This class is a VIRTUAL class.
There will be 3 more BCO Academies this Academic year.
Please check back after this class if you are interested in signing up for one of the other BCO Academies.
BCO Examination
*Everyone will have the same testing block of on Friday, August 29, 2025.
The exams will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions and are open-book with a two-hour time limit. During the exam, test takers may reference only the BCO manual.
Virtual Test takers must have a quiet test environment available to take the exam.
Exam results will be e-mailed immediately, and official results will be mailed out within three weeks. Those who pass the BCO exam must apply to the state Department of Labor & Industry for BCO certification (state fees may apply). The BCO certification is valid for 3 years in Pennsylvania only and not related to the Certified Building Official (CBO) certification offered by the International Codes Council.
* Photo identification such as a driver's license will be required for admittance to the examination.
After you are registered, you will also receive a Zoom invitation link needed to attend the class at least 2 days prior to the scheduled time. Please note, this email tends to get caught up in spam. If you have not received the Zoom invitation email within 2 days of the course, please double check your spam folder or email us at information@paconstructioncodesacademy.org, we are here to help!
The Building Code Official Certification Academy is designed to prepare the person who will be the administrator, manager, or director of their municipality's or third-party's agency code enforcement office, for taking the Building Code Official Certification Exam. This five-day training session provides an in-depth comprehensive review of the statute and regulations that comprise the Uniform Construction Code. The material is presented in a way that the student will see how the UCC regulations apply to duties and responsibilities associated with the daily operations of a code enforcement office. The course is also of interest to certified BCOs seeking a detailed refresher session addressing subsequent legislative changes to Act 45 since its enactment and changes in UCC enforcement as a result of such.
Topics covered in the Academy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Key definitions and adopted codes
- Differences between exclusions and exemptions
- Training and certification regulations
- Administrative and enforcement regulations
- Legislative amendments
- Agricultural buildings
- Residential alterations and repairs
- Recreational cabins
- Change of Occupancy for Commercial Structures
- Uncertified buildings
- Manufactured and modular housing
- Ethics
- Enforcement actions
- Right of Entry
- Permit Fee Structures
- Record Retention
- Open Records Requirements
The five-day course is an intensive review of material that will be found on the Building Code Official Exam and provides a look at practical application of the UCC regulations. Students are expected to have studied the course materials and familiarized themselves with the structure and scope of the statutes and regulations prior to attending the course.
Required Materials
The BCO Manual, which includes Act 45 with amendments and the Department of Labor & Industry's regulations.
***These materials are included in the registration fee and will be sent via UPS to the registrant after PCCA receives the registration.
*Live Zoom Times are an estimate and may be a little shorter or longer.
Day One - 8:30 AM-9:30 AM (Live portion via Zoom) *The rest of Day One consists of recordings to be viewed on your time before Day Two.
Introduction (Live via Zoom)
Definitions/Background/Role of BCO
Certification and Renewal(
Fees, Reporting, Records
Municipal Enforcement and Act 1
Scope of the UCC
Permits Required/UCC Exclusions - Part 1
Homework Assignment
Day Two - 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM (Live portion via Zoom) *The rest of Day Two consists of recordings to be viewed on your time before Day Three.
Review of Homework and Discussion from Day 1(Live via Zoom)
Permits Required/UCC Exclusions
Permit Exemptions
Codes and State Amendments
Fire Code and Additional Scoping
Homework Assignment
Day 3 - 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM (Live portion via Zoom) *The rest of Day Three consists of recordings to be viewed on your time before Day Four.
Review of Homework and Discussion from Day 2 (Live via Zoom)
Permits and Accessibility
Permit Applications/Alternative Materials
Inspections
Constitutional Rights/Enforcements
Board of Appeals
Elevators and Misc. Provisions
Day 4- 8:30 AM- 11:30 AM (Live portion via Zoom)*The rest of Day Three consists of recordings to be viewed on your time before Day Four.
10 AM Live or Recorded session with Mike Moglia (TBD) – “Manufactured and Industrialized Houses and Structures”
Day 5 - 8:30am-11:00am
Review (Live via Zoom)
10:00 AM- 11:00 AM
Final Review Q&A (Live via Zoom)
11:00 AM- 12:00 PM - Lunch Break (on your own)
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM - BCO Exam -virtual only
Credit Hours
26 UCC continuing education hours awarded.
Instructors
Robert Buddenbohn, Chris Geltz
*We no longer accept paper registrations or invoicing for this class. Online registrations only. Credit Cards, PayPal are accepted as payment.
Attendance & Cancellation Policy for Virtual Class
To receive full CEU's for this class, Attendance & Participation in the Live Zoom's and Online Platform are required. You will be expected to attend the full duration of the class.
Please Note: Full first and last names must be used as your screen name on Zoom for Attendance & CEU's.
*If there are any Attendance Issues, please e-mail Christy Saliaris at csaliaris@pml.org
Cancellations must be received in writing by sending an email to cancellations@paconstructioncodesacademy.org . Refunds will be determined by the date of the fax or email. A cancellation received less than 10 business days of the session you are registered for, is subject to a $50 processing fee for refunds. Those who cancel within 3 business days of the session date or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee and if unpaid, will be invoiced. Credit toward future PCCA courses may be accepted upon approval from the PCCA administrator; substitutions may be accepted.
Once the BCO manual is shipped, any refunds issued will not include the $50 manual fee. If the manual is returned to PCCA at your expense, then a $15 credit will be provided in order to cover initial shipping and processing costs.