Become a registered building practitioner
Learn about the requirements to qualify, sign up for training and examinations, register and pay your Building Code fees.
Overview
The Building Code Act requires the following individuals and firms to be qualified and registered with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH):
- Chief Building Officials
- Managers and Supervisors
- Inspectors, including Plan Examiners, On-Site Sewage System Inspectors, Plumbing Inspectors and Fire Protection Inspectors
- Certain classes of Designers, including Independent Designers and Design Firms
- On-Site Sewage System Installers
- Registered Code Agencies such as private companies hired by municipalities to conduct inspections
To qualify and practise in the building and development sector a building practitioner must:
- pass examinations for each of their practices
- register with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing though the Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS)
- pay the annual fees
All registered practitioners and their qualifications are listed in the QuARTS Public Search Registry.
Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS)
The Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS) allows you to:
- get a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN)
- create and/or renew your registration(s)
- receive renewal notices prior to your registration(s) expiring and if your registration expires
- upload insurance forms (design firms only)
- pay your fees online
- receive confirmation of application submissions and completed transactions
Registering as an individual
Individuals can register as a:
- building official
- qualified designer
- independent (other) designer
To register as a Building Official, you must indicate each principal authority (municipality, public health unit or conservation authority) you are employed with.
Registering as a firm
Design Firms and On-Site Sewage Installer Firms registered under the Building Code Act and assigned a BCIN should designate one person to manage QuARTS transactions.
The designated person should be one of the following:
- the principal of the firm
- a partner
- an officer
If more than one person needs access to your firm’s QuARTS account, they must each have a separate My Ontario Account. For example, if the principal of the firm delegates administrative responsibility, the new administrator must use their own My Ontario Account. The new account is then added to the firm’s list of contacts in QuARTS.
If you are interested in registering as a Registered Code Agency, please contact the Qualification and Registration Unit.
Notification to remove access
When a person with access to QuARTS leaves the firm, you must notify the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to remove their access.
QuARTS support
If you have difficulties using QuARTS or have accommodation needs, you may fill out and send a paper application form to:
Qualification & Registration Unit
Building and Development Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
12th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Paper application forms may take up to 3 weeks to process.
For further assistance, you can contact the Qualification and Registration Unit:
- Tel:
416-585-6666 (select Option 2) - email: obc.qualification@ontario.ca
Training
Building Code training courses are offered through George Brown College. The courses are not mandatory, but they help prepare you for your Building Code examinations. Building Code training also supports professional development in the building sector.
George Brown College partners with other colleges and groups to make sure training services are delivered close to where you live.
George Brown is responsible for:
- developing training courses and self-study manuals
- updating training courses and self-study manuals
You must keep up-to-date on the Building Code and understand its current requirements if you:
- enforce the Building Code Act, 1992 and Building Code
- are involved in the design and supervision of construction
Examinations
Get your Building Code Identification Number
Before you can take any Building Code examinations you need to get a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN). You can generate a BCIN by creating an account in QuARTS.
Register with Humber Polytechnic
With your BCIN, you can now register with Humber Polytechnic to take the examinations.
Humber Polytechnic:
- delivers the examinations online and at test centres across the province
- handles the appeals process for examination results
Information on the exams, including examination format, policies, and scheduling can be found through Humber Polytechnic.
You may register with the Ministry as a building practitioner after your successful completion of:
- a legal examination (see table 1)
- one or more technical examinations, corresponding to the activities performed (see tables 2 and 3)
Exceptions:
- A Chief Building Official can register without completing any technical exams only if their duties will not include performing inspections. The Powers and Duties of a CBO legal exam is always required.
- Qualified Building Officials must be employed by a Principal Authority before being registered.
- On-Site Sewage System Installers are only required to complete the On-site-Sewage system technical exam. No legal exam is required.
