Do you want to be a...

Building Surveyor

Also known as Building Certifier and Building Inspector.

Building surveyors advise on, interpret and enforce laws and regulations regarding building construction and safety.

TASKS

Building surveyors may perform the following tasks:

provide advice and assistance to builders and owners before finalisation and lodgement of building plans to avoid potential problems
assess building plans submitted for approval to ensure they conform to building regulations and codes of practice
make recommendations on matters such as the provision of amenities for the community
issue building permits
carry out pre-purchase inspections of all types of buildings
inspect buildings during construction to ensure proper methods and materials are used and that they conform to building regulations
keep records and write reports on building progress in instances where regulations have been breached and plans have been altered
issue compliance certificates on completion
give evidence in court cases involving breaches of building regulations
assess the condition of existing buildings
audit buildings for access by disabled persons

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy technical work
good communication skills
management and leadership skills

Good Outlook for this career!

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a building surveyor you usually have to complete a VOC qualification in building surveying. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.

Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have a degree in building surveying, construction management, civil engineering or architecture. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics and physics are normally required. Applicants may be required to submit a folio of work and/or attend an interview. A number of institutions in Australia offer degrees in these areas. Institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Additional Information

All those who work in the construction industry must undergo safety induction training and be issued with a Construction Induction Card (CIC). In NSW, training is conducted by Registered Training Organisations authorised by SafeWork NSW. In the ACT, training is provided by Registered Training Organisations approved by WorkSafe ACT.

To work as a building surveyor in the ACT, you need to be accredited by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors. There are different levels of accreditation based on levels of qualification, which determine the kind of work you can perform. Contact the institute for more information.

To work as a building surveyor in NSW, you need to be accredited by the Building Professionals Board. There are different levels of accreditation available, depending on qualifications and experience, which determine the types of buildings you can work on. See the Building Professionals Board's website for more information.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Most employment opportunities arise in local government bodies (shire, town and city councils). There are some opportunities to apply the skills acquired in this occupation to other jobs in banks and building societies, as well as in building management companies. Building surveyors may become self-employed and subcontract to major building companies.