How does someone become a certified building official?
ICC certifications are essential for building inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials. Certifications demonstrate that the building official is properly trained in their field of expertise and can effectively apply the code to construction projects. Becoming a certified building official requires passing several International Code Council (ICC) certification exams. The entire process requires three basic steps:
1. Learn what the ICC requires for 2018 certified building officials
The International Code Council requires examinees to pass three examinations in order to be granted the designation of a certified building official. The largest and most intensive of these three examinations by far, is the building codes and standards module. The 2018 certified building official building codes and standards module requires the applicant to be knowledgeable in nearly the entire series of international building codes available from the International Code Council as well as some other outside publications. The required texts are as follows:
1. 2018 International Building Code 2. 2018 International Residential Code 3. 2018 International Plumbing Code 4. 2018 International Mechanical Code 5. 2018 International Fire Code 6. 2018 International Energy Conservation Code 7. ICC A117.1-2009 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
8. NFPA 70: National Electrical (NEC) 2017
9. 2018 Special Inspection Manual
From these code standards, an examinee must be able to answer questions from the following categories:
Architectural Plan Review 31%
Use and Occupancy Classification 4%
Determine use and occupancy classification of structures for building code compliance.
Construction Classification 4%
Determine required construction classification for code compliance.
Means of Egress Provisions 6%
Determine compliance of the means of egress provisions of the structure with the building code.
Light, Ventilation, and Sanitation Provisions 3%
Determine compliance with light, ventilation, and sanitation provisions of the structure with the building code.