Overview

Building inspector internship programs are designed for individuals interested in becoming a plans examiner or inspector in Ontario. As an intern inspector, you will work alongside experienced professionals to gain hands-on experience in the field.

You will learn about:

  • the Ontario Building Code and how to apply it
  • reviewing building permit applications
  • issuing permits
  • conducting inspections

Under the program, interns will:

  • get required training or orientation sessions to learn about the building code, plans examination and inspection procedures for that municipality
  • work as an intern inspector under the supervision of a qualified building official
  • complete any required tasks or assignments as part of the internship program, related to the building department’s responsibility to enforce Ontario’s Building Code
  • be prepared to take the provincial qualifying exams to become a qualified building official before the end of your internship with the municipality

In general, building inspector internships will run for up to 18 months, but may last longer under certain circumstances.

Eligibility

Municipalities that offer internships will establish minimum eligibility requirements related to education and experience for applicants to apply to become an intern inspector in their local program. You must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for an internship as set by the municipal building department.

Find an internship program near you

Current municipal programs

The following municipalities currently offer programs for intern inspectors:

Ontario Building Officials Association programs

The Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) also offers internship opportunities in local building departments.

Other municipalities

Contact your local municipality about whether any internships will be available in the future in your local building department.

Pathways to becoming a building practitioner

Intern inspectors can come from many different backgrounds and levels of experience. Here are some examples of how you might enter the building profession through a building inspector internship program.

Post-secondary students

Students about to graduate college or university can find out whether any local municipalities currently offer intern inspector opportunities by asking their school administration, or contacting building sector associations such as:

Persons with work experience in building industry, construction or trades

Someone already with experience in the building industry, construction or trades may be interested in making a change in careers and becoming a building inspector at a local municipality. This program provides intern inspectors with immediate experience in a new field, as well as a pathway to long-term employment in the municipal building sector.

Persons without work experience in Canada

Those without work experience in Canada looking to apply their knowledge from outside the country can consider following these steps before applying to the internship program:

  1. Determine if your education and work experience from outside of Canada will be recognized. If you completed your education and worked in a related field in your home country, you may be eligible to apply for recognition of your credentials in Ontario through a process called "credential recognition".
  2. You can contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) to have your educational credentials assessed. This will help you determine if you need to complete any additional education or training to meet Canadian standards.
  3. Consider an Ontario Bridge Training Program to help you continue working in your career after immigrating to Ontario by allowing you to apply your international training, education and experience to continue working in your field in Ontario.

Bridge training programs are available for eligible immigrants with international training, education and experience in either:

  • a regulated occupation (for example, nursing, engineering, etc.)
  • a highly-skilled, non-regulated occupation that is currently in demand (for example, information technology, financial services, etc.)

Becoming a qualified building practitioner after completing your internship

After completing your internship and passing provincial qualifying exams, you may have the opportunity to work as a building official for the municipality that you interned with, or another municipality that is seeking a qualified building official.

You do not need to work as an intern inspector before writing the provincial qualifying exams. However, you do need to pass ministry technical and legal exams before practising independently as a building official in the following roles:

  • Chief Building Officials
  • Managers
  • Supervisors
  • Plans Examiners
  • Inspectors, including On-Site Sewage System and Fire Protection Inspectors

To access more training and professional development opportunities, you can become a member of a professional association, such as: