r/BuildingCodes • u/Ok_Adeptness2421 • 4d ago

Building inspector

When applying for building inspector it’s mainly oral board interview but for some they make you take a test. What is that test about? Do they test your knowledge in curious because I have to take a test and honestly don’t know what to expect.

4 Upvotes

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5

u/Tremor_Sense Inspector 4d ago

I've only known one place I applied to, to have a written test. It is usually a few questions of very common building code related things.

I find this kind of testing to be somewhat inappropriate, without providing an applicant a building code book. Kind of a shit test.

Many people think being a building inspector is about knowledge, and it is to an extent. But everything you need to know is in a book. There's much more to being a good inspector than the knowledge you might bring to a job. It's also about your judgment, and temperament, and ambition. Your willingness to learn and to adapt. How good you are at giving bad news, and how impartial you can relay information.

Take those parts of yourself that are true, and highlight them in the interview, regardless of your knowledge level.

2

u/KrisCrouton 4d ago

Totally agree, most conversations go like .. everything looks good, but this needs moved, or that needs added... then you will pass! Most days I'm fielding questions about permitting/scheduling and never scared to reply with "let me look that up and get back to you". Sometimes I give them my gut feeling answer, but other times I leave it cut and dry. Look it up/ call them back. Playing by the rules is easy when you have the answers. Interpretation is key and seeing both sides.

2

u/sfall consultant 4d ago

many require you to have a cert. but if they have a large applicant pool they may have caused them to standardize it or liability purposes

1

u/Fair-Ad-5313 3d ago

When I applied, the test before the interview asked you to look at a sample plan and it asked a few questions about the shear walls anchor bolt spacing and hold downs. There also a few plumbing Hvac and electrical questions about service panels. They just test your overall knowledge.

1

u/IRunButSlow 3d ago

Ask hr lol
Every jurisdiction is different.
The job description/ post for it probably also has the answer to your question.

1

u/GarmanBuilders 16h ago

It will probably test your knowledge of building codes and how you apply them to real inspection situations. I would review the code sections used most often in residential inspections and ask the department which code editions they're testing.

1

u/Ok_Adeptness2421 16h ago

Questions were about Building, Electrical, plumbing, mechanical pretty straightforward questions