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Inspector education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, inspectors don't need a college education. The most common degree for inspectors is high school diploma with 34% graduates, with only 27% inspector graduates earning bachelor's degree. Inspectors who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Some good skills to have in this position include sketch, good communication and magnetic particle.

Popular inspector certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), or Aboveground Storage Tanks Inspector Certification (API). To improve inspector qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in inspector education paths.

What education do you need to become an inspector?

What degree do you need to be an inspector?

The most common degree for inspectors is high school diploma, with 34% of inspectors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 20%.
  • High School Diploma, 34%
  • Bachelor's, 27%
  • Associate, 20%
  • Diploma, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become an inspector?

You should major in business to become an inspector. 25% of inspectors major in business. Other common majors for an inspector include general studies and criminal justice.

Best majors for inspectors

RankMajorPercentages
1Business24.8%
2General Studies9.7%
3Criminal Justice8.6%
4Accounting5.0%
5Civil Engineering4.5%

20 best online courses for inspectors

Advertising disclosure

1. Build Image Quality Inspection using AWS Lookout for Vision

coursera

In this guided project, you will learn how to build automated image quality inspection using Amazon Lookout for Vision. Amazon Lookout for Vision is a Machine Learning as a Service from Amazon Web services which you could leverage to do Image Analytics and address interesting use cases such as drone detection, defect detection, object detection, smile detection, fall detection without writing a single line of code. Please note: As part of this course, you would need your AWS Account to complete...

2. Non-Destructive Testing Level II Full Course NDT Course

udemy
4.2
(266)

Learn all the NDT level II testing methods and earn a valuable certification. Quizzes and interview questions included...

3. Process Safety Management, Standard-Based Approach

udemy
4.3
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Gain the academic knowledge about the PSM system from a standard prespective...

4. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2

udemy
4.4
(355)

A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

5. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

udemy
4.3
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Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

6. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

7. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

udemy
4.3
(484)

Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

8. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

udemy
4.5
(2,235)

How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

9. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

10. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

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4.4
(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

11. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
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The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

12. Electrical, Electronics and PCB Design Safety & Compliance

udemy
4
(343)

Learn the most important aspects and methods for designing safe electrical and electronics products and applications...

13. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

udemy
4.5
(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

14. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

udemy
4.6
(4,258)

Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

15. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

udemy
4.4
(1,467)

Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...

16. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems

udemy
4.1
(263)

The most complete course available on Functional Safety. 2+ hours of videos, case studies, assignments, & more...

17. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY

udemy
4.4
(252)

Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...

18. Occupational Health & Safety Training

udemy
4.4
(1,198)

Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

19. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

20. SonarQube SonarCloud - Continuous Inspection and Code Review

udemy
4.3
(867)

Automated continuous inspection and code quality. Sonar Qube and Sonar Cloud to analyse 25+ languages in real time...

Average inspector salary by education level

Inspectors with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $52,732 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, inspectors earn a median annual income of $45,604 compared to $42,040 for inspectors with an Associate degree.
Inspector education levelInspector salary
Master's Degree$52,732
High School Diploma or Less$38,891
Bachelor's Degree$45,604
Some College/ Associate Degree$42,040

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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