Road Vehicles

• As of 2010, all 50 states require safety inspections for vehicles at approved inspection stations. If the vehicle meets the requirements, a certificate of inspection is issued. Proof of inspection must be presented when obtaining the vehicle's title and must be kept current for vehicles that are in use. In some states, such as Maryland, a temporary certificate of inspection may be obtained if the vehicle cannot be transported to a an inspection station.
  
  

Military Water Vessels

• The Coast Guard inspects seagoing vessels. If the vessel and the equipment on it meet the approval of the inspector, one or two forms can be issued, according to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. A Certificate of Inspection and/or Temporary Certificate of Inspection can be issued by the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection. Both types of certificates describe who owns and operates the vessel, when and where the vessel may travel and other mandates.
  
  

Real Estate

• When an examiner inspects a piece of land and finds it to match its description on the deed, he may issue a certificate of inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The inspector might check whether the property is fit to be occupied, whether the land has ever been used before, which items on the land are owned by the landowner and whether hazardous materials are on the property. The inspector may also verify if the landowner or squatters reside on the land.
  
  

Pressurized Containers

• The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) office of Public Buildings Service oversees inspection of pressurized vessels. A government inspector issues a certificate of inspection, also signed by the chief operating engineer of the vessel, if she finds the equipment to meet safety standards. The inspection certificate details the maximum pressure per square inch at which the vessel can operate. As of 2010, GSA Form 1034 was used for this purpose.
  
  

Patents

• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) defines certificates of inspection as documents that confirm inspection and approval of a device for which a patent is being sought. The certificate confirms that the potentially patented item has been tested by PTO officials and meets the organization's requirements as stated in the patent seeker's contract. If the device does not meet inspection criteria, no certificate is issued. (See Reference 5)