The City of Saint Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing program (TISH) offers a test every two years for individuals who wish to become licensed with the City to perform TISH evaluations. TISH evaluations are only applicable to single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, and townhouses offered for sale in the City of Saint Paul. Please check back for details for the 2023 exam in May.

The test includes a three-part application and testing process:

1. Complete the application form and submit it with your application fee.

  • Test prerequisite: you must provide proof of passing a third-party, national home inspector’s exam such as the NHIE.
  • Only exams where the individual taking the test has his/her identity verified by the test administrator will be accepted; non-proctored exams, such as interNACHI, are not currently approved by the Board.
  • Saint Paul does not accept licenses from other jurisdictions in lieu of passing the third-party exam.
  • The application will be drafted once a date has been selected for the exam.  The application, along with the fee, will be due by the deadline provided in the notice of the exam.

2. Take and pass a written exam.

  • You must be available on the date and time scheduled for the written test in order to be eligible for licensing in Saint Paul.
  • The exam location will be sent after the application is accepted.
  • This is a closed-book exam; however, calculators are permitted.
  • The written exam is approximately 100 to 150 questions in true/false, multiple choice, and short-answer format.
  • Three hours will be allocated for completing the written test; most applicants finish within one to two hours.
  • You must receive a score of 75% or better to pass the test in order to take the practical exam.

3. Complete and pass a practical exam (test house).

  • The final step is to evaluate a “test house” as if you are evaluating a property for a client in the City of Saint Paul. 
  • You must pass both the written and test house portions of the examination to be eligible to receive your Truth-in-Sale of Housing Evaluator license.
  • Information regarding the test house will be provided to those who pass the written exam.

Test Resources

Last Edited: January 13, 2023