Way cool! Thank you for commenting and I hope it helps you. Some of the other content in this channel should also be of help. Best of luck to you. As you may already know, there continues to be a significant need for building inspectors. Let me know if you have any questions. Take care. Jose M
Hey BCB, just wanted to follow up. I nailed my first interview and the completed the background check. I have a second interview on the 24th. Thanks again. I’ll keep you posted.
@@LilBatters Congratulations! That is very exciting! I want to sincerely thank you for the follow up too. I appreciate it more than you may know, it is very inspiring - and inspiring to many people out there who may be considering the building code profession; so -- thank you! Your second interview will go well. Second interviews are typically held with the people you will be working with, and your immediate supervisor; it is much more informal and basically, they want to get to know you just a bit more on a personal level so just be you. If you made it to the 2nd, it is usually very encouraging… I am very happy for you, and I am positive others in this platform share your excitement and are rooting for you. Please stay in touch and let me know how things progress, or please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you! You will do well; and once again, thank you for the follow up! - Jose L. Martinez
@@CBO.online Hello Jose. Just wanted to follow up with you. I guess the 2nd interview went well, they called me yesterday and said out of 85 people that applied, only 8 were interviewed and I am one of the finalists. They want me to come in this Tuesday at 7:15 am to meet the rest of the Dept. They never asked me for references though. Not sure if your familiar with the western suburbs of Chicagoland, but the job is in Naperville, IL, and it’s considered a very prestigious city in the state. Do you think I should bring them a copy of references just in case or no? And do you think that they already know who they’re going to hire and this last meet and greet is just a courtesy? Any further advice would help. Thanks.
@@LilBatters Oh man - congratulations! And a huge thank you for the update! My son told me about Naperville, he went to school in U of St. Francis in Joliet, about a half-hour south of Naperville; and he also told me what you said about its prestige. How exciting, and such an awesome opportunity! Seems they experience a wide range of projects (commercial/residential/industrial). Naperville also has its share of beautiful luxurious homes; Inspecting them is almost like inspecting small commercial buildings. I’ll go out on a limb and say it sounds like you got the job! At least in my experience, as a Building Official, the only person(s) invited back for the final interview are the candidate(s) that I will be hiring. The final interview is a bit more of an informal meet/greet with the staff you will potentially be working with, and vice versa. They basically want to get to know you a bit more on a personal level, to the extent that they can. This is also an opportunity for the hiring manager to seek the team’s input on the candidate. So, yes…. chances are they already know who they are going to hire (99.9999%). Also, you should bring a copy of your resume and references, just in case; but I wouldn’t hand it out to the group, unless they request it. It’s better to have the information and not need it, than to need it and not have the information. The only thing I can say is to be yourself; and ask questions - be curious about the “day in the life of a Naperville Building Inspector,” and remember that we are public servants and a service to the community is what they are looking for in a candidate; do you show a positive outlook on challenges encountered? Are you respectful and professional in your interactions? Just some personality traits they may observe. The key thing to keep in mind is that (quite frankly) most all jurisdictions desire an individual who has integrity and fosters a collaborative working relationship with colleagues and the public/customers. You made it this far, man… Out of 85 people that applied and 8 interviewees… and now you are a finalist --- Good job! The individuals (panelists) involved in the first two interviews can't be wrong about you; they obviously see that you will be a good fit for the organization and as a Building Inspector. Stay positive and please keep us posted! You will do well, and as I always say - if it was meant to be, it shall be. I look forward to hearing from you. Be well! **EDIT: You should have at least two or three questions to ask the group; and... you may want to ask the group what success looks like, in six months or a year, for the individual that is hired for the position... this should give you an initial idea of what their expectations will be of you. Whatever input they provide, be sure to write it down; as this will be insight on what you will need to do in order to succeed with the organization. I hope this makes sense. You don't have to ask that question though. - Jose L. Martinez
@@CBO.online interview actually went great. The question were very similar to what was in the video. I applied for both building inspector and civil inspector. They said they are hoping to make a decision Friday. They have two more days of interviews to do.
