CREDENTIALING
Admin/Rules
The information provided below highlights certain administrative rules and policies applicable to specific steps in the credentialing journey. Candidates are required to adhere to all ICC Council Policies and ICC Credentialing rules and policies provided in the links below.
What to Know Before
You Buy an Exam
What Happens
on Exam Day
What Happens
After the Exam
What to Know Before You Buy an Exam
Governance
ICC is dedicated to strengthening the Certification program to meet the needs of code officials, members, and stakeholders in building safety.
This is accomplished through the establishment of the Professional Development Council (PDC), which is comprised of the Education Committee (EC) and Certification Committee (CC).
The mission of the Certification Committee is to promote professionalism of individuals in the built environment by providing professional examinations and certification services worldwide.
The CC has sole authority over the rules and procedures of the ICC Certification Program, including such topics as the renewals process, examination security policies, and disciplinary action.
Click here for the CC Rules of Procedure.
Click here for more information on the PDC.
Invalidating Scores/Certifications
Examination scores can be cancelled and certifications may be suspended or revoked.
Examination scores can be cancelled.
Denial of certifications or examination results shall be considered for irregularities which are suspecting during examination administrations.
- Giving or receiving assistance with answers during testing
- Using unauthorized materials during testing
- Failing to abide by the rules presented or directions from the proctor(s), including causing a recorded disturbance during an examination administration
- Attempting to remove or removing examination materials or questions during an examination administration
- Documented evidence of inappropriate behavior
Note: In cases of examination irregularities which are suspected at testing centers, the scores of the individual(s) involved will not be released unless approved by the Code Council. Additional sanctions may be authorized by the Certification Committee, which may include restrictions on retesting for up to three (3) years.
Certifications may be suspended or revoked.
Suspension or revocation of certifications for a period up to three (3) years shall be considered for the following ethics violations, as determined by action of the Committee, and shall follow the complaint resolution process.
- Falsifying score reports or ICC certificates
- Conviction on charges related to professional ethics
- Compromising the security of ICC’s examinations through release of copyrighted examination items
- Other Code of Ethics violations which are documented and deemed proven
Some scores may be rendered invalid because of circumstances beyond the examinee’s control, such as faulty examination materials or mistiming. In accordance with the Certification Committee Rules of Procedure, these situations will be investigated; when such occurrences result in cancellation of an examinee’s scores, the Code Council will arrange for a makeup examination for the examinees concerned.
Candidates whose certification(s) have been revoked or suspended will be allowed to retest after their designated revocation/suspension period, and if all exam criteria are met, will be allowed to become an active holder of that certification(s) again.
Accomodations
The Code Council complies with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you have a disability that prohibits you from taking the examination under standard conditions, you may request special arrangements.
- Pronto Administrations: Complete and submit the ADA Accommodation Request Form.
- PearsonVUE Administrations: Call 1-800-466-0450 or send an email to accommodationspearsonvue@pearsonvue.com requesting special testing services.
PRONTO Exams
All candidates are required to verify their equipment meets the minimum requirements and perform a system check prior to booking their examination.
Click here to check your system!
NOTE: Multiple monitors/displays are not supported. If you have more than one monitor, you will need to disconnect all but one. Utilizing the "Extend this display" display setting is also not supported.
What Happens on Exam Day
Candidate Agreements
Prior to launching the examination, candidates are required to read and agree to follow all ICC rules, policies, and procedures.
This includes the following:
As a Certification candidate, I agree to:
- Provide accurate and complete information and abide by all International Code Council, Inc. (hereinafter “ICC”) policies and procedures, and I understand that failure to do so will constitute grounds for rejection of my certification test application.
- I will not release confidential exam materials.
- I will not participate in fraudulent test-taking practices.
If I become certified, and therefore a Certificant,
I agree to:
- Comply with the certification requirements, including the ICC Code of Ethics and renewal requirements, and notify the ICC Certification Department promptly if I am unable to comply with the requirements.
- Make appropriate claims regarding the scope for which certification has been granted.
- Not use the certification in such a manner as to bring the ICC into disrepute.
- Not make any statement regarding certification that ICC considers misleading or unauthorized.
- Not use the ICC certificate, ID card or logos or marks in a misleading or unauthorized manner.
- Discontinue the use of all claims to certification that contain any reference to ICC or the specific certification earned upon suspension, revocation or voluntary withdrawal of certification.
- Destroy or return any certificate or ID card issued by ICC upon revocation or voluntary withdrawal of certification.
- Allow ICC to release confidential certificant information if required by law. Certificant shall be notified as to what information will be released, unless such notification is prohibited by law.
Identity Verification
All candidates are required to present a government-issued photo identification.
The identification must:
- Have the same legal first and last name that matches the exam record,
- Be original (no photo copies)
- Must be valid (not expired)
- Contain a signature
Temporary licenses are not acceptable forms of identification.
Note: Proxy testing is a violation of the ICC administrative rules. Candidates who participate may be permanently banned from testing and subject to legal action.
Candidate Behavior
Proctors have the right to end an examination administration at any time for examination anomalies.
