103.3.5 Experience Requirements of the Applicant
1. Only experience directly related to buildings or structures within the scope of groups regulated by the "OBC" or regulated by the "RCO" shall be acceptable for any certification.
2. In addition to the experience described in item 1 above, enforcement, inspection, or plans examination experience performed in compliance with any of the following shall also be acceptable for certification:
2.1. For an agency or jurisdiction outside the state of Ohio enforcing a model residential building code of a national model code organization or a code adopted for residential buildings or structures of the types regulated by the rules of the board; or
2.2. An employee of a certified residential or non-residential building department who is a holder of a board certification other than that for which application is being made. Certified residential building department employees who are applicants for residential plumbing inspector certification and do not comply with Section 103.3.5.6 shall enter the plumbing inspector trainee program; or
2.3. Certification by the department of Commerce, division of industrial compliance, as a plumbing inspector when application is made for board certification as a residential plumbing inspector; or
2.4. In evaluating experience of an applicant, the board of building standards shall not credit experience gained while acting in violation of rules adopted by the board to establish equivalent experience. The board of building standards may credit experience which provides knowledge of different construction methods, processes, or types as it determines applicable, but shall not credit construction experience that does not provide required knowledge including, but not limited to, the installation of floor and wall coverings, the installation of roofing materials or roofing systems, or the finishing of concrete.
2.5. Certification by the board as a non-residential building official, master plans examiner, or building inspector.
3. For a residential building, mechanical, or plumbing inspector applicant, one year of the required experience may be obtained through education credit pursuant to Section 103.3.12.6.
An applicant for a building official certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. Ohio registration as an architect or professional engineer;
2. At least five years experience as a residential contractor or non-residential contractor or superintendent with responsibility for obtaining approvals and inspections of structures regulated by the rules of the board; or
3. Experience as specified in Section 103.3.5(2).
An applicant for a residential plans examiner certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. Ohio registration as an architect or professional engineer; or
2. At least five years experience in building design and construction for residential or non-residential buildings or structures regulated by the rules of the board;
3. Experience specified in Section 103.3.5(2); or
4. Successful completion of a trainee program pursuant to Section 103.3.12.
An applicant for an electrical plans examiner certification shall meet the following requirement:
1. At least five years experience as a full-time electrical safety inspector in a certified building department.
An applicant for a residential building inspector certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. At least three years experience as a contractor or supervisor for residential or non-residential buildings or structures regulated by the rules of the board;
2. At least three years experience as a skilled tradesman for work subject to inspection under a code adopted for buildings or structures regulated by this code or the OBC;
3. Experience specified in Section 103.3.5(2); or
4. Successful completion of a trainee program pursuant to Section 103.3.12.
An applicant for a residential mechanical inspector certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. At least three years as an HVAC system contractor or supervisor for residential or non-residential buildings regulated by the rules of the board;
2. At least three years experience as a skilled tradesman for HVAC systems and the associated refrigeration, fuel gas, and heating piping for residential or non-residential buildings regulated by the rules of the board;
3. Experience specified in Section 103.3.5(2); or
4. Successful completion of a trainee program pursuant to Section 103.3.12.
An applicant for a plumbing inspector certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. At least seven years experience as a plumbing contractor or supervisor for residential or non-residential buildings or structures regulated by the rules of the board);
2. At least seven years experience as a skilled tradesman for plumbing work subject to inspection under a code adopted for buildings or structures regulated by this code or the OBC;
3. Experience specified in Section 103.3.5(2); or
4. Successful completion of a trainee program pursuant to Section 103.3.12.
An applicant for an electrical safety inspector "(ESI)" certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. Journeyman electrician or equivalent for four years, two years as an electrician foreman, and two years experience as a building department "ESI" trainee;
2. Journeyman electrician or equivalent for four years and three years experience as a building department "ESI" trainee;
3. Four years experience as a building department "ESI" trainee;
4. Journeyman electrician or equivalent for six years; or
5. An electrical engineer registered in the state of Ohio;
An applicant for a residential industrialized unit inspector certification shall meet one of the following requirements:
1. At least three years experience as a construction contractor or supervisor for residential or non-residential buildings or structures within the scope of groups regulated by the rules of the board, or
2. At least three years experience as a skilled tradesman for work subject to inspection under a code adopted for buildings or structures regulated by this code or the OBC;
3. Experience specified in Section 103.3.5(2); or