Skills maintenance review reveals direction

MBIE identifies four ‘categories of learning’ for LBPs to focus their activities on.

Just over a year ago, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) decided to review the Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) skills maintenance framework. Their intent was to ensure the scheme would help create a credible, innovative and productive sector without becoming overly arduous for those involved in the scheme.

“Ongoing professional development is important for any professional registration body. It’s a way of ensuring members are keeping up with changes and remaining professionally competent,” says LBP registrar Mark Scully.

“Skills maintenance is the Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme for LBPs.”

While the review is not yet complete, MBIE has identified and announced four ‘categories of learning’ it deems relevant to competent LBP practice.

“Ongoing professional development is important for any professional registration body. It’s a way of ensuring members are keeping up with changes and remaining professionally competent – LBP registrar Mark Scully.

LBPs are encouraged to consider activities across these areas:

• Technical skills & knowledge.
• Regulatory knowledge.
• Workplace safety.
• Professional development.

Recognition of on-the-job learning is also a key component of the skill maintenance review. LBPs struggling to locate training in their area often already have the resources they need to keep up to date.

Aside from reading educational magazines such as Under Construction, or attending PlaceMakers’ industry seminars, there are various learning opportunities in day-to-day work.

A simple question that LBPs looking for relevant activities might ask themselves is “when I’m on the joband I don’t know something, where do I go to find out?”

Internet reasearching, as well as discussion with building inspectors and other experts, can all contribute to skills maintenance learning.

LBPs are encouraged to record their learning activities online at www.lbp.govt.nz. In case youare selected to have your learning audited, make sure to keep hardcopy proof of your learning, suchas Under Construction’s ‘PROVE YOUR KNOW HOW’ coupons filed away in a safe spot!