Caught exception: The API is returning an invalid status code. HTTP status: 503 Request: http://api.lmiforall.org.uk/api/v1/wf/predict?soc=3565&minYear=2024&maxYear=2028 Response:

503 Service Unavailable

No server is available to handle this request. Caught exception: The API is returning an invalid status code. HTTP status: 503 Request: http://api.lmiforall.org.uk/api/v1/wf/predict/breakdown/region?soc=3565&minYear=2024&maxYear=2024 Response:

503 Service Unavailable

No server is available to handle this request. Careerpilot : Job sectors : On-site : Job profiles : Building control officer Skip to content

On-site

Swap to Design & planning or Property management or go back to all job sectors or go to green jobs

Building control officer Green Job

Building control officers make sure building regulations are followed.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £60,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 40 a week

You could work: on call; on a rota

Day to day tasks

As a building control officer you'll:

  • work closely with architects, designers, builders and engineers
  • suggest ways to make building projects more cost effective
  • carry out site inspections
  • write inspection reports and issue completion certificates
  • survey unsafe buildings, giving advice or approving their demolition
  • authorise entertainment licenses and check safety at public venues and events

Working environment

You could work in an office or on a construction site.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and at height.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
University

You can do a higher national diploma, foundation degree or degree in a relevant subject like:

  • building studies
  • civil engineering
  • structural engineering
  • building control surveying
  • building surveying

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You could do a college course, which could help when you apply for trainee jobs in building control. Courses include:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment
  • T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You can do a building control surveyor degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
  • higher and degree apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships
Direct application

You could move into building control from another job in construction, like quantity surveying or site management.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • have a full driving licence

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join one a professional body to help with your professional development, including:Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; The Chartered Institute of Building; Chartered Association of Building Engineers

Further information

You can find out more about careers and training in building control from:The Chartered Institute of Building; Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; Local Authority Building Control

There is not enough data for this job to find employment statistics

Showing jobs in:
View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could specialise in a particular area like fire safety, or move into technical and planning roles in other departments, for example town planning.

You could also work as a consultant.

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Building Control Officers are needed to oversee the retrofitting and energy efficiency of existing homes and commercial properties, and the development of new low carbon buildings in the West of England region.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • Maths, Physics A-levels
  • BTEC Construction, Management and Built Environment at City of Bristol College
  • Building Services Engineering for Construction T-Level (available from 2024)

Click here to find a local provider

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 3 Electrical, Electronic Product Service and Installation Engineer Apprenticeship
  • Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Building Control Surveyor

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

Examples of post-18 courses you could study at local higher education providers

Click here to search for other university courses

For more information on the different routes you can take to get into working as a building control officer, take a look at the 'Routes into this job' section above. 

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Local employers 

  • Ove Arup and Partners
  • Mott Macdonald

For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

Video stories related to this job

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • knowledge of English language
  • analytical thinking skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
My top 5 skills
Please sign in to compare your skills to this job. Sign in

To save or view your choices and results you must sign in or register (takes 1 minute).

Sign in Register