Building site inspector apprenticeships - where to start
You can get into this job through
a university coursea college coursean apprenticeshipworking towards this roleapplying directly
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in construction, civil engineering or surveying. You'll usually need 1 or 2 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma. You'll need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
College
Once you have some construction experience, the following college courses can help you progress to site supervisor/inspector roles:
- Level 3 Diploma in Construction Site Supervisory Studies
- Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Supervision
- Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Management
You'll usually need 1 or 2 A-Levels, a Level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a Level 4 or Level 5 course. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:
- Level 4 Construction site supervisor
- Level 4 Construction site engineering technician
- Level 6 Construction site management degree apprenticeship
You'll usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-Levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship.
Work
You could work as a site tradesperson, building technician or surveying assistant and move up to become a site inspector through on-the-job training.
Direct Application
You could apply directly to work as a building site inspector. To do this, you'll need several years' construction experience. Qualifications in health and safety will also be useful.
You'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, which offers professional development and technical advice to people working in the building industry.
Building site inspector apprenticeships - what it takes
Skills and knowledge
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
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Building site inspector apprenticeships - what you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
You will:
- do regular inspections of construction sites
- check that work is following building regulations
- make sure that work is following project plans
- measure and sample building materials to check their quality
- find defects and recommend ways to fix them
- monitor work progress
- write reports for construction managers and clients
Working environment
You could work in an office or on a construction site.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression - Building site inspector apprenticeships
With experience, you could move into site management, building surveying, civil engineering or construction management.
You could also set up your own site inspection business and work as a consultant, or move into training.
You may need to become a member of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI).