At the local, state, and federal levels, code enforcement officers can be found in a variety of settings. The first step for anyone interested in becoming a code enforcement officer is to figure out which type of officer they want to be. The path to becoming a code enforcement officer may include additional education or on-the-job training, as well as a thorough background check, depending on the type of officer a person wishes to be.
Local, state, and federal governments pass a slew of laws aimed at keeping citizens safe, protecting the environment, and beautifying their communities. These laws are divided into sections of the code. Codes can cover a wide range of topics, from parking to hazardous waste disposal, and nearly everything in between. Violators may receive a warning or a violation, which is usually accompanied by a hefty monetary penalty. A person who wants to ensure that codes are followed should consider becoming a code enforcement officer.
In some cases, a high school diploma is the only educational requirement for becoming a code enforcement officer. Local parking enforcement officers, for example, are typically only required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. In most cases, the agency in charge of code enforcement will provide on-the-job training.
In some cases, however, additional education to become a code enforcement officer may be required. Before becoming qualified for employment as a code enforcement officer, an enforcement officer for building inspections, for example, may be required to have a college diploma and/or pass a certification exam. In most cases, the required examination will assess the applicant’s understanding of local building codes and regulations.
A college degree in a specific area such as engineering or one of the sciences may be required at the federal level for a code enforcement officer for an agency such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA is in charge of enforcing worksite rules and regulations in order to keep workers safe. In addition, OSHA regulates a wide range of work environments, some of which use hazardous chemicals or dangerous equipment on a regular basis. In many cases, an enforcement officer must be knowledgeable about the laws that apply to the work site as well as have a thorough understanding of the work being done.
An in-depth background check may be required in addition to any required educational background and/or certification to become a code enforcement officer. Code enforcement officers are usually employed by a government agency, which frequently conducts a pre-employment background check on applicants. Because a code enforcement officer may have access to sensitive and/or confidential legal information, a clean background check is required before being approved for a position in the field.