What does a plans examiner do?
A plans examiner is typically in charge of evaluating construction or work plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and zoning ordinances. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and reviewing applications and documentation, verifying the accuracy and authenticity of requirements, and assuring that they adhere to the safety policies and standards. Furthermore, as a plans examiner, it is essential to liaise with clients and other officials, maintain records of all transactions, and provide advice on whether the applications are suitable for permits.
Plans examiner responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real plans examiner resumes:
- Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
- Issue permits to trade contractors for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building construction work.
- Determine if licensee is compliant with the BSA, AML, UCC and NACHA operating rules.
- Certify FBI digital evidence extraction technician.
- Inspect HVAC system and insulation.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable ADA and OSHA safety regulations.
- Act as city liaison for board of appeals to code relate items.
- Review AML, compliance and risk assessment policies and procedures to determine if they are adequate.
- Act as examiner-in-charge for these examinations and write the (CRA) public evaluation and consumer compliance reports of examination.
- Inspect building projects to insure compliance with applicable building, plumbing, mechanical, land use and surface water management regulations.
- Participate on various committees and internal projects relate to securities industry topics.
- Handle general and auto liability claims, and all facets of investigation and litigation management.
- Determine fraud and misappropriations through utilization of data extraction and analysis software and forensic audit techniques.
- Contact providers and request documentation to support their Medicaid claims and reviewing those documentations for audit findings.
- Audit income and financial resources of elderly adults and disable applicants to determine financial eligibility for various levels of Medicaid coverage.
Plans examiner skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Plans Examiners are proficient in Plumbing, Customer Service, and Life Safety. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Craft experience, and Mechanical knowledge.
We break down the percentage of Plans Examiners that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Plumbing, 15%
Licensed by the state of Florida with Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical Provisional licenses as plans examiner.
- Customer Service, 13%
Reviewed incoming commercial and residential projects, provided customer service.
- Life Safety, 7%
Review construction documents on residential and commercial buildings for compliance with the adopted standards pertaining to fire and life safety.
- Fire Protection, 5%
Review fire protection reports and HMIS in determining suppression and detection systems design criteria
- Community Development, 5%
Verified compliance with FEMA, HUD/Community Development Block Grant funds.
- International Building, 5%
Applied extensive knowledge of the 2006 International Building Code and 1997 Uniform Building Code in review of residential and commercial projects.
"plumbing," "customer service," and "life safety" are among the most common skills that plans examiners use at work. You can find even more plans examiner responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a plans examiner to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what plans examiners do because "inspectors must be able to explain problems they discover and to write a report that clearly describes their findings." Additionally, a plans examiner resume shows how plans examiners use communication skills: "demonstrate effective communication and customer service skills to investigate medical claims, contact interested parties, and secure needed medical information. "
Mechanical knowledge. plans examiners are also known for mechanical knowledge, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to plans examiner responsibilities, because "inspectors use a variety of testing equipment to check complex systems and must therefore understand how the systems operate." A plans examiner resume example shows how mechanical knowledge is used in the workplace: "experience reading different eobs knowledge in medicare issues customer service"
Physical stamina. For certain plans examiner responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical stamina." The day-to-day duties of a plans examiner rely on this skill, as "inspectors are frequently on their feet and often climb and crawl through attics and other tight spaces." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what plans examiners do: "do physicals and ekg's on patients for health and life insurance co."
Detail oriented. Another crucial skill for a plans examiner to carry out their responsibilities is "detail oriented." A big part of what plans examiners relies on this skill, since "inspectors thoroughly examine many different construction activities." How this skill relates to plans examiner duties can be seen in an example from a plans examiner resume snippet: "meet and correspond with architects, contractors and property owners regarding plan reviews, construction installations and details. "
The three companies that hire the most plans examiners are:
- SAFEbuilt22 plans examiners jobs
- Clark County4 plans examiners jobs
- City of Reno4 plans examiners jobs
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Compare different plans examiners
Plans examiner vs. Engineering construction inspector
Typically, an engineering construction inspector is in charge of the environmental and engineering needs of any building. Engineering construction inspectors perform inspection on the electrical, plumbing, and other related systems to ensure code compliance. They review building plans to ensure their compliance with local ordinances, contract specifications, and building codes. It is their job to keep everyday logs such as inspection photographs. They monitor the construction sites on a periodical basis.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a plans examiner are more likely to require skills like "certifications," "customer service," "life safety," and "fire protection." On the other hand, a job as an engineering construction inspector requires skills like "construction sites," "asphalt," "aci," and "highway construction." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Engineering construction inspectors earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $64,268. On the other hand, plans examiners are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $57,301.engineering construction inspectors tend to reach similar levels of education than plans examiners. In fact, engineering construction inspectors are 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Plans examiner vs. Residential building inspector
A residential building inspector is in charge of ensuring that residential properties comply with the national building codes and construction requirements. They visit residential establishments and conduct thorough inspections to determine if the structure complies with safety and quality standards. They are also responsible for producing reports, recommending action plans, and discussing procedures with clients. Moreover, a residential building inspector maintains an active communication line with staff, all while adhering to the agency's policies and regulations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real plans examiner resumes. While plans examiner responsibilities can utilize skills like "certifications," "customer service," "life safety," and "fire protection," residential building inspectors use skills like "sketch," "windows," "inspection process," and "residential properties."
Residential building inspectors earn similar levels of education than plans examiners in general. They're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Plans examiner vs. Construction analyst
A Construction Analyst prepares statements, annual financial reports, exhibits, transmittal letters, schedules, statistical tables, management analysis, and management discussion. They handle business forecast analysis, cash flow projection analysis, statistical report analysis, government requirement analysis, financial plan analysis, budget analysis, and forecast analysis. Construction Analysts also prepare review recommendations, create and modify current procedures and policies.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, plans examiners are more likely to have skills like "certifications," "plumbing," "customer service," and "life safety." But a construction analyst is more likely to have skills like "cost estimates," "real estate," "rehabilitation," and "construction schedule."
Construction analysts make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $80,747. On the other hand, plans examiners are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $57,301.construction analysts typically earn similar educational levels compared to plans examiners. Specifically, they're 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Plans examiner vs. Resident inspector
Types of plans examiner
Updated January 8, 2025
