade application and fee, returns a signed RHI affidavit, and provides a list of 250 inspections.
CAHPI also describes an experienced-inspector route: with "500 inspections and five (5) years providing residential home inspections," its Certification Board will review an application for membership equivalency. Proof of certain other credentials, including a BC or Alberta provincial licence, qualifies an inspector as an NCH.
RHIs agree to follow CAHPI's Code of Ethics, which requires fairness and impartiality toward clients. CAHPI's article on hiring a CAHPI inspector adds that members inspect to the CAHPI National Standard or the CSA-A770 Home Inspection Standard and keep up continuing education through CAHPI's eLearning portal.
What Is OAHI, and How Does Its RHI Differ?
The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) is a separate, Ontario-only association that also grants the RHI designation. According to OAHI, it was formed in 1986, and the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act, 1994 (Pr158) enabled it to become self-regulating.
OAHI's membership information lists its own RHI requirements, including:
- A minimum of 200 fee-paid home inspections.
- Training courses passed at 70% or higher, including OAHI's Defect Recognition and Reporting course.
- Successful peer review and report verification.
- At least 20 hours of continuing education per year.
- Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance at OAHI's minimum requirements, with a certificate filed.
So in Ontario you may see "RHI" from either association. CAHPI is a national association; OAHI is provincial. Both publish their requirements, and both let you look up members. When an inspector says "RHI," ask which association and check the member number there.
How Do the Designations Compare?
The table below compares the designations whose requirements we could confirm from the associations themselves, plus an uncertified inspector.
| CAHPI NCH | CAHPI RHI | OAHI RHI | Uncertified inspector | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | CAHPI National Exam | CAHPI National Exam (as NCH) | Courses passed at 70%+ | None required |
| Supervised work | 10 mentored inspections, reports verified (new inspectors) | Same, as NCH | Peer review and report verification | None required |
| Inspection experience | Not specified for new inspectors | List of 250 inspections | 200 fee-paid inspections | Unknown |
| Code of ethics | CAHPI Code of Ethics | CAHPI Code of Ethics | OAHI Code of Conduct | None |
| Continuing education | Via CAHPI eLearning | Via CAHPI eLearning | 20 hours per year | None required |
| Where to verify | CAHPI Find an Inspector | CAHPI Find an Inspector | findahomeinspector.ca | Not possible |
Sources: CAHPI, CAHPI blog, OAHI membership, OAHI.
And the simpler comparison buyers usually want:
| Registered Home Inspector (RHI) | Uncertified inspector | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | Passed a national exam or association courses | None required |
| Supervised training | Mentored inspections or peer review | None required |
| Experience | At least 200–250 documented inspections, depending on association | Unknown |
| Code of ethics | Must follow the association's code | None |
| Accountability | Association complaint and discipline process | Courts only |
| Insurance | Ask to see it | Ask to see it |
An uncertified inspector can still be good. The difference is that you have no independent way to know.
Where Is Home Inspector Licensing Mandatory in Canada?
Home inspector licensing is mandatory in British Columbia and Alberta, and Québec has a mandatory certificate coming in 2027. CAHPI's RHI page states: "Home Inspectors in British Columbia and Alberta require a provincial license."
| Province | Status as of October 2026 | What's required | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Licence required | Approved education, a listed exam, at least 50 hours of inspections accompanying licensees, a peer recommendation; the director can require E&O and general liability insurance | Home Inspector Licensing Regulation, B.C. Reg. 12/2009 |
| Alberta | Licence required for inspectors and inspection businesses | Criminal record check, approved education plus test inspection or an approved designation (CAHPI NCH is listed), link to a licensed business; E&O insurance required | Government of Alberta |
| Québec | Certificate mandatory from October 1, 2027 | RBQ certificate; general liability and E&O of at least $1,000,000 (Class 1) or $2,000,000 (Class 2) | Régie du bâtiment du Québec |
| Ontario | Act passed in 2017, not in force | No provincial licence | Government of Ontario |
The BC regulation has been in effect since March 31, 2009. In BC, Consumer Protection BC has suspended licences for failing to maintain insurance, and a suspended inspector "is prohibited from conducting home inspections until their licence suspension is lifted."
What Insurance Should a Home Inspector Carry?
Ontario doesn't require home inspectors to carry insurance, so ask what they have. The Government of Ontario says inspectors "are currently not required by law to have insurance coverage," and that many carry general liability or errors-and-omissions policies.
