Who can perform and sign an NPMA-33
The inspection must be performed and signed by an inspector who holds the certification, registration, or license required by the state where the property is located. The NPMA-33 is a national form, but the licensing is state-specific. A Texas inspector needs a license in the termite control category; a California inspector needs a Branch 3 license. The inspector's credential number is entered in Section I.
What the NPMA-33 covers (and does not)
For purposes of the NPMA-33, wood destroying insects include termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and reinfesting wood boring beetles. Importantly, the inspection does not include mold, mildew, or non-insect wood destroying organisms. That is a key difference from California's WDO report, which also covers fungi and dry rot.
The 90-day rule
The report is considered invalid for securing a mortgage or a property transfer if it is not used within 90 days from the date of inspection. This is not a 90-day warranty; it is a usability window for the transaction. The date of inspection in Section I is what the clock runs from.
The NPMA-33, section by section
| Section | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Section I | General information. Inspecting company, address, and phone; the company's pest control business license number; date of inspection; address of the property inspected; the inspector's name, signature, and certification, registration, or license number; and the structure(s) inspected. |
| Section II | Inspection findings. Either A (no visible evidence of wood destroying insects observed) or B (visible evidence observed), broken into live insects, dead insects/parts/frass/shelter tubes/exit holes/staining, and visible damage, each with a description and location. The form notes it is not a structural damage report. |
| Section III | Recommendations. Either no action/treatment recommended (which must be explained if findings box B is checked), or recommended action(s)/treatment(s) and what they are for. |
| Section IV | Obstructions and inaccessible areas. Which areas were obstructed or inaccessible (basement, crawlspace, main level, attic, garage, exterior, porch, addition, other), written out or coded with the optional 1-26 key (fixed ceiling, stored items, insulation, standing water, dense vegetation, and so on). |
| Section V | Additional comments + attachments. Comments and any attachments, which are an integral part of the report, plus the seller/owner and buyer signatures. The buyer acknowledges receipt of both pages. |
When to recommend treatment
For subterranean termites, the NPMA guidelines are clear: recommend treatment or corrective action if live termites are found. If there is evidence of infestation with no documented prior treatment, recommend treatment even without live termites. If there is evidence of infestation and a documented prior treatment, treatment may be recommended unless the structure is under warranty or a service agreement. For other wood destroying insects, refer to the NPMA suggested guidelines.
The 24-inch crawl space rule
Crawl spaces and attics may be deemed inaccessible if the opening is too small for physical access or a ladder is required, and a crawl space with less than 24 inches of clearance from the bottom of the floor joists to the surface below may be deemed inaccessible. Document these in Section IV; if an inaccessible area is later made accessible, the company may be contacted for another inspection (an additional fee may apply).
Fill out the NPMA-33 by voice, not by hand
Serv AI lets a licensed inspector photograph their field sheet or speak their findings and produces an NPMA-33-style report with the findings, recommendations, obstructions, and attachments filled in, ready to send. The paperwork goes from about 45 minutes to a couple of minutes per inspection.
Working in a specific state? See our guides on the Texas WDI report (Form SPCS/T-5) and the California WDO report (Section 8516).
NPMA-33 FAQ
Source: Form NPMA-33 (7/01/19), Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report, © 2019 National Pest Management Association, including the Important Consumer Information on page 2. The form is approved for FHA and VA loans. Licensing requirements vary by state. This guide is for general information and does not replace the official form, the NPMA Suggested Guidelines, or legal advice.