CPI (NCCT) study plan

CPI · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Home Inspection Standards of Practice & Roofing, Structure and Exterior Systems

Map every section of the home inspection Standards of Practice to a one-page outline covering the inspected components, the specific items excluded, and the reporting obligations for each
Define the inspector's scope limits and the client-facing language used to describe excluded systems and concealed conditions
List the structural components a home inspector is expected to observe (foundation, floor, wall, ceiling, roof structure) and the observable defect categories for each
Build a personal glossary of 40 inspection terms (e.g., efflorescence, spalling, deflection, vapor retarder) with a one-sentence definition each

A 3-5 page Standards of Practice outline plus a 40-term glossary, self-quizzed to 90% recall

Week 2

Diagram roof framing types (gable, hip, valley, dormer, flat) and label where defects typically concentrate
Differentiate roofing materials (asphalt shingle, metal, tile, wood shake, membrane) by expected service life, failure modes, and inspection cues
Practice identifying structural defects from written descriptions: foundation cracks (vertical vs. diagonal vs. horizontal), settlement, heave, rot, and termite damage
Write inspection narratives for 10 exterior defect scenarios using neutral, factual language that avoids diagnosing cause

A 15-scenario roofing/structure defect identification worksheet scored at 80% or better

Week 3

Trace the path of water from roof to foundation: flashing, gutters, grading, drainage, and the exterior envelope
Identify exterior siding, trim, and cladding materials and their common moisture and installation defects
Diagram a residential plumbing supply and DWV system, labeling shutoffs, traps, vents, and cleanouts
Explain how a plumbing defect (leak, cross-connection, backflow, inadequate venting) is observed and reported

A hand-drawn plumbing schematic plus a 10-item exterior drainage checklist

Week 4

Describe the service panel, grounding and bonding, GFCI/AFCI protection, and the observable electrical defects an inspector reports
Distinguish what an inspector may open or test electrically versus what must be deferred to a licensed electrician
Outline HVAC system types (forced air, hydronic, heat pump, ductless) and their inspection points: filter, blower, burners, refrigerant lines, condensate
Compare combustion safety concerns (venting, backdrafting, CO) across furnace, boiler, and water heater configurations
Draft a single-page electrical and HVAC inspection checklist covering observation points and safety limits

A 20-question electrical/HVAC practice set with written justifications, scored at 85%

Week 5

Identify interior finish defects (drywall cracks, water staining, floor slope, door/window operation) and link each to a probable system cause
Explain insulation types (batt, blown, spray foam, rigid) by R-value, installation context, and common installation defects
Describe ventilation requirements and defects for attics, crawlspaces, kitchens, and bathrooms, including moisture and combustion air concerns
Integrate a plumbing, electrical, and HVAC finding into a single narrative report entry with a recommendation and a limitation statement

Three complete sample report entries (interior, insulation/ventilation, and one MEP system) written to Standards of Practice format

Week 6

Apply inspection business and ethics rules to 10 written scenarios: conflicts of interest, referral fees, scope creep, advertising claims, and client confidentiality
Draft a client agreement clause that limits liability and defines the scope without misleading the client
Write a report disclaimer for inaccessible or concealed areas and test it against the Standards of Practice
Review the Standards of Practice again and list the five rules you are most likely to violate under time pressure, with a mitigation for each

A 10-scenario ethics and business practice answer key with cited rule for each answer

Week 7

Complete two timed full-length practice exams under exam conditions and record scores by domain
Analyze every missed question, tagging it to a domain and a root cause (knowledge gap, misread, scope confusion)
Re-study the two lowest-scoring domain areas using targeted drills rather than rereading notes
Rehearse report-writing speed: produce three findings in under 10 minutes each

A domain-by-domain score log from two practice exams with a written remediation plan for the two weakest domains

Week 8

Run a final timed practice exam and target 85% or higher overall with no domain below 75%
Recite the Standards of Practice scope and exclusions from memory in a 5-minute verbal run-through
Review the personal glossary and defect worksheets, flagging any term still uncertain
Confirm exam-day logistics (ID, appointment, testing rules) and write a one-page final review sheet

A one-page personal review sheet plus a final practice exam score report meeting the target thresholds

Week 2: Can define the inspector's scope and limitations and correctly identify 12 of 15 written roofing/structure defect scenarios

Week 4: Scores 85% or higher on the 20-question electrical/HVAC practice set and can explain every answer

Week 6: Scores 80% or higher on the ethics/business scenario set and can cite the governing rule for each answer

Week 7: Practice exam scores show no domain below 70% and a written remediation plan exists for the two weakest domains

Week 8: Final practice exam at 85% or higher overall with no domain below 75% and a completed one-page review sheet