Building site inspector
Construction and Trades

How to become a building site inspector

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• construction
• civil engineering
• surveying

University (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 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

Apprenticeship

You could do a construction technical professional advanced apprenticeship or construction site supervision higher apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 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.

More info

Registration

• 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.

Further information

You'll find more advice on how to become a building site inspector from Go Construct.

What it takes

Skills & 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 carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day to day

Your duties will include:

• making sure that work is following project plans
• measuring and sampling building materials to check their quality
• finding defects and recommending ways to fix them
• monitoring work progress
• writing 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

Career path & progression

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).