The two cover different things:
- General liability covers property damage or injury, for example during the inspection.
- Errors and omissions (E&O) is professional liability coverage for mistakes or missed items in the inspection or report.
Québec's new certificate rules require both. OAHI requires its practising members to carry E&O. Ask any inspector for a certificate of insurance, and check with your own insurer or lawyer about what it means for you.
How Do You Check an Inspector Before You Book?
Check the designation with the association, confirm insurance, and ask a few direct questions before you book.
Verify the designation
Ask the inspector for their association and member number, then confirm it on that association's site:
- CAHPI: use the Find an Inspector search linked from cahpi.ca.
- OAHI: OAHI says its member search has moved to findahomeinspector.ca, searchable by postal code, distance, name, city and language, according to OAHI.
- Alberta licence: use the Service Alberta business licence lookup, per the Government of Alberta.
- BC licence: check the licensee's status with Consumer Protection BC.
If the name, designation or status doesn't match, ask why before you book.
Questions to ask any home inspector
Before you book, ask:
- What designation do you hold, and with which association? What's your member number?
- Do you carry errors and omissions and liability insurance? Can I see the certificate?
- How many inspections have you done, and on homes like this one?
- Which inspection standard do you follow?
- Can I see a sample report?
- When will I get my report?
- Do you or anyone you're connected to have an interest in this sale or in doing repairs?
The Government of Ontario's buying guide suggests similar questions: ask to see the report they use, whether they have insurance, and for references.
Why the Designation Matters to Buyers
An inspection is often the only expert look at a home before you commit hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a designation tells you a third party has checked the inspector. A designated inspector gives you:
- A known minimum standard. Exam, mentoring and inspection experience are checked by a third party.
- A code of ethics. An RHI shouldn't, for example, offer to do the repairs they find.
- Somewhere to complain. If something goes wrong, the association has a process beyond going to court.
This matters most when time is short, such as a pre-offer inspection before a bidding war, where you're relying on the report to decide whether to go firm.
How a Home Inspection Handles This in the GTA
In Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Oakville and Burlington, a home inspection is a visual review of the accessible roof, exterior, structure, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, insulation and interior. A credentialed inspector also knows its limits. Quality Inspections uses a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera, but doesn't do radon testing, sewer camera scopes, asbestos or lead testing, or ESA electrical inspections; those go to a qualified specialist such as a C-NRPP certified radon professional or a licensed electrical contractor.
Our credentials
Every Quality Inspections inspection is done by Harjot Grewal:
- Registered Home Inspector (RHI), CAHPI member C2100887
- Professional engineer
- 8+ years and thousands of home inspections in the GTA
- $2M liability insurance
Read more about Harjot. For what inspections cost, see home inspection cost in the GTA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does RHI stand for?
RHI stands for Registered Home Inspector, a professional designation for home inspectors in Canada granted by associations such as CAHPI and OAHI.
Is an RHI the same as a licensed home inspector?
No. Ontario has no home inspector licence in force as of October 2026. RHI is a professional designation from a home inspector association, not a government licence.
How do I check if an inspector is an RHI?
Ask for their member number and confirm it with the association that granted the designation: CAHPI's Find an Inspector search, or findahomeinspector.ca for OAHI.
When will Ontario license home inspectors?
There's no date. The Home Inspection Act, 2017 has passed but, as of October 2026, has not been proclaimed in force.
Do Ontario home inspectors need insurance?
Not by law. The Government of Ontario says inspectors aren't currently required to carry insurance, so ask for proof of errors and omissions and general liability coverage.
Does an RHI cost more?
Not necessarily. Quality Inspections' prices start at $300 for condos and $450 for houses up to 2,000 sq ft.
Sources
- How to become a member (RHI) — Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors
- 3 Reasons You Should Hire a CAHPI Inspector — CAHPI
- About the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors — OAHI
- Membership information — OAHI
- What to know before buying a home — Government of Ontario
- Ontario home inspector licensing and the Home Inspection Act — Arthur Zhao
- OREA responds to home inspector qualifications report (January 27, 2014) — Ontario Real Estate Association
- Home Inspector Licensing Regulation, B.C. Reg. 12/2009 — BC Laws
- Decision summary: home inspector licence suspended for not having insurance — Consumer Protection BC
- Home inspector licence — Government of Alberta
- Obtaining a residential building inspector certificate — Régie du bâtiment du Québec
Book a Registered Home Inspector
Call (416) 899-8116 or book online. See what's included in a pre-purchase inspection.