NHBOA celebrates students completing NHTI program

The New Hampshire Building Officials Association (NHBOA) recently recognized students from the NHTI, Concord’s Community College (formerly known as New Hampshire Technical Institute) as they completed an 18-credit-hour Building Inspector/Plans Examiner (BIPE) Certificate Program.

The program was developed to provide instruction in the International Codes, plan review and document reading, construction laws and state authority enforcement mechanisms, and generalized inspector skills highlighting soft skills and department organizational skills. NHTI is a participant in the International Code Council’s High School Technical Training Program.

NHBOA members provide instruction and mentoring to the students.

The NHTI, Concord’s Community College began offering a curriculum in 2015 that prepares building inspectors and plans examiners to critically examine permit applications and plans for residential, commercial, and other building types to ensure their construction is conducted in accordance with relevant building codes.

After reading the report concerning the potential shortage of code officials in the coming years, NHBOA members Bruce Buttrick and Tedd Evans decided to take action and approached NHTI with a proposal, and the college agreed to pursue the concept of a training/certificate program for future code officials.

“As our profession begins its retirement exodus from this industry, many openings will be coming, especially in New England,” added Tom Johnson from the town of Durham, N.H. “This certificate is supported by the New Hampshire Building Officials Association, the International Code Council and eventually the New Hampshire Municipal and Town Managers Associations.”

Last year, NHTI and NHBOA honored the first six graduates of NHTI’s three-semester BIPE Certificate Program.