194-Hour Professional License Program with Texas Practicum

The 194-Hour Professional License Program with Texas Practicum provides 194 hours of Texas inspector qualifying education from the Champions School of Professional Inspection. It covers all 194 education hours required to become a Professional Home Inspector: 110 National hours and 84 State hours, including the 40-Hour Texas Practicum that satisfies TREC experience requirements. A Professional Home Inspector is able to work for themselves.

Courses are created and taught by award-winning instructors, all books are included, and online self-study is supported by free instructor-led virtual (Zoom) and campus supplemental classes.

Champions School of Real Estate has been providing education to aspiring agents and brokers since it opened its doors in Houston in 1983. It offers courses and counseling at brick-and-mortar campuses in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, and its Online Correspondence, Online Interactive and Virtual Classroom (ChampionsLive) delivery methods reach students anywhere in the nation. Since 1983 the curriculum has expanded from real estate to loan origination, appraisal, and inspection licensing and renewal programs.

• Updated, leading-edge course material created by the school’s own in-house curriculum development team, with constant updates based on market changes.
• Instructors are practicing professionals with at least five years of industry experience; the school says all instructors also have at least five years of experience teaching adults.
• Morning, day, night and weekend classes offered via Classroom, Virtual Classroom, Correspondence and Online Interactive.
• Career counselors available at campuses Monday through Saturday in person, by phone or by online chat.
• Free networking events, career nights, virtual study halls, career fairs, and annual free industry updates, live-streamed and in person.
• Textbooks and proctoring fees are included in tuition, and most courses remain available for up to 10 years.

The Professional Inspector program (194 hours) and Real Estate Inspector program (154 hours) are split into a National and a State portion that can be purchased one at a time; the National portion must be completed before progressing to the State portion. Before attending the 40-Hour Texas Practicum, all course modules must be completed, including a virtual supplemental class for Texas Standards of Practice.

After the 110 National hours you submit your certificates, license application and $124 application fee to TREC. Fingerprints must be on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety for a background check, and a license will not be issued until the background check is passed and E&O insurance is on file. Since March 1, 2021, all applicants must complete the 40-hour Texas Practicum (or serve as an Apprentice Inspector) to satisfy TREC experience requirements. To confirm prior experience counts, Champions recommends submitting your state application before choosing a program.

The online Qualifying Education courses are self-study, with free supplemental ChampionsLive classes designed to be taken in order: Property and Building Inspection Module I (4 days, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM), Module II (4 days, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM), Analysis of Findings and Reporting (Day 1 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Day 2 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM), Business Operations and Professional Responsibilities (half day, 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM) and Texas Standards of Practice (2 days, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM; virtual attendance required), each offered monthly.

National Exam Prep runs 4 days (8:30 AM to 5:30 PM) and State Exam Prep a half day (8:30 AM to 1:00 PM) on ChampionsLive and at the Austin campus. Contact a career counselor to schedule the Texas Practicum once modules are complete. On average the QE takes 3 to 6 months.

Tuition. The 2026-2027 catalog lists the 194-Hour Professional License Program with Texas Practicum at $2,999 (books included), shown against a combined individual-course value of $6,209, a saving of $3,210. On the website the same program is sold as the 110-hour National package ($1,699) and 84-hour State package ($1,300).

Payment. Tuition is due in full at the time of enrollment, but you may purchase courses individually if you prefer to pay as you go. Tuition for each course must be paid in full at registration to receive package pricing. Textbook materials are included in the cost of courses, and the school states that proctoring fees are included with no hidden add-ons.

Discounts. Champions offers a military appreciation discount to active-duty military, veterans and military spouses: 25% off Real Estate, Home Inspection, Loan Origination and Appraisal pre-licensing (including SAE) programs, 20% off individual Real Estate QE/SAE and Loan pre-licensing courses, and $20 off Real Estate Continuing Education programs. It also works with the SpouseWorks Scholarship Program, which offers up to $4,000 to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance of a license or certification. First responders (active or retired police officers and firefighters, and EMS workers) receive $100 off this Qualifying Education program.

Refunds. All courses except Exam Prep are refundable within 5 days of purchase, minus a $20 cancellation fee per course and the cost of the textbook(s). After 5 days, or once any portion of a course is started, courses are non-refundable; unstarted courses can still be transferred or used toward another course.

A Professional Home Inspector is able to inspect residential properties and, unless prohibited by law, commercial properties, and is able to work for themselves. A Real Estate Inspector can inspect the same property types but is required to work under a Professional Inspector. TREC issues three levels of inspector license: Apprentice Inspector, Real Estate Inspector and Professional Real Estate Inspector.

Licensed inspectors renew every two years by completing 32 hours of continuing education, including Inspector Legal and Ethics and Standards of Practice Review. Champions also offers ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector exam preparation, citing increased earning potential, enhanced marketability and industry recognition, and Pool and Hot Tub Alliance CPO/CPI certification courses.

Format. Inspector Qualifying Education is taken through a combination of Classroom, Virtual Classroom and Online Correspondence. Students studying online can attend free instructor-led virtual (Zoom) supplemental classes, which add to but do not replace the online courses; students should read as much of the material as possible before attending. Program students can also join free ChampionsLive New Student Orientation and study hall sessions using a webcam and microphone.

Materials. All books are included in the price; inspection textbooks are not available as PDFs and can be picked up free at a campus or shipped for $15 each.

Exams. A score of 70% or higher is required on QE and CE course exams, which are open-book. A failed first exam can be retaken at no cost; failing the second requires retaking the course, with no fees for retakes.

Practicum. The Texas Practicum (Ride Along) is completed by going to four homes with a Professional Inspector, performing the inspection and writing the report, in groups of at most 4 students. Be prepared to drive to inspection locations, which may not be near where you live.