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Internships are Win-Win

For Job Seekers and Municipalities

Internships are Win-Win!

For Job-seekers and Municipalities

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Join our Internship Program

The OBOA takes a proactive approach to internship management and placement. Our Internship Program is endorsed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Learn more.

We provide a framework, resources and training to facilitate their successful integration into their new role

Intern Applicants

We provide a framework, resources and training to facilitate their successful integration into their new role.

Learn More

Benefit from the program by meeting staffing needs with qualified, well-trained entry-level staff.

Municipalities

Benefit from the program by meeting staffing needs with qualified, well-trained entry-level staff.

Learn More

What is a Building Official Intern?

The OBOA provides the framework for matching qualified applicants with municipal Building Departments. Interns are mentored by a provincially qualified inspector or Chief Building Official, and complete certain tasks while pursuing CBCO certification.

How it works

Attract, recruit, train and retain qualified Building Officials
We provide a framework, resources and training to facilitate their successful integration into their new role

Intern Applicants

Types of internships

We’ll facilitate internships every step of the way, arrange mentoring where possible, and assist interns and their municipal building departments with any issues that may arise.

Which Tier is right for you?

Municipal Building Departments across Ontario vary considerably in size and management practices. In light of this, the OBOA has devised two separate “Tiers”. Interns may only participate once in each tier, but enrolment in both tiers concurrently will be accepted. Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Both internship tiers require the candidate meet the enrolment criteria below.

Tier One
Review, inspect and approve houses, with limitations. Table 3.5.2.1. of the 2006 Ontario Building Code. “House”, “ Plumbing – House” “HVAC – House” and “On-site Sewage Systems”. Internship duration is 18 months. An extension of 6 months may be added on a case-by-case basis.
Tier Two
This encompasses all other qualification categories such as Small Buildings”, “Large Buildings”, “Complex Buildings”, “Building Services”, “Building Structural”, “Plumbing – All Buildings” etc. The legal qualification will either be obtained prior to Intern application or as a component of either Tier 1 or 2. ”. Internship duration is 12 months. An extension of 6 months may be added on a case-by-case basis.

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FAQ’S

Applicant checklist

You are eligible to apply for a Building Official Internship if…

  • You are a member of the OBOA. Not a Member yet? Sign up now.

You answer yes to one of the items below:

  • You must have completed one of the Ministry of Municipal Affair’s Legal/Process examinations (General, CBO, RCA or Designer)
  • You possess no less than 5 years of verified experience as a building official or building practitioner.
  • You have an equivalent combination of post-secondary education and experience in the area of practice.

Glossary of terms

Who should consider an internship

Newly Hired

You’ve recently been hired by a municipality and want to work while pursuing CBCO qualifications.

career advancer

You work for a municipality, are looking to change jobs and work as a Building Official Intern while pursuing CBCO qualifications.

Job Seeker

You are interested in joining the Building Official profession. This role can help you get your foot in the door of a municipality where you will be able to work as you pursue CBCO qualifications.

How to enroll in the OBOA Internship program

During your internship

Keep track of functions/duties performed under municipal supervision and submit to OBOA every 90 days

Download form

How to extend your internship

Looking to exend your internship?

Apply now

Benefit from the program by meeting staffing needs with qualified, well-trained entry-level staff.

Municipalities

Attract, recruit, train and retain qualified Building Officials

Employer Responsibilities

Internship is the first step for aspiring Building Officials to assess the profession. As host Municipality, you have an important role to play in welcoming, mentoring, and integrating the intern into your building department team. The higher the quality of the internship experience, the greater the likelihood that the experience will lead to a full-time position. Municipalities offering quality internships have a step-up in attracting the best and the brightest.

Internship Mentors

As a Mentor, you are commit to supervising and reporting procedures as established between the OBOA, the Mentor, (and /or the host municipality) and the Intern for the purposes of monitoring the progress and fulfillment of the Internship.

