Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 44 of 2000)Board NoticesSpecified Categories of Registration prescribed by CouncilBoard Notice 189 of 2019 |
Board Notice 189
22 November 2019
GG 42849
South African Council for the Architectural Profession
| 1. | BACKGROUND |
The South African Council for the Architectural Profession ("SACAP") has undertaken the process of professionalising and registration of Building Control Officers (BCOs). SACAP resolved that it is prudent that BCOs are registered within the Architectural Profession.The process will result in BCOs registering with SACAP as professionals in the built environment. Professionalisation will ensure that Local Authorities appoint BCOs who are registered and in good standing.
The Professionalisation of BCOs is in response to acknowledgement that there is a need to professionalise the building control function due to the key role that building control functionaries perform. The key responsibility for building control is to ensure building laws and regulations are adhered to. Building control contributes to the safety and amenity of the built environment by managing the building quality. BCOs enforce the National Building Regulations and Standards Act and the National Building Regulations.
Belonging to a professional regulatory authority is a significant step towards developing a career pathway. By professionalising the building control field, a career stream is created with a clear path for articulation. The professionalisation of building control functions means that there will be a status attached to building control functionaries and there will also be a proper career structure in place. The public will adhere to building control functionaries as a degree of respect and confidence.
Through Professionalisation SACAP would have sufficient regulatory authority to make rules and regulations on behalf of building control professionals and to perform the functions necessary to promote and protect the well being and reputation of the profession. This will augment the profession’s body of knowledge, improving its reputation and ethical standards, and refining its certification/education/qualification processes.
| 2. | MANDATE |
SACAP is a statutory body established in terms of section 2 of the Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No 44. of 2000) ("the Act"). SACAP’s primary mandate is to protect the public by maintaining a register of registered persons, accrediting programmes at higher learning institutions, creating standards by which registered persons are required to comply with and regulating activities within the profession through various regulatory instruments, including a Code of Professional Conduct and Continuing Profession Development.
In terms of section 18 (1) (c) of the Act, SACAP is empowered to register persons in a specified category of registration as may be prescribed by the Council. In light of the above provision of the Act, Council has resolved to create a specified category of registration for BCOs respectively. Consequently, SACAP will be responsible for the registration and the regulation of BCOs.
| 3. | CRITERIA FOR REGISTRATION AS A BCO |
The following table was approved by Council for implementation of registration of BCOs from 1 July 2019.
SPECIFIED CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION:
The specified categories for registration are as follows:
Professional Registration Category |
Main Qualifications |
Years EXP |
Qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
Chartered Building Surveyor / Officer |
Degree / ND + Post Grad. |
above 10 years |
Level 8 |
Chief Building Officer/ Surveyor |
Degree / ND |
9 - 10 years |
Level 7 |
Senior Building Officer/ Surveyor |
Degree / ND |
7 - 8 years |
Level 7 |
Building Officer / Surveyor |
Degree / ND |
5 - 6 years |
Level 7 |
Building Inspector/ Assessor III |
N6 / ND |
3-4 years |
Level 7 |
Building Inspector/ Assessor II |
N4 - N6 with Trade Test |
2 years |
Level 6 |
Building Inspector/ Assessor I |
N3 with Trade Test |
1 year |
Level 5 |
| 4. | SUNSET CLAUSE |
The "Sunset clause" will be used for the following 6 (six) months as the criteria for professional categorisation:
| 4.1 | Main qualification as per Table 1; |
| 4.2 | Years of experience, knowledge and capabilities as prescribed in the qualification outcomes requirements, in the relevant to field of employment, as per Table 1; |
| 4.3 | Qualifications as per last block, will be used following the "sunset clause" period in line with the "new" Draft Building Inspector Qualification, recently approved by Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and currently under further consideration by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). |
| 5. | REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS |
| 5.1 | All applicants must apply as follows: |
| 5.1.1 | submission of an electronic online application on website www.sacapsa.com |
| 5.1.2 | Certified, colour copy of ID Document/ Passport; |
| 5.1.3 | Certified proof of appointment and or formal letter of appointment confirming position and date of appointment (signed Job Description by employer also will assist with assessment, as to assist with, experience, knowledge and capabilities). |
| 5.1.4 | Proof of payment. |