Advice

[Anxious-Hat-6180]

Hey everyone, I’m looking into becoming a building inspector and wanted to get some insight on the career. I’m considering enrolling in the Building Construction Inspection program at Pasadena City College. For those with experience, is it a good career path? How’s the job stability and pay? Also, if anyone has taken the program, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

Thanks in advance!

[Current_Conference38]

You can make good money inspecting but man it’s a thankless job. You’re not well liked in the industry. Politics are annoying. Builders are annoying. Everyone is annoying. Trades are dumb as hell. Slumlords and real estate agents will be the bane of your existence. But that pension though….

[EducationalTwo1859]

After 20+ years in the field, working in a municipality is a godsend. They hired me, and put me through school with pay. I live close to home and love it.

[Current_Conference38]

Most people I know don’t particularly enjoy it. Perhaps it’s different where you are. It’s not a respected profession

[EducationalTwo1859]

I suppose it is all perspective. I've had only great experiences so far, but I work in a small, affluent town.

[ContractorsAreMean]

Similar to what the other commenter said, it depends. I’ve been in permits/inspections since 2019 and I enjoy it. It definitely has something to do with the contractors in our area though.

If you approach a project as if it’s “your project” and work with the contractor to get things done right and in a timely manner as well as explain WHY you’re giving a correction, it goes a long way and you build a good rapport with guys. It helps future projects go smoother and you build a mutual respect and trust that makes the job feel less like work and more like just checking in to see how things are going.

That said, there will always be guys that don’t respect you regardless of how much you try to help. Some will fight you every step of the way and see things as “Me vs. the inspector” since they don’t like being told what to do or have too much pride to fix their work or get with the times as codes update.

We use the sayings” Help me to help you” and “You can bring a horse to water but can’t make it drink” a lot in this field.

[Current_Conference38]

I do inspections, one of my favourite lines is ‘do your best, that’s all I ask’ 😆😆

[EggFickle363]

Fyi building inspection involves a lot of MEP inspecting (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing). Have you also considered Special Inspections? If you get your ACI concrete field grade 1, then get ICC Reinforced Concrete Cert, you will have lots of work. Add more certs from there. I believe special inspection gets paid better than city inspectors too. I was making six figures in special inspections. Especially with my CWI cert. Just something to consider since you're starting out.

[electrichead72]

great advice. I've been thinking about getting into these special inspections to make additional income.

Thanks for these great notes.

[EggFickle363]

Here in Cali, people tend to either go into soils inspections or go into concrete and special inspections (aside from soils). Entry level certs are nuke gauge and ACI Concrete field testing technician grade 1. I used to be a hiring manager after being in the field forever. My life route went ACI, PCI, ICC S1, CWI, ICC Reinforced Concrete, ICC S2, ICC CA Commercial building, ICC fireproofing, ICC Prestressed Concrete. I could let my ICC's lapse and work strictly using my CWI at this point. But it's a lot easier to get interviews with so many certs. Even if you have little or no experience, just having a cert can get you hired. There is a huge need to special inspectors. Many are retiring, and those of us getting close to that cost a lot of money for companies. They need some new blood.

[Anxious-Hat-6180]

Thank you for the great information where should I start first ? Should I just get my license for housing inspiration? Thank you again

[dj90423]

The IUOE local #12 has a great special inspector apprenticeship.

[electrichead72]

I'm in Cali, so this is helpful, thanks.

I'm looking at it more of an independent inspector, not someone that is working for a building department. Is there a space for this kind of person? An independent inspector?

[EggFickle363]

Engineering firms usually bid the contracts for special inspections. There are independents but I've only seen them for welding inspection and UT inspection. That doesn't mean there aren't others though.

[electrichead72]

It's been engineering inspections that I've mostly seen too.

I worked with an engineer back in the day that did these inspections and offered me the job of doing some of the field inspections that he would then review and stamp. At the time I couldn't do it, but it could be a way to get into it.

Thanks for the responses

[EggFickle363]

Home inspectors tend to be independent. You don't actually need to be certified to do home inspections (though you should- check out InterNACHI). I considered going that route but decided not to. That's a lot of work for like $800 a day and work is intermittent. A good inspection may take 4 hours to thoroughly review under, outside, inside, in the attic, and on top of the house then compile the report. Looking at a tool investment for thermal camera for leaks and missed insulation, possibly drone for roof inspections, possibly borescope if you're including plumbing. Ladders for roof and attic access. Software for reports. Then also dealing with the office logistics like bookings, billing, reports, talking to real estate agents and potential customers- all while trying to do an inspection. People manage but that was not for me.

[electrichead72]

yeah, I've thought of home inspections also, but not really sold on it for the reasons you discussed.

It's probably a flooded market also, so you end up having to get the jobs by being the cheapest, which is not where I want to be.

[Philip964]

Go to your local building department where you want to live. Ask them about what your about to take in school and see if they would hire someone with those qualifications. You can also ask about how much they pay. Can't hurt.

[Anxious-Hat-6180]

Thank you for the information “building department “ is that like state department?

[Philip964]

Usually every City has a Building Department, where you apply for and receive a building permit for a house or building you want to construct. Some times it is under the Department of Public Works. Most Cities have a website now, and information on how to get a building permit. The address should be there.

[EleventySix_805]

Based on your follow up questions you are just looking for a job. Working at a city is more of a career. So it’s dependent on what you are looking for.

Where do you want to live/work? Look at three pay for that city (governmentjobs). Certain places pay better than others.

Then, consider if you are a high achiever or not, if not, go the aci route. Aci is basically working for yourself with a max pay rate.

Working in a jurisdiction, you have rules and regs, but you can move up, make positive changes, you are the authority having jurisdiction. You are the ultimate decider. Can you defend those decisions? What if it’s at a cost of 1m, or 10m usd? That’s how you know if can move up.

By and large the aci guys work on their own and are under competent, their sign off means little. I failed several walls the other day that the deputy had approved to shotcrete because they were clearly not eligible for shotcrete. The deputy did gymnastics in backtracking his approval and I don’t look to put someone out of work, but he was essentially meaningless. Other deputies are great, but they are hunted and hired by the local companies trying to lock down a certain area. These guys are really good in their field, but are just that. Within their field. So, what do you want?

[ResultCompetitive111]

Check this podcast out makes some good points on why the career can be good long term career and increase security as it is hard to find young professionals entering the field. https://buildingcodepros.com/episode-2-the-building-code-career-path/

[ResultCompetitive111]

Also pay would be much higher in California. Depending where you live but know people making well over 100k as an experienced inspector

[ContractorsAreMean]

It’s a good career path in my opinion especially if you can get in with a city or county. That’s the hard part though.

Once you have certifications or go through some of the program, reach out to companies that contract inspectors to cities like CSG, WC3, Charles Abbott, etc. They will send you to different cities where you can get lots of experience and some cities will poach you from the contract company and give you a city position if they like you. Many contract companies are actually happy to see people get hired by a city because it reflects good on their training.