@@BloodGangJohnWayne That is way cool! It's a good thing when you feel good about the interview. I am sure you made a great impression on the panelist. Stay positive and continue the path you are on. Take care and thank you for letting us know how things went.
I am very glad this helped you! Thank you for your feedback, it is important to me so I know the content to focus on. Take care and stay tuned for the upcoming video...
Thank you for posting this video, has helped on my first interview..now I have second one coming up. Any suggestions? Thanks in advice and keep the great work.
Hi Jesse. Thanks for emailing me, it was great to read your experience; please let us know how things go for you, as I am sure many are rooting for you! Best of luck and take care. Jose M
Great question. In short; unless you are specifically asked to bring reference material, I would not. If, during the interview, a question is asked which will necessitate looking in the code book - they will be prepared to provide you access to a code book. For time management reasons interviewers stay away from the practice of open book questions, which is why normally they will ask very basic code questions. I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have further questions. You can also reach me at buildingcodebuddyonline@yahoo.com. I’ll be happy to further help. - CBO
Hi Dan. Here is information that could help. First off, when it comes to leadership roles, technical (code) questions are seldom asked; in my experience assisting and conducting recruitments/interviews - the primary things that the interviewers need to find out is; 1. Does the candidate meet the minimum experience and qualifications indicated in the Job Specifications? (look through the agency’s job specifications, as the questions are very much based on this document) However, unless they need a “plug-and-play” individual -- exceptions are often made for those that may not fully possess the minimum qualifications, depending on the individual and the needs of the agency; but it boils down to how much time/effort and training will the candidate need to perform satisfactory to the role; you may be prepared to include an example (if you feel you may not have all qualifications) of a time you were assigned (or volunteered to take on) a role/task that was unfamiliar to you and how you persevered. During the initial “tell us about yourself and what you bring to the organization…” is where you can talk about this and any other relevant experience/achievements. 2. Does the candidate possess leadership qualities? Questions could vary depending on the number of personnel and sectors you will be supervising. This sort of ties-in with questions related to your experience; example, if you will be supervising front counter staff, in addition to building inspectors, then questions regarding your experience with the permit process will be asked. Questions such as “describe your leadership style;” or, “tell us about your ability to develop and maintain positive and effective working relationships...with your team, colleagues?” … Because, ultimately, your leadership style will be experienced by internal and external customers and the public. 3. Integrity, personality of a candidate, and cognizance of the “chain of command” is also evaluated. So, questions such as “you inspect a project and notice that the plan checker (who happens to be the building official) missed several items that will require resubmittal… how would you handle that situation?” or, “you get assigned a code enforcement case involving umpermitted work; and after your investigation, a local elected official approaches you in private to discuss the matter and ‘doesn’t understand why the work needs a building permit’” …how would you explain the importance of building permit to the elected official, and what other steps would you take after the meeting? And a follow up to that question is… “what if that was your relative… how would you handle the situation?” Also keep in mind that if (per job description) you are expected to conduct plan review and code enforcement, then questions that will require you to describe relevant experience will be asked; so be prepared to discuss any experience with investigating/managing/following-up with code enforcement cases; plan reviews you’ve conducted. Working together with the customers to help resolve issues is imperative so your understanding of Design Limitations for Unlicensed Individuals is important; and prepare to be asked to provide examples of when you encountered a challenging issue (code enforcement, plan review, or inspection) and “how you resolved it - and what lessons did you learn.” But also keep in mind that the questions could vary drastically between a Senior Building Inspector position at a UC versus a City/County. Here are other questions you could be asked: - What attributes do you have that allow you to be successful in the role of Senior Building Inspector? - What types of training have you conducted to colleagues and what is your approach to conducting training to colleagues? - Are there any areas where you feel you can develop to be successful in the Senior Building Inspector position? - You are hired for the position, what are some of the things you will do in the first 3 weeks? I will emphasize to look through the Job Description, as that will be the basis of most all questions. I hope the above helps; however, feel free to reach out to me directly if you want to further discuss; as gaining an understanding of the organization dynamics, jurisdiction and job description would help better provide information. Nevertheless, best of luck to you and please let me know how things go for you; I’d greatly appreciate it. Be well. Jose M
Mannnn I was asked all these questions today and dropped the ball! They always had me go through a set of plans and find the slab thickness for building 1 on the foundation plan (S.1) and go through the footing detail and find the Anchor bolts diameter and spacing🤦🏾♂️ this was for a senior inspector position for the city of Hemet. But I did well on the 2 city of Redlands interviews last week. Just waiting on the response. I have an interview tomorrow for the city of riverside. Hopefully I do better. I keep tripping up on the arc breaker questions though because I don’t have must electrical experience.
