Canadian Home Inspector (RHI) Exam exam-day guide
Canadian Home Inspector (RHI) Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (passport, driver's licence, or provincial photo card) in the exact name used on your registration. A photocopy or expired card is normally refused. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a second piece is required.
Admission or confirmation email
Print or save offline the registration confirmation showing your test date, time, and test centre address. Some providers require the confirmation number at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know your test centre route and arrival time
Do a route check the day before and plan to arrive well before the scheduled start. Parking, transit delays, and security screening at shared testing facilities can consume 20-30 minutes. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time after which you may be turned away.
Review the current candidate handbook or exam blueprint
Download the provider's current handbook and note the published domain weightings (for example, building exterior, structure, electrical, heating, plumbing, insulation, interiors, and standards of practice). Use it to decide what to review in the final 72 hours rather than re-reading everything.
Know which code and standards editions are examinable
Confirm with the provider which edition of the applicable building code and which standards of practice (for example, the CAHPI/National Standards of Practice or your provincial association's standards) are referenced. Edition differences matter for questions on clearances, guard heights, and reporting language.
One-page formula and reference sheet (study aid only)
Prepare a single sheet covering things you tend to forget, such as electrical load or voltage-drop relationships, slope and rise-run conversions, and common defect thresholds. Confirm with the provider whether any personal notes may be brought into the testing room; assume they may not and plan to memorize the sheet.
Calculator policy check
Confirm with the provider whether a basic calculator is permitted and whether it must be supplied by the test centre. Many computer-based tests provide an on-screen calculator and prohibit personal devices.
Personal items plan
Expect a secure locker or a prohibition on bags, phones, and smart watches. Leave valuables at home. Confirm with the provider the rules for medical devices, medication, and food or drink, and whether any accommodation must be requested in advance.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and prepare clothes and ID the night before. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material after the final 24 hours; consolidate instead.
Accessibility or accommodation confirmation
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other accommodation, confirm with the provider that your request was approved and appears on your registration. Approval deadlines are usually well before test day.
Scoring and results expectations
Know in advance how results are reported and when. Confirm with the provider the passing standard, whether results are given on screen at the end, and how a retake would be scheduled.
Water, snack, and medication for after the test
Leave these in the car or with a companion rather than in the testing room. Confirm with the provider whether a scheduled break is offered and whether access to personal items during a break is allowed.
Plan the day
Switch from broad reading to targeted review. Work through the published domain weightings and spend time proportional to them. Rehearse the standards-of-practice language for describing defects: what was observed, why it matters, and what action is recommended. Practice a few calculation items by hand, such as slope from rise and run, floor area, or concrete volume, since arithmetic slips cost easy marks. Do one timed practice set under exam-like conditions and review only the questions you got wrong.
Confirm logistics: re-read the admission email, verify the test centre address and start time, check the route and parking, and confirm with the provider any open questions about ID, calculator, notes, and breaks. Resolve accommodation status if not already confirmed. Stop introducing new topics after this window; late cramming tends to displace well-organized knowledge.
Do a light pass over your one-page sheet and the defect thresholds you most often confuse, such as stair riser and tread ranges, guard and handrail heights, clearance to combustibles, and typical service and panel considerations. Pack ID, confirmation, and layers of clothing. Set alarms, eat a normal meal, and prioritize sleep over one more chapter. Avoid alcohol and heavy late meals.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive early. Re-read only your summary sheet for 15-20 minutes, then put it away. At the centre, follow check-in instructions, store personal items as directed, and use the washroom before you are seated. If a tutorial or practice screen is offered, use it to learn the navigation and flagging tools rather than skipping it.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'first', 'most likely', or 'except'. Answer in two passes: complete items you know, flag the rest, then return. For scenario questions, identify the system or component, the defect, and the standard-of-practice response before looking at the options. Eliminate clearly wrong choices, then choose the safest, most defensible answer. Do arithmetic twice on calculation items. If a question seems to hinge on a code edition or a local rule you cannot verify, choose the answer consistent with the standards of practice and move on. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve time to review flagged items and confirm every question is answered, since unanswered items are typically scored as incorrect.
Note the topics you found hardest while they are fresh, in case you need to retake or want to strengthen weak areas for practice. Follow the provider's process for receiving results and, if applicable, for scheduling a retake after any mandatory waiting period.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration, and confirm with the provider which documents are accepted; expired or photocopied ID is generally refused.
Arrive before the published check-in deadline. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time, since late arrivals are commonly denied entry and may forfeit the fee.
Assume personal electronics, notes, and study materials are prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider the policy on calculators, medical devices, and personal items before test day.
Follow all instructions from the proctor and test-centre staff, including locker use, sign-in and sign-out, and any room rules. Disruptive behaviour or unauthorized items can lead to removal and cancellation of results.
Breaks are usually limited and may be unscheduled or unavailable on a computer-based test. Confirm with the provider whether a break is offered and whether the clock stops during it; plan hydration and timing accordingly.
Scoring is typically based on the number of correctly answered items, with unanswered items counted as incorrect. Confirm with the provider the passing standard, the score report format, and the retake policy, including any waiting period and fee.
Do not attempt to record, photograph, or share exam content. Reproducing questions or disclosing them to others violates the candidate agreement and can invalidate your result.
If you need an accommodation, request it well before test day and confirm approval with the provider; accommodations are generally not arranged on the morning of the test.