Date: August 1994

Author(s); J. Julo, J. H. Willenbrock.

BACKGROUND:

In the Fall of 1992, the Pennsylvania Builders Association began investigating the possibility of developing, implementing, and administering a state-wide certification program for builders and remodelers. The purpose of this certification program would be to add credibility to the image and mission of the Pennsylvania Builders Association by establishing an appropriate level of competency for its members, and in time, to improve the image of the association and the home building and remodeling industry within state government and in the eyes of the housing consumer. The Pennsylvania Builders Association requested the assistance of the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center in developing the phases of the certification program which relate to competency standards.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS:

This report defines the domain of knowledge for the home building industry and determines the minimum standards and definitions of basic competence within that domain necessary for an individual to be categorized, at a minimum, as a competent home builder or remodeler. This knowledge domain is comprised of information from the following topical areas: (1) Building and Construction Technology, (2) Contracts and Construction Law, (3) Customer Service Programs, (4) Construction Project Management, (5) Land Use Regulations, (6) Building Codes, (7) The CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code, (8) Business Management, and (9) Accounting and Financial Management.

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU:

This research will assist the Pennsylvania Builders Association, and in particular the Knowledge Work Group, in developing the information necessary to implement a certification program and specifically a competency examination for home builders and remodelers.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The second year of this research effort will focus on further refinement of the topical areas already defined based on the input of PBA's Knowledge Work Group. A competency examination will be developed along with various testing formats, and an educational curriculum will be identified which will assist builders and remodelers in gaining mastery of the topical areas.