Appointee to Gov. Scott: Abolish Untested Building Inspectors

Dec. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- This statement by Nick Sasso, Florida Building Code Administrator, is relative to the professional licensing of Florida Building Inspectors, Plans Examiners, and Building Officials:

"It is a little-known fact that current Florida law allows Building Inspectors and Building Officials to work for up to three (3) years without the benefit of passing the competency test.  These "UN-tested" type licenses are given a glamorous name; they are called Provisional licenses.  In my opinion, allowing untested individuals to operate for any length of time does not benefit nor protect the Florida citizen.  Every building inspector should have to pass a test."

The Provisional Building Code Administrator license allows one to lawfully manage county and city building departments and also public school boards and building departments for public colleges and universities - without having to pass a test. Provisional Building Code Administrator licensees are granted all powers including but not limited to approving highly technical plans, performing complex Florida Building Code inspections, and issuing certificates of occupancy.  The state continues to sell the untested Provisional Building Code Administrator licenses, as well as many other types of untested Provisional licenses.

As of November 1, 2011, the UN-tested licensee count* was:

19  Provisional Building Code Administrators
14  Provisional Building Inspectors
26  Provisional Building Plans Examiners
1    Provisional Coastal Construction Inspectors
7    Provisional Commercial Electrical Inspectors
1    Provisional Electrical Inspector
11  Provisional Electrical Plans Examiners
22  Provisional 1 & 2 Family Dwelling Inspectors (all trades)
6    Provisional Mechanical Inspectors
9    Provisional Mechanical Plans Examiners
5    Provisional Plumbing Inspectors
7    Provisional Plumbing Plans Examiners

* source - Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (850-487-1395).  None of the above were required to pass a test.
   
About Nick Sasso
Nick Sasso has been a contractor since 1991 and an inspector since 1997. He has been tested for code competency on numerous occasions; he holds multiple inspector licenses, and is also licensed as a plans examiner and Florida Building Code Administrator.  Because of his strong credentials, he was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board in 2005. He was subsequently reappointed by Governor Charlie Crist in 2009.  Nick Sasso considers himself, "The People's Building Official."  He can be reached at Chiefns830@cs.com. http://www.myBuildingOfficial.com

Nick Sasso finds compelling and innovative code solutions to help you succeed!