Hello Mr. Martinez, Thank you for your Valuable videos that you sharing here. I have a question for you; I took an online exame for position of assistance inspector of LA City, do you know by any chance where can I find an interview questions about this LA City position? Regards.
Hi Sean. Thanks for reaching out. It is great that you are pursuing the B certifications. There are some prep courses out there which I outline below; there may be more, but these are the only ones I am aware of at this time. Also, you may already be aware, the B5 is comprised of both the Residential B1 and the Commercial B2 certifications. Essentially the B5 is a combination of the two the “Building Inspector Certification.” That being said -- First --- There is a 4-week long course that basically preps students to take the ICC exams. This agency offers both online and onsite classroom. Fairly straightforward process to sign up. Here is the link: contractorexamschools.com/seminars/building-codes-commercial-icc/ This is somewhat of a “guarantee pass” type of class and they also assist with scheduling and taking the exam, but double check this with the agency to be sure. This class can be ideal for people who may have evening and personal commitments who may just want to “get it done,” (attain the certification). Second option --- The International Code Council has an online learning center with an array of classes that prepare people for exams. These go more in depth than the above noted (In terms of gaining an understanding of the codes).
The below link takes you to a webpage which contains the different code books you can take prep courses on. Here is the link: www.iccsafe.org/professional-development/education/residential-building-inspector-career-path/
I hope this helps your endeavors. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there are any questions regarding the information I sent, or if you have any questions at all. Thank you for checking out the channel. Take care and best of luck. Jose M
Hi Jorge. Greetings from California. I checked through a couple of sources and I could not find one. However, there are online courses you may be interested in; I have never took these classes but I do know a couple of people who have, and had success; here is the link: contractorexamschools.com/seminars/building-codes-commercial-icc/ Also, you may want to contact your local (City or County) building inspectors; I am sure they would be happy to help you - and, they should know if there are any local courses you can take. Please let me know if I can be of further help. Best of luck to you. - Jose L. Martinez
Hello, Tim - excellent question! If you are referring to the purpose/intent of the building codes (which is a question often asked during interviews, not a typical question for apprentice building inspector candidates though), then generally speaking - you are correct. The building code’s purpose (also referred to as the “intent”) is cited in the administrative chapter of the codes; such as Section 101.3 of the International Building Code (or CA Building Code if you’re in CA); which states, in part, “…. The purpose if this code is to establish the minimum requirements to provide… safety, health and general welfare… and property protection of fire explosion… and to provide a reasonable level if safety to fire fighters and emergency personnel…” Whereas the Uniform Plumbing & Mechanical Codes (model codes) Section 101.3 states almost verbatim what you cited; “….. for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.” The electrical code’s purpose (NEC/CA Elec. Code Article 90.1) is “…. safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.” And the energy code’s intent is different compared to the above noted building codes. I hope this answers the question. However, please let me know if I misunderstood the question. Take care, Jose M
Thanks for presenting this, I have an interview next week. Question... Except where you specifically stated something was just for CA, how applicable are the other classes and occupancy codes (like the R) to New York State? Are the numbers of the codes the same under the IBC, and will they use that in NY? Thanks
Hi, Mark. Great question, the state of NY has quite the similarities as CA, especially as it relates to the Occupancies - in fact, here is the link to access (directly) the R Occupancies in the 2020 Building Code of NY State, which appears to be the latest (adopted) edition. Link: up.codes/viewer/new_york/ibc-2018/chapter/3/occupancy-classification-and-use#310.1 I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. You can also reach out directly if you want more in-depth information (jm.wboard@yahoo.com). Best of luck to you and I hope you can let me know how it all goes. -JM