Including, but not limited to, the following behaviors:
- Verbal or nonverbal communication, including reading questions aloud, during your examination (except with the proctor)
- Creating a disturbance
- Allowing someone to enter the room during the exam administration
- Copying or attempts to copy examination questions or answers
- Is found to have prohibited materials (phones, recorders, loose papers, etc.) during the examination
- Gives or receives help during an examination
- Becomes belligerent or threatens the proctor, test site administration, or other candidates.
Inappropriate candidate behavior towards proctors and/or ICC staff may result in restriction from further testing.
Exam Resources/Materials
For open book exams there is a list of items allowed and items not allowed.
For open book exams, you may bring the following items into the exam administration:
- Print Reference material(s) – please make sure the reference(s):
- Are bound (either original bound book, three-ring binder, or stapled). Photocopies of copyrighted materials are not allowed.
- Have notes written in ink or highlighted
- Have permanently attached tabs (tabs that can’t be removed without destroying the page)
Note: To identify if your exam is open book and which references materials, if any, are approved to take to the test center, access your examination in the Exam Catalog.
- Magnifying glass
- Eyeglasses, if necessary
- Architects’ scale or ruler
- Foreign language/English translation dictionaries
- Battery-operated, basic four-function calculator that is:
- Limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square roots, and percentages
- Non-programmable
- Not capable of storing examination information
- Not capable of printing; ribbon-free
You may NOT bring the following items into the exam administration:
- Multiple monitors/displays are not supported. If you have more than one monitor, you will need to disconnect all but one.
- Utilizing the "Extend this display" display setting is also not supported.
- No food or drink (unless approved through testing accommodations)
- Any kind of writing instruments, writing paper, or briefcase
Note: PRONTO candidates utilize an on screen “Global Notepad” during their examination. PearsonVUE candidates are supplied with a small whiteboard and a marker. This marker can ONLY be used to write on the white board. Candidates using the marker/pen to write in their reference materials are subject to disciplinary action by the CC.
- Personal items such as purses, wallets, or watches
- Calculators with print capability (i.e. adding machines) and/or that store formulas (i.e. construction calculators)
- Copying, recording, or photo devices
- No electronic devices other than the device utilized for the examination (unless approved through testing accommodations)
What Happens After the Exam
Feedback and Appeals
ICC offers a feedback and appeal service that allows you to comment on your testing experience or challenge the results of your exam.
Code Council Assessment Center staff will review comments or challenges on specific exams, exam items, or any issues encountered during your examination.
Click here for more information.
Exam Retake Rules
ICC exam retake rules apply to both passed/not passed exams.
What are the rules for retaking an examination in which I received a passing score?
Candidates cannot retake a passed examination unless retesting is required/preferred in lieu of meeting ICC CEU renewal requirements.
What are the rules for retaking an examination in which I did NOT receive a passing score?
Candidates who do not pass the examination must follow the guidelines below:
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
National Examinations – see CC Rules of Procedure Section 4c
- You will have six exam attempts within a six-month period.
- You are responsible for paying the exam fee at every attempt.
- Once you have attempted an exam six times, you must wait six months from the first attempt to register again.
Jurisdiction Specific Examinations
- A jurisdiction may have specific retesting requirements. Before you register to retake an exam you should refer to the applicable state or jurisdictional Examination Information Bulletin by going to the exam catalog.
CONTRACTOR PROGRAMS
National ExaminationsNational Examinations
- You must wait ten days between each time you test before you will be allowed to test again, unless indicated otherwise by the applicable licensing board.
- You may test as many times as needed until you pass the exam unless indicated otherwise by licensing board requirements.
- You are responsible for paying the exam fee at every attempt.
Jurisdiction Specific Examinations
- A licensing board may have specific retesting requirements. Before you register to retake an exam you should refer to the applicable state or jurisdictional Examination Information Bulletin by going to the exam catalog.
Records Maintenance
Candidate records are maintained and released per the ICC Records Policy.
Candidates may request a release of their candidate records by submitting the required form found in the Forms Library.
Need to update your myICC contact information?
To update your Primary Address, Phone Number or Email, login to your myICC Dashboard > Update Profile > Update Personal Information. Click here for additional information.
Need to updated your legal name?
Official documentation is required. To update your legal name, login to your myICC Dashboard > Update Profile > Update Personal Information. Click here for additional information.
Maintain/Renew Credentials
Certified individuals are expected to maintain their certifications in accordance with the ICC Renewal Requirements.
Note: Some certifications cannot be renewed with ICC. Please see the individual examination renewal requirements in the exam catalog or in the Renewal Requirements.
Certified individuals are required to comply with the Certified Individual requirements of the Candidate Agreement.
Click here to download a document containing information from all three sections.
Questions? Contact Us
ICC Credentialing
Email: customersuccess@iccsafe.org
Phone: 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233) ext. 5524
Certification Policies
ICC understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out our certification activities, managing conflict of interest, and ensuring the objectivity of our certification activities.
To learn more about our certification and education policies, please read the following:
Council Policy 45, CC Rules of Procedure, Records Release, and ICC Credentialing Compliance Principles.