Building Inspector

[bigray76]

I am thinking of taking a couple of classes and the subsequent exams and getting my building inspector's license. Has anyone else here gone this route?

 

[Desert Engineer]

My dad is a DSA (Dept of State Architect) Inspector in California. He mainly inspects schools and hospitals. The money is good, $90-100 per hour with a 3 or 4 hr min. He said he can do 2-3 inspections per day (when he's not on a job full time). The problem is that to get your license, it's like a secret society; existing inspectors are very exclusive because they dont want new people taking their work from them. And then there are the contractors that do improper work (like not building a emergency shelter to code, big deal in earthquake country) and when the inspector won't pass them, lobbying to have the inspector fired. My dad has plenty of stories about noticing previously inspected work that wouldn't pass inspection (missed by a previous inspector), reporting it, and getting his walking papers.

My advice to you would be get to know the inspectors on your job and become friends. That is what he did, he was working for a contractor and made friends with the inspector, who gave him the "in's and out's" on how to go about geting the license and getting work.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I haven't been there for a while, but you might want to look at the ICC bulletin board:

http://www.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

From the impression I get, DW's dad is right on. You gotta remember a lot of builders have the local politicos in their back pockets, too.

 

[Techie_Junkie_PE_LEED_AP]

Ray,

I went throught the classes for NYS Building Code Offical last year. There are 6 one week classes you have to take and pass a test at the end of each week with a final at completion. The classes are one week per month over six months.

There is no secret society and the classes don't cost any thing. The only catch is you have to have the most recent building code books which are pricey.

Since you are in NJ, you could make the NY classes easy. then once you have your certification and registration #, you can "challenge" the ICC test, ie take it without paying for the ICC classes which are even more $$$.

Here is the linke to the NYS Dept. of State website for Codes and their training classes:

http://www.dos.state.ny.us/CODE/netsched1.html

And here is the website for NYS Building Officials Conference (more info than you'll care to know):

http://www.nysboc.net/

Good luck!

 

[bigray76]

Ray,
I went throught the classes for NYS Building Code Offical last year. There are 6 one week classes you have to take and pass a test at the end of each week with a final at completion. The classes are one week per month over six months.

There is no secret society and the classes don't cost any thing. The only catch is you have to have the most recent building code books which are pricey.

Since you are in NJ, you could make the NY classes easy. then once you have your certification and registration #, you can "challenge" the ICC test, ie take it without paying for the ICC classes which are even more $$$.

Here is the linke to the NYS Dept. of State website for Codes and their training classes:

http://www.dos.state.ny.us/CODE/netsched1.html

And here is the website for NYS Building Officials Conference (more info than you'll care to know):

http://www.nysboc.net/

Good luck!

Thanks Techie... good stuff!

 

[bigray76]

Okay, I am back onto thinking about getting my Building Inspector's License here in NJ (not home inspector, Building Inspector and possibly Code Official).

As a PE in NJ, I am exempt from taking the classes, but not the tests (offered at Prometric Testing centers).

Does anyone know of any good study guides or sample test resources?