Just finished getting my commercial and residential was wondering if you had any advice on the plans examiner test. Material, classes etc. And is it something I should get certified in? Thank you in advance
Wow - congratulations on attaining both the commercial and residential cert! Yes, I would highly advice taking the plans examiner cert, for professional growth and opportunity reasons; but it ultimately depends on your career aspirations. The test content should (at least in some parts) be similar to the inspector exam but there is a portion that involves reviewing a set of plans - and the exam is typically specific to reviewing documents for code requirements; best of all is by now you should be familiar with where to find code requirements. As for the materials - it depends on whether you will study toward the residential or commercial plans examiner cert. Here is the link to the catalog: www.iccsafe.org/certification-exam-catalog/ For example; the 2021 Residential Plans Examiner - R3; the reference materials are - the 2021 International Residential Code to take the exam. The 2021 Building Plans Examiner - B3 (commercial); the reference materials are - 2021 International Building Code; Concrete Manual: Concrete Quality and Field Practices 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19; and, ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary. Let me know if you have any further questions and I hope this helps. Congratulations and best of luck! JM
@@musiqeroGreat point. Continue with the 2018 editions. Ultimately, for employment purposes, it doesn't matter which edition you test to. The 2021 edition will only give you insight on the updates.
Thank you. Have watched of a few of your videos and thanks for all the insight. I’m trying to move from a carpenter/concrete finisher world to inspection safe my aging body lol. If you have any more insight on how to write reports or do the paperwork aspect it would be much appreciated. Again thank you so much for the videos
@@musiqero Carpenter/concrete is certainly rough on the body, especially concrete work (IMO). Building Inspection can be mentally challenging, so be prepared. But as long as you continue your studies and are not being unreasonable toward the public/customers and your coworkers - you'll do great! Coming from the trades, you have an understanding and appreciation of the hard-work and efforts it takes to build structures, so that will also help you be successful. Report writing is a very important "must know" for building inspectors. You are not the first to ask that, in fact - thanks for asking, you just gave me that additional inspiration to crank out a quick video covering this important item very soon. A quick note about report writing is to keep things brief as long as you cover the "what" and "where" - and always be prepared with the section of code - more so if the item will or could be contentious. More to come on that, so please stay tuned. And don't hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions.
This is exactly what I was looking for. Great job. Thank you.
Way cool! Thank you for commenting and I hope it helps you. Some of the other content in this channel should also be of help. Best of luck to you. As you may already know, there continues to be a significant need for building inspectors. Let me know if you have any questions.
Take care.
Jose M
Hey BCB, just wanted to follow up. I nailed my first interview and the completed the background check. I have a second interview on the 24th. Thanks again. I’ll keep you posted.
@@LilBatters Congratulations! That is very exciting! I want to sincerely thank you for the follow up too. I appreciate it more than you may know, it is very inspiring - and inspiring to many people out there who may be considering the building code profession; so -- thank you!
Your second interview will go well. Second interviews are typically held with the people you will be working with, and your immediate supervisor; it is much more informal and basically, they want to get to know you just a bit more on a personal level so just be you. If you made it to the 2nd, it is usually very encouraging…
I am very happy for you, and I am positive others in this platform share your excitement and are rooting for you. Please stay in touch and let me know how things progress, or please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
I look forward to hearing from you!