Mentors must be A Provincially qualified inspector or chief building official as required by Division C, Article 3.1.4.2 of the Ontario Building Code will provide the mentorship. A Mentor must be an OBOA member in good standing.

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Approved Interns

FAQ

When was the OBOA Internship Program approved by the MAH Minister?
December 15, 2005
Are existing Building Officials and new municipal employees eligible to enroll in the OBOA Internship Program?
Yes, we will accommodate both types of employees! The Internship Program will assist existing Building Officials who must intern in one or more disciplines due to exam difficulties or upgrading of work duties. Secondly, any newly hired Building Official who must attain the minimum qualifications to practice.
Is the Internship Program open to Fire Prevention Officers?
Yes, any OBOA member who is part of the Municipalities Fire Service and is appointed as a building inspector by the municipal council (this includes the Fire Chief) for the enforcement of any portion of the Ontario Building Code respecting fire safety matters can be included in the internship program.
Can existing employees continue to work?
Yes. Under this approved model, current employees will continue to perform their tasks in context of the Regulation under a mentor while new employees will be able to perform certain tasks while completing qualification requirements as set out by the Review Committee. There is an exception, see OBC Division ‘C’, Article 3.1.4.2. approved interns are not permitted by the OBC to conduct specific tasks such as footing and foundation inspections prior to backfill and occupancy inspections.
How can I apply if training/experience was obtained outside of Canada?
Foreign educated and trained applicants will be required to obtain OBOA membership and demonstrate applicable and equivalent-knowledge of Internship application requirements as set out by the Review Committee.
Who can be a mentor?
An OBOA member who is a Provincially qualified inspector or chief building official as required by Division C, Article 3.1.4.2 of the Ontario Building Code must provide the mentorship.
What role does the mentor have in this process?
The mentor will need to demonstrate compliance with the procedures of a supervising and reporting program to be established between the OBOA, the mentor (and /or the municipality) and the Intern for the purposes of monitoring the progress and fulfillment of the Internship.
Describe the Internship options available to OBOA members only.
The internship program consists of two tiers. Tier 1 will encompass those qualifications, in part or in whole, which relate to “The House” qualification as set out in Part 2 of the Ontario Building Code. Specifically: “The House”, “Plumbing – The House” and “HVAC – The House”. Tier 2 shall comprise all other areas of study such as “Small Buildings, Large Buildings, Complex Buildings, Building Services, Building Structural, Plumbing All Buildings etc. For those who require the On-Site Sewage qualification, this category is available under Tier 1 or 2. The legal qualification will either be obtained prior to Intern application or as a component of either Tier 1 or 2.
What is the length of time that the Internship Program allows individuals to train?
Tier 1 Interns may be enrolled for not longer than 18 months, except that a further period of 6 months may be added for personal hardship. Tier 2 Interns may be enrolled for not longer than 12 months, except that a further period of 6 months may be added for personal hardship.
Is it possible for a Building Official to complete Tier 1 and then Tier 2? What is the time line?
Yes. In consideration of diverse municipal conditions, enrolment in both tiers concurrently will be accepted. Interns may only participate once in each Tier. Or alternatively, an intern may elect to apply and complete Tier 1 first then re-apply for Tier 2. The advantage for the intern is the clock starts over and the additional cost is only $100.

Tier 1 max. 18 months + Tier 2 max. 12 months = Total time 30 months.
The Internship Program will include a supervised practical internship in addition to the academic education of a Building Official. A provincially qualified OBOA member as noted in Division ‘C’ Subsection 3.1.4 of the Ontario Building Code will provide the mentorship.

What is an Intern Building Code Official?
An Internship Certificate allows a person to work using a designation Intern Building Code Official (IBCO) with the deficiencies in one or more of the basic requirements of the Classes of Registration and Categories of Qualifications for Inspectors in accordance with Division ‘C’, 3.5.2.1. of the Ontario Building Code (OBC).
How does an Intern request a six-month extension to the internship period, due to hardship?
To be considered for a six-month extension please complete and submit an internship extension request form to the OBOA provincial office no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled internship expiry date.