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The Ohio Board of Building Standards, under the state Department of Commerce, offers several certifications for building code officials, including building official, building inspector, and building plans examiner. Which license is right for you, and what are the requirements to obtain licensure?

Building Official

Building officials hold the highest level of duties and powers. They’re responsible for activities like:

• Managing applications and permits
• Issuing notices and orders
• Conducting or overseeing inspections to ensure compliance with the Ohio Building Code
• Submitting annual permit and certificate reports
• Maintaining official records
• Periodically reviewing code provisions and standards.

To qualify to become a building inspector, you must meet one of the following experience requirements:

• At least five years of experience in nonresidential building design and construction while registered in Ohio as an architect or professional engineer
• At least 10 years of experience as a general contractor or superintendent of building construction
• At least five years of experience employed full-time as a residential building official in a certified residential building department

You are also required to pass several open-book tests issued by the International Code Council (ICC):

• MM: Management Exam
• MG: Legal Exam
• BC: Building Codes and Standards Exam

You must get at least 75% of the questions right on each exam.

Building Inspector

Under the supervision of building officials, building inspectors are tasked with conducting on-site inspections of structures during construction, renovation, or alteration to ensure compliance with building codes and regulations.

To become a building inspector, you must have at least five years of experience in a relevant field, such as steel erection, masonry, structural carpentry, or concrete construction work as a supervisor, construction contractor, or skilled tradesman.

Alternatively, you can have five years of experience as a full-time nonresidential mechanical inspector, master plans examiner, nonresidential building official, residential plans examiner, residential building inspector, residential building official, or residential mechanical inspector in a certified residential building department.

There is a third path, which involves completing an approved trainee program.

You are also required to pass open-book exams administered by the ICC or the National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI).

Your first option is to pass these two tests administered by the ICC: 

• B2: Commercial Building Inspector Exam
• M2: Commercial Mechanical Inspector Exam

The second option is to pass the following three NCPCCI tests:

• 1B: Building Inspector General Exam
• 3B: Fire Protection General Exam
• 4B: Mechanical Inspector General Exam

You must answer 75% of the questions correctly on the ICC exams to pass, or 70% of the questions on the NCPCCI exams.

Building Plans Examiner

A building plans examiner is responsible for assessing building plans and specs to ensure compliance with building codes and regulations. To qualify for this certification, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• At least five years of experience as a full-time building inspector in a certified nonresidential building department
• Ohio registration as an architect or professional engineer
• At least 10 years of experience as a full-time skilled tradesman for structural carpentry, concrete construction work, steel erection, or masonry.

You must also pass the ICC’s B3 Building Plan Examiner Exam or the NCPCCI’s 1C Building Plan Review Exam. These are open-book tests.

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