You will do well; and once again, thank you for the follow up!
- Jose L. Martinez
@@CBO.online Hello Jose. Just wanted to follow up with you. I guess the 2nd interview went well, they called me yesterday and said out of 85 people that applied, only 8 were interviewed and I am one of the finalists. They want me to come in this Tuesday at 7:15 am to meet the rest of the Dept. They never asked me for references though. Not sure if your familiar with the western suburbs of Chicagoland, but the job is in Naperville, IL, and it’s considered a very prestigious city in the state. Do you think I should bring them a copy of references just in case or no? And do you think that they already know who they’re going to hire and this last meet and greet is just a courtesy? Any further advice would help.
Thanks.
@@LilBatters Oh man - congratulations! And a huge thank you for the update! My son told me about Naperville, he went to school in U of St. Francis in Joliet, about a half-hour south of Naperville; and he also told me what you said about its prestige. How exciting, and such an awesome opportunity! Seems they experience a wide range of projects (commercial/residential/industrial). Naperville also has its share of beautiful luxurious homes; Inspecting them is almost like inspecting small commercial buildings.
I’ll go out on a limb and say it sounds like you got the job! At least in my experience, as a Building Official, the only person(s) invited back for the final interview are the candidate(s) that I will be hiring. The final interview is a bit more of an informal meet/greet with the staff you will potentially be working with, and vice versa. They basically want to get to know you a bit more on a personal level, to the extent that they can. This is also an opportunity for the hiring manager to seek the team’s input on the candidate. So, yes…. chances are they already know who they are going to hire (99.9999%).
Also, you should bring a copy of your resume and references, just in case; but I wouldn’t hand it out to the group, unless they request it. It’s better to have the information and not need it, than to need it and not have the information.
The only thing I can say is to be yourself; and ask questions - be curious about the “day in the life of a Naperville Building Inspector,” and remember that we are public servants and a service to the community is what they are looking for in a candidate; do you show a positive outlook on challenges encountered? Are you respectful and professional in your interactions? Just some personality traits they may observe. The key thing to keep in mind is that (quite frankly) most all jurisdictions desire an individual who has integrity and fosters a collaborative working relationship with colleagues and the public/customers.
You made it this far, man… Out of 85 people that applied and 8 interviewees… and now you are a finalist --- Good job! The individuals (panelists) involved in the first two interviews can't be wrong about you; they obviously see that you will be a good fit for the organization and as a Building Inspector.
Stay positive and please keep us posted! You will do well, and as I always say - if it was meant to be, it shall be.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Be well!
**EDIT: You should have at least two or three questions to ask the group; and... you may want to ask the group what success looks like, in six months or a year, for the individual that is hired for the position... this should give you an initial idea of what their expectations will be of you. Whatever input they provide, be sure to write it down; as this will be insight on what you will need to do in order to succeed with the organization. I hope this makes sense. You don't have to ask that question though.
- Jose L. Martinez
Thanks for the tips. I Have a building inspector interview in 2 hours.
Congratulations! And best of luck to you. You’ll do well, be positive and confident. Let us know how things go.
Hey! I trust all went very well for you! Please let me know how things went.
@@CBO.online interview actually went great. The question were very similar to what was in the video. I applied for both building inspector and civil inspector. They said they are hoping to make a decision Friday. They have two more days of interviews to do.
@@BloodGangJohnWayne That is way cool! It's a good thing when you feel good about the interview. I am sure you made a great impression on the panelist. Stay positive and continue the path you are on. Take care and thank you for letting us know how things went.
Bro your state plz , just I know the information about notification
Very good
Thank you, Kent - and thank you for checking out the video. Please let me know if you ever have any questions.
Be well.
Jose M
Very communicative and informative, thank you!
