A person who pursues a construction inspection career is responsible for examining a number of different structures. These may include highways, streets, buildings, sewer systems, water systems, bridges, and dams. The primary duty of the construction inspection specialist is to make certain that the construction meets zoning regulations, ordinances and codes.
Those that choose a construction inspection career must be knowledgeable about building codes as described by the International Code Council, as well as those that are required by both local and state regulations. In order to ensure that certain ordinances are being adhered to, the construction inspection specialist needs to inspect the construction during its initial phases. The inspection specialist then needs to continually follow up on the construction throughout the process.
Those interested in a construction inspection career can choose to pursue a variety of different specialty areas, including building inspector, plan examiner, electrical inspector, elevator inspector, home inspector, mechanical inspector, plumber inspector, or public works inspector. Each of these specialized areas may require additional training and education.
A building inspector is responsible for inspecting the quality of the structure as well as the building’s overall safety. Even those that follow this already specialized career path may further specialize in certain types of structures, such as reinforced concrete structures or those made with structural steel. Plan examiners, on the other hand, review the building plans before construction begins in order to be certain that the plans comply with regulations, and that they are suitable for the location of the structure and environment in which it will be built.
Those pursuing a home inspector career are responsible for inspecting condos, houses, townhouses, and apartment buildings. They play an integral role in the home-buying process, as they are often hired by those that are interested in purchasing a home in order to inspect the overall condition of the structure.
Training Necessary for a Construction Inspection Career
The type of training needed to pursue a construction inspection career depends upon the area of specialization one wishes to pursue. Regardless of the area of specialization, however, a person interested in a construction inspection career needs to be knowledgeable about construction practices and materials. Depending on the state in which the construction inspection career specialist is working, special licensure or certification may also be necessary.
Virtually all employers who are seeking a construction inspector will only hire someone who possesses at least a high school diploma, but most look for someone who has studied architecture or engineering in college. They also prefer hiring those that have earned at least an undergraduate degree and have taken courses in subjects such as home inspection, drafting, construction technology, and building inspection. Those interested in a construction inspection career may want to pursue an associate degree or certificate in building inspection technology.
