Frequently Asked Questions

Inspect Practice is an AI-powered web application designed to help building inspectors prepare for International Code Council (ICC) certification exams.

It covers all five core ICC inspector certifications plus the NHIE national home inspector exam:

• B1 — Residential Building Inspector (IRC)
• B2 — Commercial Building Inspector (IBC)
• E1 — Residential Electrical Inspector (NEC)
• P1 — Residential Plumbing Inspector (IPC)
• M1 — Residential Mechanical Inspector (IMC)
• NHIE — National Home Inspector Exam (EBPHI)

The platform combines adaptive difficulty, open-book exam simulations, and code-referenced explanations to build real code-navigation skills.

Inspect Practice covers all five core ICC inspector certifications plus the NHIE national home inspector exam:

• B1 — IRC (one- and two-family dwellings)
• B2 — IBC (commercial buildings)
• E1 — NEC + IRC electrical chapters
• P1 — IPC + IRC plumbing chapters
• M1 — IMC + IRC mechanical chapters
• NHIE — National Home Inspector Exam (EBPHI)

Yes. All ICC inspector certification exams are open book, multiple-choice exams. You bring the current edition of the applicable code and are tested on your ability to find and apply its requirements.

Success depends on code navigation:

• Knowing which chapter covers which system
• Using the index efficiently under time pressure
• Reading sections carefully, including their exceptions

Inspect Practice questions are designed to build exactly that skill.

Inspect Practice adjusts question difficulty based on your performance:

• Score 80% or higher on a set of questions → difficulty increases (EASY → MEDIUM → HARD)
• Score below 50% → difficulty decreases

This ensures you are always studying at the right level to maximize learning efficiency.

Inspect Practice is a web application optimized for desktop and mobile browsers. You can study anywhere, anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer — no app download required. The responsive design adapts to any screen size.

The AI Tutor is an interactive chat feature that helps you understand difficult concepts. When you encounter a question you do not understand, you can ask the AI Tutor for a simplified explanation.

It uses AI to break down complex code requirements into clear, digestible answers, citing the relevant sections.

Inspect Practice offers four plans:

• FREE — first chapter of every exam category in practice mode
• MONTHLY — $29.99 per month, full access to all exams and features
• YEARLY — $99 per year (2 months free vs Monthly)
• LIFETIME — $199 one-time payment for permanent access to all current and future content

Inspect Practice includes a comprehensive question bank of over 7,200 questions covering B1, B2, E1, P1, and M1.

• Scenario-based questions with exact code references (IRC R-section numbers, NEC articles, IPC/IMC chapters)
• New questions regularly added to stay aligned with current code editions

FREE users have access to a subset of questions, while paid subscribers get the full bank.

The B1 certification covers one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories, based on the International Residential Code (IRC).

The question bank covers:

• Code administration
• Building planning
• Foundations, floors and wall construction
• Wall covering and roof-ceiling construction
• Roofing, chimneys and fireplaces
• Energy efficiency

The B2 certification covers commercial buildings based on the International Building Code (IBC).

The question bank covers:

• Occupancy classification
• Types of construction
• Fire protection systems
• Means of egress
• Accessibility
• Structural provisions

The three trade-specific certifications each cover their own code discipline:

• E1 (Residential Electrical Inspector) — National Electrical Code plus IRC electrical chapters: services, branch circuits, wiring methods, grounding and bonding
• P1 (Residential Plumbing Inspector) — IPC plus IRC plumbing chapters: fixtures, water supply, drainage and venting
• M1 (Residential Mechanical Inspector) — IMC plus IRC mechanical chapters: HVAC equipment, duct systems, combustion air, and venting

Most inspectors start with B1 (Residential Building Inspector), the entry point for residential inspection careers. From there, B2 adds commercial work, while E1, P1, and M1 add trade-specific credentials (electrical, plumbing, and mechanical).

The right choice depends on your jurisdiction and career goals — many inspectors build a portfolio of certifications over time. Inspect Practice covers all five so you can study for multiple certifications on one platform.

Yes, Inspect Practice provides detailed analytics to help you identify weak areas and focus your study time:

• Accuracy by chapter
• Difficulty progression
• Exam history
• Performance trends

Getting started takes three steps:

• Visit inspectpractice.com and create a free account
• Choose the FREE plan to try the platform
• Upgrade to MONTHLY, YEARLY, or LIFETIME when you are ready for full access

The NHIE (National Home Inspector Examination) is the national competency exam for home inspectors, developed and administered by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). It is accepted or required by roughly 30 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces for home inspector licensing.

No. Unlike ICC certification exams, the NHIE is a closed-book exam — you cannot bring reference books into the testing room, and calculators are not permitted. You have four hours, and the passing scaled score is 500 (on the 200-800 scale, roughly 70% raw). You may retake after a 30-day wait.

Yes. Inspect Practice covers the NHIE with 1,200 exam-style questions across the 15 official chapters (site, exterior, roofing, structural, electrical, cooling, heating, insulation, exhaust, plumbing, interior, fireplaces, life safety, reporting and professional responsibilities), full English theory with animated diagrams, simulations and the AI tutor. The first chapter is free.