You are quite welcome. Let me know if you have any questions; I am always happy to help.
Be well.
- Jose M
Thanks for the video very helpful!
I am very glad this helped you! Thank you for your feedback, it is important to me so I know the content to focus on. Take care and stay tuned for the upcoming video...
Thank you for posting this video, has helped on my first interview..now I have second one coming up. Any suggestions? Thanks in advice and keep the great work.
Hi Jesse. Thanks for emailing me, it was great to read your experience; please let us know how things go for you, as I am sure many are rooting for you!
Best of luck and take care.
Jose M
Great stuff, thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome. I hope it helps you; please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for the comment.
Good info, Thank you!
I hope it helps you. Thank you for watching, Chris. Take care!
Would you recommend bringing a code book into an interview , or using a code check?
Great question. In short; unless you are specifically asked to bring reference material, I would not. If, during the interview, a question is asked which will necessitate looking in the code book - they will be prepared to provide you access to a code book. For time management reasons interviewers stay away from the practice of open book questions, which is why normally they will ask very basic code questions.
I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have further questions. You can also reach me at buildingcodebuddyonline@yahoo.com. I’ll be happy to further help.
- CBO
Any example questions for a Senior Building Inspectior interview? Thanks love your channel!
Hi Dan. I do have some input I can provide; I will post it tomorrow. Thanks for asking.
Hi Dan. Here is information that could help. First off, when it comes to leadership roles, technical (code) questions are seldom asked; in my experience assisting and conducting recruitments/interviews - the primary things that the interviewers need to find out is;
1. Does the candidate meet the minimum experience and qualifications indicated in the Job Specifications? (look through the agency’s job specifications, as the questions are very much based on this document)
However, unless they need a “plug-and-play” individual -- exceptions are often made for those that may not fully possess the minimum qualifications, depending on the individual and the needs of the agency; but it boils down to how much time/effort and training will the candidate need to perform satisfactory to the role; you may be prepared to include an example (if you feel you may not have all qualifications) of a time you were assigned (or volunteered to take on) a role/task that was unfamiliar to you and how you persevered.
During the initial “tell us about yourself and what you bring to the organization…” is where you can talk about this and any other relevant experience/achievements.
2. Does the candidate possess leadership qualities?
Questions could vary depending on the number of personnel and sectors you will be supervising. This sort of ties-in with questions related to your experience; example, if you will be supervising front counter staff, in addition to building inspectors, then questions regarding your experience with the permit process will be asked.
Questions such as “describe your leadership style;” or, “tell us about your ability to develop and maintain positive and effective working relationships...with your team, colleagues?” … Because, ultimately, your leadership style will be experienced by internal and external customers and the public.
3. Integrity, personality of a candidate, and cognizance of the “chain of command” is also evaluated.
So, questions such as “you inspect a project and notice that the plan checker (who happens to be the building official) missed several items that will require resubmittal… how would you handle that situation?” or, “you get assigned a code enforcement case involving umpermitted work; and after your investigation, a local elected official approaches you in private to discuss the matter and ‘doesn’t understand why the work needs a building permit’” …how would you explain the importance of building permit to the elected official, and what other steps would you take after the meeting?
And a follow up to that question is… “what if that was your relative… how would you handle the situation?”
Also keep in mind that if (per job description) you are expected to conduct plan review and code enforcement, then questions that will require you to describe relevant experience will be asked; so be prepared to discuss any experience with investigating/managing/following-up with code enforcement cases; plan reviews you’ve conducted. Working together with the customers to help resolve issues is imperative so your understanding of Design Limitations for Unlicensed Individuals is important; and prepare to be asked to provide examples of when you encountered a challenging issue (code enforcement, plan review, or inspection) and “how you resolved it - and what lessons did you learn.”
But also keep in mind that the questions could vary drastically between a Senior Building Inspector position at a UC versus a City/County.
Here are other questions you could be asked:
- What attributes do you have that allow you to be successful in the role of Senior Building Inspector?
