LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Administrative Rules for Skilled Trades Regulation Rules
Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Ottawa Building, 611 West Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48933 - Upper Level, Conference Room 3
Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Ottawa Building, 611 West Ottawa Street, Lansing, MI 48933 - Upper Level, Conference Room 3
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The proposed changesmake three significant changes to Michigan’s Skilled Trades rules affecting building officials, inspectors, and plan reviewers: changes to how continuing education is credited, a substantial reduction in CE requirements for experienced inspectors with clean records, and creation of a more structured provisional-registration pathway.
1. Continuing Education Credits and Renewal Cycles
The proposal clarifies that continuing education may be used for renewal when earned during either:
For a Building Official, the proposal establishes prorated CE requirements depending on how much time remains before renewal:
1. Continuing Education Credits and Renewal Cycles
The proposal clarifies that continuing education may be used for renewal when earned during either:
- the individual’s current three-year registration cycle, or
- the immediately preceding three-year cycle.
For a Building Official, the proposal establishes prorated CE requirements depending on how much time remains before renewal:
The proposal retains/establishes totals of 34 hours for inspectors (4 Rules & Acts, 16 Technical, 2 Plan Review, 12 Specialty) and 40 hours for plan reviewers (4 Rules & Acts, 16 Technical, 8 Plan Review, 12 Specialty).
2. Major CE Reduction for Experienced Inspectors
One of the most consequential proposed changes is a 50% reduction in required continuing education for an inspector who meets both of these conditions:
3. Building Official Accountability
The proposal specifically provides that a building official who fails to provide appropriate oversight of inspectors, inspections, or plan reviews in administering and enforcing the State Construction Code Act may be subject to statutory penalties.
This is noteworthy because it explicitly connects the building official's supervisory responsibilities to potential enforcement action.
4. New/Expanded Provisional Registration Pathway
The proposal establishes a detailed pathway allowing individuals to enter the inspection profession through provisional registration.
An applicant would need at least three years of qualifying experience, which could be documented through a combination of:
5. First Year — Residential Inspection Training
During the first year, a provisional inspector would have to:
6. Second Stage — Commercial Inspections
To progress to independent commercial inspection work, the provisional registrant would then have to:
7. Progression Toward Full Inspector/Plan Reviewer Registration
The next stage requires the provisional registrant to participate in 100 residential and commercial plan reviews under an appropriate trade plan reviewer and obtain a nationally recognized trade-specific plan-review certification.
The registrant must also complete 8 hours of CE, consisting of:
A provisional registration could not be renewed more than four times. Changes to the Skilled Trades Rules Proposed 081826.docxDOCX
Bottom line
For Michigan inspectors and the inspector associations, I would characterize the proposal as having four major practical effects:
2. Major CE Reduction for Experienced Inspectors
One of the most consequential proposed changes is a 50% reduction in required continuing education for an inspector who meets both of these conditions:
- The inspector held an active registration for the three registration cycles immediately preceding renewal; and
- The inspector has not received a citation or final order for violations of the Act or rules against the inspector registration or another license under the Act.
3. Building Official Accountability
The proposal specifically provides that a building official who fails to provide appropriate oversight of inspectors, inspections, or plan reviews in administering and enforcing the State Construction Code Act may be subject to statutory penalties.
This is noteworthy because it explicitly connects the building official's supervisory responsibilities to potential enforcement action.
4. New/Expanded Provisional Registration Pathway
The proposal establishes a detailed pathway allowing individuals to enter the inspection profession through provisional registration.
An applicant would need at least three years of qualifying experience, which could be documented through a combination of:
- high-school career and technical education;
- an acceptable higher-education program; and/or
- field experience under an appropriately licensed individual.
5. First Year — Residential Inspection Training
During the first year, a provisional inspector would have to:
- participate in at least 150 inspections accompanied by an appropriate trade inspector;
- obtain a nationally recognized residential inspector certification for the applicable category;
- complete employer-required operational training; and
- complete at least 2 hours of Acts & Rules CE plus 2 hours of Technical and/or Specialty CE.
6. Second Stage — Commercial Inspections
To progress to independent commercial inspection work, the provisional registrant would then have to:
- participate in at least 100 commercial inspections under an appropriate trade inspector;
- obtain a nationally recognized commercial inspector certification;
- complete employer operational training; and
- complete 2 hours Specialty CE and 2 hours Technical CE.
7. Progression Toward Full Inspector/Plan Reviewer Registration
The next stage requires the provisional registrant to participate in 100 residential and commercial plan reviews under an appropriate trade plan reviewer and obtain a nationally recognized trade-specific plan-review certification.
The registrant must also complete 8 hours of CE, consisting of:
- 2 hours Acts & Rules
- 2 hours Technical
- 2 hours Plan Review
- 2 hours Specialty
A provisional registration could not be renewed more than four times. Changes to the Skilled Trades Rules Proposed 081826.docxDOCX
Bottom line
For Michigan inspectors and the inspector associations, I would characterize the proposal as having four major practical effects:
- Modernizes and clarifies CE renewal rules, including preventing the same credits from being used twice.
- Cuts CE requirements by 50% for experienced, compliant inspectors who have maintained active registration for three prior cycles.
- Increases explicit accountability for building officials regarding oversight of inspectors, inspections, and plan reviews.
- Creates a structured apprenticeship-like pathway for new inspectors, moving them from supervised residential work → independent residential inspections → supervised commercial work → independent commercial work → plan-review experience → full inspector/plan-reviewer qualification.