The BSCF is a Community Interest Company that provides independence and impartiality when assessing and validating the competence of building control professionals.
The building control validation assessment has been developed to enable experienced building control practitioners to demonstrate their competence in relation to building regulations. It is with this in mind that the Building Control Professional (BCP) Competence Validation Assessment will focus on the majority of work that the many BCP’s are likely to be involved in. However, the competencies being assessed will include an understanding of the limits of a surveyors own competence and when they should seek advice, learning and additional support.
THE MEASURE OF COMPETENCE
Whilst many have years of experience as Building Control Surveyors there has never been a true demonstrable measure of the competence of a building control surveyor. By April 2024 all levels of building control surveyor will need to have their competence validated in order to register with the Building Safety Regulator as a Registered Building Inspector (RBI).
The BSCF has created an assessment to allow experienced surveyors to validate their competence.
SCOPE(S) OF CERTIFICATION
| Building Type | Band A (Domestic) Dwelling house (excluding flats) of traditional construction and not having more than one basement storey |
Band B (General) Premises of any type and form of construction, where the guidance contained in the Approved Documents can be applied, including – where appropriate – |
Band C (Specialist) Premises of any type, height, size, form of construction and method of design – including any premises that will be within the scope of the Building Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwelling houses | <=3 storeys (<7.5m) high single occupancy |
<18m high
|
Unlimited |
| Flats | Not permitted - except under |
7 storeys or <18m high whichever is lowest |
Unlimited |
| Hotels and Other Residential (Other than flats) | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high | Unlimited |
| Offices | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high |
Unlimited |
| Retail | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high | Unlimited |
| Buildings to which the public are admitted | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high | Unlimited |
| Educational | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high | Unlimited |
| Car Parks | Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high |
Unlimited |
| Industrial buildings, not containing hazardous substances/processes |
Not permitted except under supervision | <18m high | Unlimited |
Non-standard buildings, for example –
|
Not permitted except under supervision | Not permitted except under supervision | Unlimited |
DOMESTIC BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR
Intended for the less experienced building control professionals (BCP) who has been working in the role for around 12 months and has relevant, current and sufficient experience working with low-rise domestic premises whilst they have been carrying out on-the-job learning and attaining qualifications. For example, experienced trainees and assistant surveyors. The BSCF also recognises that in some BCBs there will be those BCP’s who are exceptionally good at applying their knowledge and skill to domestic building work and have no aspiration to work on more complex premises or the area in which they work does not require it.
GENERAL BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR
It is anticipated that the majority of BCP’s will achieve and maintain General Building Control (Band B) status. Intended for more experienced BCP’s that can work without supervision on a variety of both domestic and commercial projects.Premises of any type and form of construction, where the guidance contained in the Approved Documents can be applied and this is generally referred to a ‘standard’ construction.
SPECIALIST BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR (HIGHER COMPLEXITY BUILDINGS)
The skills set and experience needed for candidates for Band C are not dissimilar to the Band B, however, these individuals should have a higher level of competence regarding fire and building safety for premises of any type, height, size, form of construction and method of design – including ‘non-standard’ construction and higher risk buildings (HRBs), as well as being able to work within a multi-disciplinary team and have a strong comprehension of the regulatory regime under which they operate.
FEES
Fees are chargeable for Initial certification, recertification and surveillance (during year 2 of the certification cycle).
From 1 April 2024 the price will be:
- Initial Certification - £850+VAT
- Assessment Resit – £450+VAT
- Surveillance (Y2) - £450+VAT
- Recertification (Y4) - £850+VAT
Successful candidates will receive a certificate showing that they have passed the validation assessment.
THE BSCF COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
- STEP 1 – New BSCF Applicants ONLY - you will need to register for an account, once complete, you will receive an email to validate your account and commence the application process. Please use the Candidate Portal - User Guide and Supplementary Information, which is located on our website under Useful Resources.
Existing BSCF Candidates - If you have previously applied for a competence assessment, OR have taken the LABC FSHRB assessment, please contact certification@thebscf.org to be advised of your existing log in details and how to proceed with portal access and to review your details. - STEP 2 – Your application will be reviewed once all the relevant information has been submitted and you will be notified by the BSCF team if further information is required or that you are approved to sit the assessment.
- STEP 3 – You can review your candidate profile at any time for updates.
- STEP 4 – Once approved, to book your assessment, please liaise with the BSCF team by emailing certification@thebscf.org, and they will arrange to book your preferred assessment date.
Zero Tolerance Policy
The BSCF operates to support and assist Building Control Professionals in providing demonstrable evidence of their competence to the Building Safety Regulator. BSCF staff are there to help candidates through the process. However, due to instances of BSCF staff being verbally berated by candidates, whilst BSCF staff have tried to support them with the online platform and approach to written assessments, the BSCF feels it necessary to introduce a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards aggressive and/or abusive behaviour.
Such behaviour is considered to be unwarranted, inappropriate, unprofessional and unethical and will not be tolerated. Candidates should apply the same standards of courtesy and dignity to BSCF staff as they would expect to be applied to themselves.
Aggressive or abusive behaviour includes (but is not restricted to) any personal, abusive or threatening comments, bad language, and aggressive gestures. This means that it is not acceptable to be aggressive or direct abuse toward any member of the BSCF staff. Any candidate behaving in such a manner will be removed from the BSCF scheme with immediate effect.
Should you have any problems accessing the portal, please email certification@thebscf.org.
START APPLICATION
If you have any questions regarding validation, please contact the Building Safety Competence Foundation team at certification@thebscf.org.
2025 assessment dates
| Date | Online / Written | Applications are to be submitted by | Book for your assessment by |
| 19 March 2025 | In Person/Online Assessment | 19 February 2025 | 5 March 2025 |
| 25 June 2025 | Online Assessment | 28 May 2025 | 11 June 2025 |
| 17 September 2025 | Online Assessment | 20 August 2025 | 3 September 2025 |
| 10 December 2025 | In Person/Online Assessment | 12 November 2025 | 26 November 2025 |
USEFUL RESOURCES
- BSCF Information for Candidates
- BSCF Reasonable Adjustments Policy
- BSCF Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments Guidance
- BSCF Guidance on Examination Technique
- BSCF Rules of Certification
- BSCF Online Assessment Information Pack
- VIDEO: everything you need to know about the competence validation process
- VIDEO (external page) - Registered Building Inspectors Webinar