In June, a milestone was reached. All members of The Customer Service Center, representing Building Inspection and Public Utilities, became certified as International Code Council Permit Technicians. To obtain this certification each employee must attend two prerequisite courses and then take the International Code Council Exam. This exam is challenging because it requires the Permit Technician to think beyond the scope of their daily process to an international level. The certification examination covers a wide range of topics and has questions related to business management, legal, zoning, and building codes. To maintain certifications at the state level, each Permit Technician is then required to obtain sixteen hours of continuing education every other year. There is an additional requirement for hours to be obtained and submitted every three years to renew their certification at the international level.
Once certified, permit staff participate in monthly ride-a-long ’s with Building Inspectors to enhance their field knowledge along with their understanding of the inspection process. These field inspections provide an opportunity for continued growth as well as the ability for office staff to keep a good pulse on development in the county on both a Commercial and Residential level.
Goochland is a smaller locality when compared with neighboring counties such as Henrico and Chesterfield. In Henrico, there are three levels of Permit Technicians with only level three requiring the Permit Technician Certification. Currently, Chesterfield has fifty percent of its Permit Technicians certified. Goochland County strives for excellence and requires all Customer Service Center representatives to obtain their certification. This requirement reflects the importance Goochland County places on career development and education. Having all permit staff certified, from entry level positions through management, is a major accomplishment.