- What types of training have you conducted to colleagues and what is your approach to conducting training to colleagues?
- Are there any areas where you feel you can develop to be successful in the Senior Building Inspector position?
- You are hired for the position, what are some of the things you will do in the first 3 weeks?
I will emphasize to look through the Job Description, as that will be the basis of most all questions. I hope the above helps; however, feel free to reach out to me directly if you want to further discuss; as gaining an understanding of the organization dynamics, jurisdiction and job description would help better provide information. Nevertheless, best of luck to you and please let me know how things go for you; I’d greatly appreciate it.
Be well.
Jose M
Mannnn I was asked all these questions today and dropped the ball! They always had me go through a set of plans and find the slab thickness for building 1 on the foundation plan (S.1) and go through the footing detail and find the Anchor bolts diameter and spacing🤦🏾♂️ this was for a senior inspector position for the city of Hemet. But I did well on the 2 city of Redlands interviews last week. Just waiting on the response. I have an interview tomorrow for the city of riverside. Hopefully I do better. I keep tripping up on the arc breaker questions though because I don’t have must electrical experience.
Hello Mr. Martinez, Thank you for your Valuable videos that you sharing here.
I have a question for you; I took an online exame for position of assistance inspector of LA City, do you know by any chance where can I find an interview questions about this LA City position?
Regards.
Thanks for the video! I am looking into taking the 2018 ICC B5 Building Inspector Exam. Do you have any prep course recommendations?
Hi Sean. Thanks for reaching out. It is great that you are pursuing the B certifications. There are some prep courses out there which I outline below; there may be more, but these are the only ones I am aware of at this time.
Also, you may already be aware, the B5 is comprised of both the Residential B1 and the Commercial B2 certifications. Essentially the B5 is a combination of the two the “Building Inspector Certification.”
That being said --
First ---
There is a 4-week long course that basically preps students to take the ICC exams. This agency offers both online and onsite classroom. Fairly straightforward process to sign up.
Here is the link: contractorexamschools.com/seminars/building-codes-commercial-icc/
This is somewhat of a “guarantee pass” type of class and they also assist with scheduling and taking the exam, but double check this with the agency to be sure. This class can be ideal for people who may have evening and personal commitments who may just want to “get it done,” (attain the certification).
Second option ---
The International Code Council has an online learning center with an array of classes that prepare people for exams. These go more in depth than the above noted (In terms of gaining an understanding of the codes).
The below link takes you to a webpage which contains the different code books you can take prep courses on.
Here is the link: www.iccsafe.org/professional-development/education/residential-building-inspector-career-path/
I hope this helps your endeavors. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there are any questions regarding the information I sent, or if you have any questions at all.
Thank you for checking out the channel.
Take care and best of luck.
Jose M
Hi, I am in Maryland do you know any inspectors school here.
Hi Jorge. Greetings from California.
I checked through a couple of sources and I could not find one. However, there are online courses you may be interested in; I have never took these classes but I do know a couple of people who have, and had success; here is the link: contractorexamschools.com/seminars/building-codes-commercial-icc/
Also, you may want to contact your local (City or County) building inspectors; I am sure they would be happy to help you - and, they should know if there are any local courses you can take.
Please let me know if I can be of further help. Best of luck to you.
- Jose L. Martinez
What are the three items in all codes that drive them? Public health, safety, and welfare.
Hello, Tim - excellent question! If you are referring to the purpose/intent of the building codes (which is a question often asked during interviews, not a typical question for apprentice building inspector candidates though), then generally speaking - you are correct.
The building code’s purpose (also referred to as the “intent”) is cited in the administrative chapter of the codes; such as Section 101.3 of the International Building Code (or CA Building Code if you’re in CA); which states, in part, “…. The purpose if this code is to establish the minimum requirements to provide… safety, health and general welfare… and property protection of fire explosion… and to provide a reasonable level if safety to fire fighters and emergency personnel…”
Whereas the Uniform Plumbing & Mechanical Codes (model codes) Section 101.3 states almost verbatim what you cited; “….. for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.”
