BC Builder FAQ Introduction

Continuing Professional Development, commonly called CPD, is ongoing education that helps licensed residential builders maintain and strengthen their professional knowledge.

CPD may address subjects such as building codes, construction technology, building science, project management, legal responsibilities, financial management, customer service, warranty obligations, business management, and business ethics.

For British Columbia general contractors, completing CPD is a condition of annual residential builder licence renewal.

BC Housing requires licensed residential builders with general contractor status to complete CPD as a condition of renewing their licence.

The requirement applies to general contractors building single-family homes and small residential buildings under Part 9 of the BC Building Code.

Developers, building envelope renovators, and companies holding multiple licence classifications should confirm all requirements that apply to their licence.

A licensed residential builder with general contractor status must complete a minimum of 20 CPD points during each one-year licence term.

The required points must be completed and reported before the company applies to renew its residential builder licence.

Yes. General contractors, developers, and building envelope renovators must renew their residential builder licence annually to keep it in good standing.

General contractors must also satisfy the applicable CPD requirements as part of the renewal process.

BC Housing distinguishes between formal and informal learning.

• Formal learning: Two CPD points per hour
• Informal learning: One CPD point per hour

Training must generally be at least one hour long to earn CPD credit. The number of points available for a specific course should be clearly identified in its course information or Education Registry listing.

Formal learning is structured training that includes a method of assessing whether the participant understood the course material. Depending on the course, this may include:

• A final examination
• Graded assignments
• Knowledge assessments
• Verified participation
• Other documented evaluation methods

Formal learning earns two CPD points per hour when the applicable requirements are met.

Informal learning is qualifying professional education that does not meet all the assessment requirements for formal learning.

Informal learning can still provide meaningful professional development, but it generally earns one CPD point per hour rather than two. Builders should review the course classification and point value before enrolling.

Yes. Online courses may qualify for BC Housing CPD when they satisfy the applicable requirements.

An online course must be relevant to residential construction, address an eligible competency area or business ethics, provide verifiable participation, and meet the minimum duration requirement. Formal online training must also include an appropriate method of assessment.

Qualifying training must be directly relevant to the residential construction industry and primarily address at least one recognized competency area or business ethics. Relevant areas may include:

• Applicable building codes and enactments
• Construction management and supervision
• Construction technology
• Customer service and home warranty insurance
• Financial planning and budget management
• Legal issues
• Business planning and management
• Business ethics

The training does not need to cover an entire competency area, but it must have a clear connection to relevant learning outcomes.

A CPD nominee is the individual selected to complete Continuing Professional Development on behalf of a licensed company.

The nominee is chosen from the eligible people connected to the company’s residential builder licence. The company identifies its nominee during the licence application or renewal process.

No. CPD points cannot be divided between two nominees.

At least one nominee must independently complete all 20 required CPD points for the licence term. A company may have another eligible person complete 20 points as a backup, but the points earned by two different people cannot be combined to satisfy one requirement.

Yes. A company may change its nominee through the Licensed Residential Builders Portal.

When the replacement nominee is already listed on the licence as a person in control, the change may be made without an amendment fee. Adding a new person in control may require a licence amendment and an associated fee.

The replacement nominee must complete all 20 CPD points.

Points completed by the original nominee cannot simply be transferred to the new nominee or combined with the new nominee’s points. Because of this rule, companies should plan carefully when selecting a nominee.

Generally, no. CPD points earned by a nominee for one company cannot be transferred to an unrelated company.

Builders with more than one licence or companies with related licence arrangements should confirm how the rules apply to their circumstances.

The BC Housing Education Registry is a searchable online directory of education providers and training offerings. Builders can use it to search for courses by course name, provider, training format, location, competency area, offering type, and total available points.

Yes. We are an approved training provider by BC Housing.

Yes. Builders may take multiple courses to reach their required number of CPD points. We also offer a discounted 20-hour bundle of courses to make it easy for you to complete all of your necessary hours.

Before purchasing, review the points awarded for each course and confirm that the total meets the needs of your licence term.

Yes. Our online courses are designed to offer flexibility for busy construction professionals. Students will be able to progress through the course around their work schedule.

No. Our online courses allow students to leave and return later while preserving their progress.

Yes. Our goal is to provide courses that work on modern desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Students will receive access immediately after registration and payment is successfully completed. Course access instructions will be sent to the email address used during registration.

No. There is no final exam in our courses. You just need to navigate to the end of the course to receive your certificate.

Yes. We plan to support company and group purchases. A company may purchase training for CPD nominees, managers, supervisors, or other employees. Contact our team for assistance with multiple enrolments or company training needs.

Remember that CPD points cannot be combined between nominees to satisfy one company’s 20-point requirement.

Yes. Students who successfully complete all course requirements will receive a completion certificate.

Education providers do not report your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours or points to BC Housing. You are responsible for logging your own training points through the Licensed Residential Builders Portal when it is time to renew your residential builder license.

BC Housing requires builders to retain CPD training records for three years after the end of the licence term to which the training applies.

Keep certificates and any supporting documentation in a secure location in case BC Housing requests them during an audit.

Yes. BC Housing may review or audit reported CPD and ask for proof that the education was completed.

A maximum of 20 additional CPD points may be carried into the next licence term when the applicable conditions are met, including the same CPD nominee remaining in place.

Carryover points cannot be earned retroactively to correct a previous licence term.

Carryover points may be lost when the CPD nominee changes. The new nominee must complete all 20 required points for the applicable licence term.

Do not wait until the final days before your licence expires. BC Housing recommends reporting CPD before the renewal date because incomplete applications can cause delays.

Failure to complete and report the required CPD may prevent or delay renewal of a general contractor licence.

A company that cannot meet its CPD obligations should contact BC Housing as soon as possible rather than waiting until the licence expires.

Continuing to build or sell new homes after the applicable residential builder licence has expired may be an offence under the Homeowner Protection Act.

Builders should review their renewal status and contact BC Housing promptly when a licence has expired or is at risk of expiring.

No. Completing CPD is one part of the licence-renewal process.

Builders must also complete the renewal application, satisfy any other applicable requirements, and pay the required fees through the appropriate BC Housing process.

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We have customer service representatives available 7 days a week to help you out. You will be able to talk to a real person when you call us.

24HourEDU Contractor is an online education company for practical continuing education for licensed residential builders.

Our initial focus is British Columbia. We are building courses and resources to help BC builders understand CPD, complete relevant online education, maintain records, and prepare for licence renewal.

Our goal is to make contractor continuing education simple. We built the course experience around five commitments:

• Practical education
• Convenient online access
• Straightforward course information
• Respect for the builder’s time
• Support from real people

We believe professional education should provide value beyond meeting a regulatory requirement.

We are here to help seven days a week. If you have questions, you can call us at 888-250-9889.