Training

Certification

Employment

TRAINING FAQS

What is the Pennsylvania Construction Codes Academy?

With the introduction of the Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999), the Pennsylvania Construction Codes Academy was created by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, Department of Community & Economic Development, to address newly enacted training and certification requirements for construction code officials statewide. With the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, and through the cooperative efforts of several sponsoring organizations, the Academy emphasizes meeting the educational needs of those involved in the enforcement of Pennsylvania’s statewide building code. Our partner organizations include the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

Since its inception in 2002, the Academy has provided training for nearly 10,000 current and potential code officials, and has become the leading UCC training and education provider in the Commonwealth. The Academy continues to add new courses to our curriculum and has recently expanded services to include a UCC Discussion Board on our website. To join, simply go to www.paconstructioncodesacademy.org and click on “UCC Discussion Board.” From there, you can register and begin posting any questions related to the administration and enforcement of the UCC. We encourage you to check the bulletin board regularly for new information and interpretations.

What Type of Training Does PCCA Offer?

The Academy offers administrative, residential, and commercial courses specifically tailored to the individual disciplines required for certification by the Department of Labor & Industry.

Most of our “Essentials” courses are designed to help prepare students take the required certification examinations, and frequently incorporate practice exams along with practical information on the application of the codes. Please note, however, that not all of our courses are exam-prep courses, and independent study is highly recommended. In addition to the basic courses, we offer a variety of continuing-education workshops ranging from the inspection of manufactured housing to enforcement of the International Property Maintenance Code.

All of the Academy’s courses are accepted by the Department of Labor & Industry for continuing-education credits. Selective courses are eligible for International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and American Institute of Architects/Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) continuing education units.

Who Should Attend PCCA Courses?

Academy courses are open to anyone: code officials, inspectors, contractors, builders, and design professionals. Although there are no prerequisites, our courses tend to be fast-paced and are directed primarily to those have at least a basic working knowledge of building construction principles and codes.

Is There A Particular Track I Should Follow?

There are no courses to be taken in a specific order. For someone new to building codes, we recommend beginning with our residential inspection courses. Generally speaking, residential inspection and plan review tends to be less complicated. A great introduction is IRC 101: International Residential Code Building Essentials.

For others with experience in commercial construction or in one of the specific trades (such as electrical work), certification reciprocity allows those who are certified as commercial inspectors and plans examiners to perform residential inspections and plans review. For example, a commercial plumbing inspector may also perform residential plumbing inspections. The certification category must match from commercial to residential.

Certification reciprocity does not transfer from residential categories to commercial however. For example, a residential mechanical inspector may not perform commercial mechanical inspections or mechanical plans review.

There is no separate plans examiner certification required for the residential disciplines; those who are certified as residential inspectors may also perform plans review for those particular disciplines.

Where Are PCCA Courses Held?

The Academy’s courses are held throughout the state. We bring our training to major metropolitan and rural areas alike, with courses held in area hotels, community colleges, municipal buildings, or community centers. All of the facilities we use are easy to access and have ample parking. Click here for a list of our scheduled courses.

How Much Do PCCA Courses Cost?

Academy courses are delivered in multiple day formats. Pricing varies depending upon the length and technical nature of the topic covered. For specific pricing per course, please go to the Course Description section of the website. All of our courses include a training manual as well as meals and refreshments for the day.

How Do I Register for a Course?

For your convenience the Academy provides several options for registrations:

Register online using a major credit card (Mastercard or Visa)

Complete registration form attached to your monthly training calendar and mail it with payment to PCCA.

Fax the registration form to PCCA at 717-763-9732 using a major credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or a purchase order (must be included with the registration).

Checks should be made out to PCCA. All registration information should be mailed to:

PCCA
4855 Woodland Drive
Enola, PA 17025

Because space is limited, early registration is highly recommended. All registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-in registrants may be accepted at locations where seating and materials are available.

Please note that registering for an Academy course does not automatically register you for the certification examination, with the exception of the Building Code Official Course and Examination, administered solely by the Academy.

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CERTIFICATION FAQS

How Do I Become Certified?

Under the regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor & Industry, all construction code officials performing residential inspections or plan reviews must be certified. Registered (or grandfathered) code officials must be certified by April 9, 2009 to continue to perform commercial inspections.

To become certified by the Department of Labor & Industry, prospective code officials and inspectors must pass the certification examination for that specific discipline (building, plumbing, mechanical, etc.) and submit an application to Labor and Industry for certification. The Department’s Standard Application for Certification is available for downloading at the Department’s website and is always provided at Academy courses.

To maintain certificate, code officials must log 15 credit hours of continuing education per certification to a maximum of 45 credits within each three-year period, or pass another certification examination in a different category within that same three-year period.

What are the Different Certification Categories?

