Building control officer

Alternative titles for this job include Building control surveyor

Building control officers make sure building regulations are followed.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£60,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

on call on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a building control officer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject like:

• building studies
• civil engineering
• structural engineering
• building control
• building surveying

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

College

You could do a college course, which could help when you apply for trainee jobs in building control. Courses include:

• Level 3 Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment
• T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
• Level 4 Diploma in Building Control Surveying
• Level 4 Diploma in Civil Engineering

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
• 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to T levels
• funding advice for higher education courses in college
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You can do a building control surveyor degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships
• higher and degree apprenticeships

Direct Application

You could move into building control from another job in construction, like quantity surveying or site management.

More Information

Registration

• you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Professional and industry bodies

You could join one a professional body to help with your professional development.

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• The Chartered Institute of Building
• Chartered Association of Building Engineers

Further information

You can find out more about careers and training in building control from:

• Chartered Association of Building Engineers
• The Chartered Institute of Building
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Local Authority Building Control

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• knowledge of English language
• analytical thinking skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• have a full driving licence

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a building control officer you will:

• work closely with architects, designers, builders and engineers
• suggest ways to make building projects more cost effective 
• carry out site inspections
• write inspection reports and issue completion certificates
• survey unsafe buildings, giving advice or approving their demolition
• authorise entertainment licenses and check safety at public venues and events

Working environment

You could work in an office or on a construction site.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and at height.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could specialise in a particular area like fire safety, or move into technical and planning roles in other departments, for example town planning.

You could also work as a consultant.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a building control officer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Digital Built Environment - Level 3

• Provider: RIVERSIDE COLLEGE
• Start date: 01 September 2022
• Location: WIDNES

HND CONSTRUCTION & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

• Provider: TEC PARTNERSHIP
• Start date: 05 September 2022
• Location: Grimsby

Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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Not what you're looking for?

Search further careers

Related careers

• Building surveyor
• Quantity surveyor
• Commercial energy assessor
• Construction manager
• Civil engineering technician

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