Exam requirements
Table 1: Legal/process and technical exam requirements by practitioner type
| Practitioner type | Legal/process exam | Technical exams |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Building Official (CBO) also acting as an Inspector | Powers and Duties of a CBO | At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| CBO not acting as an Inspector | Powers and Duties of a CBO | N/A |
| Supervisor/Manager whose duties are solely to supervise or manage Inspectors | Powers and Duties of a CBO | At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Supervisor/Manager whose duties are not solely to supervise or manage Inspectors but also to carry out the powers and duties of an Inspector | Powers and Duties of a CBO | At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Inspector with powers and duties of a CBO for plumbing | Powers and Duties of a CBO | Plumbing–All Buildings |
| Inspector with powers and duties of a CBO for sewage systems | Powers and Duties of a CBO | Onsite Sewage Systems |
| Inspector | One of:
| At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Independent Designer | One of:
| At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Design Firm | A Qualified Designer must be included in the firm’s registration. This Qualified Designer must have passed a legal exam. | A Qualified Designer must be included in the firm’s registration. This Qualified Designer must have passed at least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Qualified Designer | One of:
| At least one technical exam (see table 2) |
| Onsite Sewage System (OSS) Installer Firm | N/A | Onsite Sewage Systems Note: This is obtained through the Sewage Supervisor who is identified in the firm’s registration |
| Sewage Supervisor | N/A | Onsite Sewage Systems |
Table 2: Technical exams by qualification type
To obtain a qualification, you will need to pass the corresponding technical exam:
| Qualification | Corresponding technical exam(s) |
|---|---|
| House | House 2012 or Small Buildings 2012 |
| Small Buildings | Small Buildings 2012 |
| Large Buildings | Large Buildings 2012 or Complex Buildings 2012 |
| Complex Buildings | Complex Buildings 2012 |
| Plumbing–House | Plumbing–House 2012 or Plumbing–All Buildings 2012 |
| Plumbing–All Buildings | Plumbing–All Buildings 2012 |
| HVAC-House | HVAC-House 2012 or Building Services 2012 |
| Detection, Lighting and Power | Detection, Lighting and Power 2012 or Building Services 2012 |
| Building Services | Building Services 2012 |
| Building Structural | Building Structural 2012 |
| Onsite Sewage Systems | Onsite Sewage Systems 2012 |
| Fire Protection | Fire Protection 2012 |
Table 3: Technical exams that cover multiple qualifications
Certain categories of qualifications are “nested” under others. Candidates become qualified under more than one category if they successfully complete these single exams:
| Technical exams | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| Small Buildings 2012 | Small Buildings and House |
| Complex Buildings 2012 | Complex Buildings and Large Buildings |
| Plumbing–All Buildings 2012 | Plumbing–All Buildings and Plumbing–House |
| Building Services 2012 | Building Services and HVAC-House and Detection, Lighting and Power |
Prepare
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:
- publishes a course outline for each examination
- writes and updates examination questions
Review the study guide to find out which parts of the Building Code Act, 1992 and the Building Code will be covered in each examination.
Results
Examination results are posted online in the Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS). QuARTS will send an automatic email to tell you that your examination results have been posted as soon as they are available from Humber Polytechnic. To get the email you must keep your contact information in QuARTS up to date.
Registration fees
All building officials (3.1.5.3 of Div. C)
- initial registration or reinstatement - $128
- annual renewal - $128
Designers or design firms (3.2.4.5 of Div. C)
- initial registration or reinstatement - $202
- annual renewal - $152
- updating class of registration - $44
Other designers (3.2.5.5 of Div. C)
- initial registration or reinstatement - $128
- annual renewal - $128
On-site Sewage System Installers (3.3.3.5 of Div. C)
- initial registration or reinstatement - $128
- annual renewal - $128
Registrations for Registered Code Agencies (3.4.3.5 of Div. C)
- initial registration or reinstatement - $484
- annual renewal - $356
- updating class of registration - $82
Enforcement
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has authority to take action against individuals who do not comply with the registration requirements of the registration requirements of the Building Code Act. Enforcement actions may include:
- suspension
- revocation of Building Code Identification Number
- refusal to register or renew a Building Code Identification Number
When MMAH takes enforcement actions we report the decision to our members through CodeNews and update the list of enforcement actions on this page.
While enforcement actions are in effect, the Building Code Identification Number of the registered person will not appear on the public registry.
Municipal building departments and others involved in constructions and renovations should check the QuARTS Public Search Registry and this section from time to time to make sure building practitioners they’re working with are qualified and registered.
If you have questions about current or past enforcement activity:
- email us OBC.Qualification@ontario.ca
- Tel:
416-585-6666
Active enforcement actions
There are no active enforcement actions.
Privacy
The personal information you give to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is collected based on section 15.11 of the Building Code Act, 1992 and Part 3 of Division C of the Building Code to administer and enforce the Building Code examination program. We may share your personal information with Humber Polytechnic for this purpose.
Your personal information is protected according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
For questions refer to FIPPA:
- Tel:
416-585-6666 - email obc.qualification@ontario.ca
- write to the Manager, Building Services Transformation
Building and Development Branch
12th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3