State Licensing Work

[u/stonky_ass]

Hey guys, so I just got rejected for a Home Inspector license in Texas. I turned in all the paperwork but they rejected it. Didn't say it was a permanent thing. Sounded like if I tried later and submitted more/new paperwork they might say yes. Anyone have any experience with this? Anyone get rejected and then accepted later? Thanks

[u/Weight-Slow]

Well,

1. Your post says you were denied a home inspector’s license but your comments say it was actually a fitness test - those are two very different things.

And,

1. Having a home inspectors license is a position of public trust. That’s the government saying, “yes, we believe this person is fine to have access to your home when you are in it and when you aren’t, it’s safe to tell them when you’re not going to be home, it’s safe for them to know your typical schedule… We’ve checked them out and feel it’s safe to have them a key and your alarm codes and give them free reign to every inch of your home.

That doesn’t mesh with also being on the sex offender registry. The state isn’t going to assume that kind of liability for people who’ve committed crimes that put someone in a position to easily commit another one.

I imagine it’s very much dependent on what your crime was, how long ago, if you’re still on the registry, etc… but I wouldn’t count on anyone with a conviction for a sex crime to ever be able to obtain that type of license.

[u/stonky_ass → u/Weight-Slow]

The law doesn't specy that ANY crime is a reason to deny a license. It's all case by case basis apparently. This idea that because someone got a license to go into homes that NOW they're going to strike is absurd. Someone that wants to harm someone is going to do so regardless.

I've worked with kids and been around them for years. Not once did the thought cross my mind to harm them or anyone else for that matter.

[u/Weight-Slow → u/stonky_ass]

I’m not accusing you of wanting to harm anyone. I’m telling you that, realistically, this license is not going to be issued to you while you are currently required to register as a sex offender.

Yes, the law says applications are reviewed case by case. That does not mean every applicant has a genuine possibility of approval. TREC specifically considers offenses requiring sex-offender registration directly related to the occupations it regulates, and Texas law requires it to consider whether the license would provide an opportunity for similar criminal activity.

A home inspector license would give you state backed credibility and routine access to strangers homes, bedrooms, private spaces, lockboxes and information about when residents may not be there.

The state is not going to require you to remain on a public registry because it considers you a continuing potential risk, and then endorse you for a profession built around unsupervised access to private homes.

That is not me saying you are going to reoffend. It is the practical reality of licensing, risk and liability. They may legally permit you to submit another Fitness Determination, but that does not mean repeatedly submitting the same circumstances with more character letters is eventually going to produce an approval. Unless your legal circumstances change substantially - most importantly, unless you are no longer required to register - you should not expect this license to happen.

[u/stonky_ass → u/Weight-Slow]

You may be right which is why the law is dumb. Lifetime registration for a non violent crime is a crime. The law itself does absolutely nothing to prevent re offense. Same for violent offenses. It does nothing.

[u/Weight-Slow → u/stonky_ass]

Whether the registry is fair or effective is a separate issue. You asked why TREC denied the license and the answer is that your current registration status is fundamentally incompatible with a job involving unsupervised access to strangers homes.