OBOA Announces New Training Initiatives Launching January 2026

The Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) is pleased to announce significant enhancements to its training programs beginning in January 2026. These initiatives reflect OBOA’s ongoing commitment to accessible, consistent, and up-to-date education for building officials and those interested in building code compliance.

New Self-Directed Learning Portal

OBOA has launched a new Self-Directed Learning (SDL) portal. This platform allows students to complete training on their own schedule and at their own pace, providing greater flexibility while maintaining OBOA’s high educational standards. The SDL initiative will launch with the course OBOA Foundations – The Ontario Building Code & Act, with additional self-directed courses planned to be launched throughout 2026.

OBOA Foundations – A New Prerequisite Course

As part of the transition to the 2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC), OBOA has updated its course manuals and removed the introductory Chapter 1 material previously included in most courses. This content focused on understanding the structure of the OBC and how to navigate the Code and has been consolidated into a new standalone course: OBOA Foundations – The Ontario Building Code & Act.

This course is now a prerequisite for all OBOA training courses and is available at no cost to anyone interested in learning more about the Ontario Building Code. Students pursuing OBOA training will complete this course through the new Self-Directed Learning format.

Key Training Updates for 2026

• OBOA has launched a new Self-Directed Learning portal, allowing students to complete training independently and at their own pace. The initiative begins with OBOA Foundations – The Ontario Building Code & Act and will expand throughout 2026.

• All new students will be required to enroll in and successfully complete OBOA Foundations – The Ontario Building Code & Act prior to taking other OBOA courses.

• All OBOA training courses are now taught using the 2024 Ontario Building Code.

• All OBOA course examinations have been updated to reflect the 2024 OBC requirements.

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing BCIN examinations are anticipated to be updated to the new 2024 OBC in late February 2026. To support students during this transition, OBOA will extend access to course materials for those currently enrolled, assisting with preparation for the updated BCIN examinations.

OBOA looks forward to continuing to support building practitioners through modernized, accessible, and relevant training opportunities in 2026 and beyond.