The electrical code’s purpose (NEC/CA Elec. Code Article 90.1) is “…. safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.”
And the energy code’s intent is different compared to the above noted building codes.
I hope this answers the question. However, please let me know if I misunderstood the question.
Take care,
Jose M
Thanks for presenting this, I have an interview next week. Question... Except where you specifically stated something was just for CA, how applicable are the other classes and occupancy codes (like the R) to New York State? Are the numbers of the codes the same under the IBC, and will they use that in NY? Thanks
Hi, Mark. Great question, the state of NY has quite the similarities as CA, especially as it relates to the Occupancies - in fact, here is the link to access (directly) the R Occupancies in the 2020 Building Code of NY State, which appears to be the latest (adopted) edition. Link: up.codes/viewer/new_york/ibc-2018/chapter/3/occupancy-classification-and-use#310.1
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. You can also reach out directly if you want more in-depth information (jm.wboard@yahoo.com).
Best of luck to you and I hope you can let me know how it all goes.
-JM
Thanks for this.
You are very welcome! Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help.
JM
Just finished getting my commercial and residential was wondering if you had any advice on the plans examiner test. Material, classes etc. And is it something I should get certified in? Thank you in advance
Wow - congratulations on attaining both the commercial and residential cert! Yes, I would highly advice taking the plans examiner cert, for professional growth and opportunity reasons; but it ultimately depends on your career aspirations. The test content should (at least in some parts) be similar to the inspector exam but there is a portion that involves reviewing a set of plans - and the exam is typically specific to reviewing documents for code requirements; best of all is by now you should be familiar with where to find code requirements. As for the materials - it depends on whether you will study toward the residential or commercial plans examiner cert. Here is the link to the catalog: www.iccsafe.org/certification-exam-catalog/
For example;
the 2021 Residential Plans Examiner - R3; the reference materials are - the 2021 International Residential Code to take the exam.
The 2021 Building Plans Examiner - B3 (commercial); the reference materials are - 2021 International Building Code;
Concrete Manual: Concrete Quality and Field Practices 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19; and,
ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary.
Let me know if you have any further questions and I hope this helps.
Congratulations and best of luck!
JM
So I got certified with the 2018 IBC and IRC exams. Should I continue with the 2018 or use the 2021 edition? Thank you in advance.
@@musiqeroGreat point. Continue with the 2018 editions. Ultimately, for employment purposes, it doesn't matter which edition you test to. The 2021 edition will only give you insight on the updates.
Thank you. Have watched of a few of your videos and thanks for all the insight. I’m trying to move from a carpenter/concrete finisher world to inspection safe my aging body lol. If you have any more insight on how to write reports or do the paperwork aspect it would be much appreciated. Again thank you so much for the videos
@@musiqero Carpenter/concrete is certainly rough on the body, especially concrete work (IMO). Building Inspection can be mentally challenging, so be prepared. But as long as you continue your studies and are not being unreasonable toward the public/customers and your coworkers - you'll do great! Coming from the trades, you have an understanding and appreciation of the hard-work and efforts it takes to build structures, so that will also help you be successful. Report writing is a very important "must know" for building inspectors. You are not the first to ask that, in fact - thanks for asking, you just gave me that additional inspiration to crank out a quick video covering this important item very soon. A quick note about report writing is to keep things brief as long as you cover the "what" and "where" - and always be prepared with the section of code - more so if the item will or could be contentious. More to come on that, so please stay tuned. And don't hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions.
Great video Jose, I’m taking the ICC exam in September. Hopping to land a job with 4leaf or CSG 👍🏽
Hey, Juan! That is awesome. You'll do well, and they'll certainly be opportunity. Thanks for checking it out.