Administrative Certification

The Building Code Official certification is the only administrative certification required by the Department of Labor & Industry, and is designed for the person who will manage the overall code enforcement program for a municipality or third-party agency. For specific information about the examination and certification process, please see the course description for BCO 101: Building Code Official Certification Course & Examination.

Commercial Certification

The commercial categories comprise 12 national certification exams: accessibility, building inspection, building plan review, fire protection, electrical, electrical plan review, energy, energy plan review, mechanical installation, mechanical plan review, plumbing, and plumbing plan review. For more information about each category, please see the Training & Certification – Certification Categories.

Residential Certification

The residential categories comprise five national certification exams: building, electrical, energy, mechanical, and plumbing. An inspector passing all five of the residential certification exams may perform all of the necessary inspections and plans review for one- or two-family dwellings. For more information about each category, please see the Training & Certification – Certification Categories.

What is Certification Reciprocity?

For those with more experience in commercial construction or in a specific trade (such as electrical work), certification reciprocity allows those certified as commercial inspectors and plan examiners to perform residential inspections and plan reviews. For example, a commercial plumbing inspector may also perform residential plumbing inspections. The certification category must match from commercial to residential.

Certification reciprocity does not transfer from residential categories to commercial, however. For example, a residential mechanical inspector may not perform commercial mechanical inspections or mechanical plans review.

There is no separate certification required for the residential disciplines; those certified as residential inspectors may also perform plans review for those particular disciplines.

Who Administers the Certification Exams?

Two national organizations administer testing recognized by the state Department of Labor and Industry: The International Code Council, which administers both a paper-and-pencil and a computer-based examination; and Prometrics, which administers a computer-based testing program on behalf of the National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI).

Paper-and-Pencil Examinations

The International Code Council also offers paper-and-pencil examinations typically on the second Saturday of every other month at the following locations: Broomall, Canonsburg, Clearfield, Harrisburg, Meadville, Scranton, Williamsport, and Youngwood. There are specific registration deadlines for signing up for an exam, usually about 40 days prior to the date of the test.

ICC’s Birmingham, Alabama, office is responsible for all paper-and-pencil exam registrations. To register for a paper-and-pencil exam, contact their office at (866) 422-3926 or visit their website at www.iccsafe.org. Exam registration forms are also provided at all Academy classes.

Computer Examinations

Promissor administers the ICC exams in computer-based form. Promissor has testing sites at the following locations: Bala Cynwyd, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. To register for a computer-based exam with Promissor, contact their office at (800) 275-8301 or visit their website at www.promissor.com.

Prometrics offers certification examinations separately from the International Code Council; although the content is generally the same, the titles of the examinations are different. Prometrics' computer-based exams are available at the following locations: Allentown, Clarks Summit, Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Monroeville, North Wales, Pittsburgh, and York. To register for an Prometrics exam, contact them at (800) 864-5309 or register online at www.prometric.com.

How Do I Know Which Exams To Take?

A construction code official may attain certification in residential categories, commercial categories, or both. Those who attain commercial certification are also granted reciprocity in residential certification categories. The following tables illustrate which exams are offered by whom and the certification categories to which they belong.

Promissor offers the following exams:

Prometric offers the following exams:

State Administered Exams

What Books Do I Need for My Exams?

Different code references are required for different disciplines. For a complete list of required references, see the International Code Council’s Candidate Bulletin for Code Professionals; you can download a copy at www.iccsafe.org. You can also order any of these books through the PCCA by downloading our order form.

How Do I Get My Exam Results?

Written exam test-takers are notified by mail four to six weeks after their examination date. Those who take computer-based exams receive their results immediately upon exam completion.

Remember: Passing an exam does not automatically certify you to perform inspections or plans review. Be sure to submit an application with those results to the Department of Labor & Industry for state certification.

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EMPLOYMENT FAQS

What are my prospects for finding work in code enforcement?

Each municipality enforcing the Uniform Construction Code must designate a certified Building Code Official and employ or contract with those who hold certifications for residential and/or commercial enforcement activities. About 92 percent of municipalities in the Commonwealth have elected to enforce the code, many of which are seeking code officials for new or expanding departments.

The more certifications you hold, the greater the opportunity for finding employment. The new UCC requirements ensure a continuing demand for code administration and enforcement professionals across the Commonwealth.

How much do code officials earn?

Salaries are dependent on many variables, such as the area of the state where you are seeking employment, the size of the municipality and/or code enforcement department, the number of certifications you hold, and your years of field experience. Salaries can range from $25,000 to $100,000 annually.

What is a third-party agency?

A third-party agency is a business that has been separately certified by the Department of Labor & Industry to enter into contracts with municipalities to enforce the Uniform Construction Code. The Department has specific requirements for those seeking to start their own business as a third-party agency, which include an additional application fee and proof of Errors & Omissions insurance in amount of $1 million. The Department’s website contains more information, a list of third-party agencies, and application forms.

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