Skills maintenance review complete

Changes to skills maintenance requirements for Licensed Building Practitioners include compulsory activities

At the end of January, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) completed its review of the LBP skills maintenance scheme. The resulting changes are outlined below and will come into force from 2 November.

“The current scheme requires LBPs to earn a set number of points in order to retain their licence, much of which relies on self-directed learning on the LBP’s part,” says LBP registrar Paul Hobbs. “This system has been in place since the scheme’s inception, albeit with some slight adjustments over time.

“The review found there are some credibility issues with the current scheme, including some LBPs doing activities that are not relevant to their licence class in order to earn the required number of points. The new framework seeks to move away from an entirely points-based system in favour of a new ‘mixed-model’ approach, with the aim of being more meaningful and relevant across all seven licence classes.”

The new scheme was developed in consultation with LBPs, stakeholders and representatives from the Building Practitioners Board. It consists of both compulsory and elective activities – a departure from the current framework, which relies solely on elective activities and gaining enough points to satisfy the respective “two-yearly continued licensing requirement”.

The new compulsory activities, which will account for 50% of an LBP’s skills maintenance points regardless of what licence they hold, include:

• Reading LBP news, which is part of MBIE’s Codewords newsletter, and
• Identifying two examples of on-the-job learning over the two-year skills cycle.

The ‘LBP News’ articles will focus on legislative and technical changes. LBPs will only have to read articles relevant to their licence class competencies (and underpinning area or areas of practice). They will be required to complete a short quiz to ensure the key points have been understood.

“If you have a trade publication and/or series of seminars or events that have served you well in the past, then it is
a great idea to maintain these connections in the elective portion of the scheme.” – LBP registrar Paul Hobbs

The on-the-job learning component recognises that LBPs often learn or upskill as they are working in the design office or on site. To acknowledge this upskilling, the new scheme is designed to harness these naturally occurring learning opportunities. For example, designers should look to exploit occasions where they have used an innovative or new design method, while trade-based LBPs could cite the use of a new construction method or product by capturing this in their respective certificate or record of work (and photocopying it for their skills maintenance file).

LBPs are still expected to complete elective activities, such as reading Under Construction; however, they will only have to record half the time they previously needed to.

“The total amount of time spent upskilling will remain largely the same as it is currently,” says Paul. “The intent of the new scheme isn’t to decrease skills maintenance time, but to put more of an emphasis on relevant and meaningful learning outcomes.

“If you have a trade publication and/or series of seminars or events that have served you well in the past, then it is a great idea to maintain these connections in the elective portion of the scheme.”

The new scheme can be implemented under the existing LBP Rules, so no legislative change has been necessary. MBIE will road test the new scheme during the first half of this year, so that any issues are resolved before LBPs are required to transition from 2 November.

Further information on the new scheme will be published in upcoming editions of Codewords and Under Construction. MBIE staff will also support the roll-out of the new scheme later in the year, by partnering with building merchants and trade associations.

What do I need to take on board now?

• LBPs will be required to transition into the new scheme on the date of their next two-yearly skills maintenance anniversary that follows 2 November 2015 (for example, if your next skills maintenance submission date is 19 January 2016, then following that you would need to follow the new format).
• The new scheme does not introduce any new activities, it simply makes two existing activities compulsory – on-the-job learning and reading LBP News in Codewords.

What are the perceived benefits of the new scheme?

• It is based on other successful skills maintenance models and will prove more meaningful over coming years.
• The mixed-model approach means LBPs will no longer be responsible for sourcing all their skills maintenance material.
• A 50% elective component still remains in place, so LBPs can still gain points from attending seminars, conferences, reading industry publications and attending workplace safety training and the like, which are relevant or of interest to them.
• On-the-job learning will feature as a mandatory requirement, so that upskilling occurring during everyday work activities can be captured and used for skills maintenance.

What do I have to do from here?

More information will be provided over the coming months.

“Remember, it’s not all about the points, it’s about quality learning outcomes that will ensure you are up-to-date and current in your building knowledge.” says Paul.