§ 444-e. Qualifications for licensure. 1. An applicant for a license
as a home inspector shall:

(a) have successfully completed high school or its equivalent; and

(b) (i) have successfully completed a course of study of not less than
one hundred forty hours approved by the secretary, of which at least
forty hours shall have been in the form of unpaid field based
inspections in the presence of and under the direct supervision of a
home inspector licensed by the state of New York or a professional
engineer or architect regulated by the state of New York who oversees
and takes full responsibility for the inspection and any report provided
to a client; or

(ii) have performed not less than one hundred home inspections in the
presence of and under the direct supervision of a home inspector
licensed by the state of New York or a professional engineer or
architect regulated by the state of New York who oversees and takes full
responsibility for the inspection and any report provided to a client;
and

(c) have passed the National Home Inspector examination or an
examination offered by the secretary. Any examination offered by the
secretary must meet or exceed the national exam standards set by the
Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors in consultation with
the New York State Association of Home Inspectors to include questions
related to state-specific procedures, rules, and regulations, and
changes to state and federal law, and be updated annually; and

(d) pay the applicable fees.

2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person
performing a home inspection pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph
(b) of subdivision one of this section for the purpose of meeting
requirements for a home inspector license.

3. Upon submission of an application and payment of the application
and licensure fee to the secretary, the secretary shall issue a home
inspector's license to a person who holds a valid license as a home
inspector issued by another state or possession of the United States or
the District of Columbia which has standards substantially equivalent to
those of this state as determined by the secretary.

4. On or before the effective date of this article, the secretary
shall, upon application, issue a home inspector license to a person who:

(a) meets the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (c) of subdivision
one of this section and has performed one hundred or more home
inspections for compensation within two years prior to the effective
date of this section; or

(b) meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this
section and has been engaged in the practice of home inspection for
compensation for not less than three years prior to the effective date
of this section during which such person has performed two hundred fifty
home inspections for compensation within three years prior to the
effective date of this section; or

(c) has education and experience which the secretary, considers
equivalent to that required pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
subdivision.