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If you work within a BIM environment on construction or engineering projects, you may want to consider getting BIM Level 2 Certification. This will give you credibility and will serve as proof of your BIM capabilities and commitment. In this article we will explore what you need to know about certification.

The first thing to consider is whether you want to get certified as an individual or as a business. Let’s start looking at the certification for individuals.

BIM Level 2 Certification for individuals

The main body providing BIM Level 2 Certifications for individuals is BRE – Building Research Establishment. Their BIM Certification provides third-party assessment, including a mix of CPD requirements and audits. One of the main advantages of getting certified as an individual is the recognition within the industry as a BIM consultant. It will demonstrate your ability to apply the appropriate standards, namely the series of ISO 19650 and PAS1192.

When you apply for your BIM Level 2 Certification as an individual, you will need to submit evidence of relevant BIM training completed, together with an exam pass. Following verification of your application, BRE will conduct an audit to assess your knowledge and understanding in several areas. The scope will vary depending on which certification you have applied for.

Certification categories for professionals

There are 3 categories, and the areas audited for each category are listed below:

• BIM Informed Professional: this is the most basic certification, which may be suitable for professionals with a small level of involvement in BIM projects. The areas of knowledge for the audit will be:
  • Information exchanges
  • Approval of information
  • Directing the production of information
• BIM Level 2 Certificated Practitioner – Task Information Manager (TIM): this is the next level of certification for professionals with some BIM responsibilities, normally managing one team in a BIM project. Applicants will need to provide evidence on the following areas:
  • Directing the production of task information in compliance with standards and methods
  • Directing the production of task information using agreed systems
  • Confirming that information is suitable for issue within a Common Data Environment (CDE)
• BIM Level 2 Certificated Practitioner – Project Information Manager (PIM): this is the highest level of certification for individuals. It certifies professionals being responsible for the entire BIM delivery of projects, normally managing multidisciplinary teams. Applicants will need to provide evidence on the following areas:
  • Enable reliable information exchange through a CDE
  • Enable integration and co-ordination of information within the Information Model
  • Configure information for projects outputs
  • Populate the information exchange format for the Information Model
  • Accept/reject information exchanges within the CDE

Finally, if you’ve demonstrated your BIM capabilities successfully, BRE will issue you with a BIM Level 2 certificate. In order to maintain your certification, you’ll have to undertake a minimum of 15 hours of relevant CPD annually, related to BIM.

BIM Level 2 Certification for companies

The main certifying body is BRE, although Lloyd’s Register provides a BIM Level 2 Certification as well. The schemes are very similar in both cases. They assess a company’s capability to utilise 3D modelling tools and have the standards, methods, procedures, skilled staff and infrastructure in place for compliance with the Government’s BIM strategy.

In order to pass the certification, the auditing company will assess the following areas within your company:

• Company BIM skills / training Record
• Software Tools – I.T. Strategy and Infrastructure
• Compliance with PAS 1192:2 2013 methods and processes
• CAD / BIM Documentation confirming the above
• Compliance with PAS91-2013 section 4.2 table 8
• Review of project case studies

Similar to the certification for individuals, businesses will have to provide evidence to demonstrate their capabilities in all the areas above. After the application is submitted with the relevant evidence, the certifying body will carry out a gap analysis, and provide you with the result. You can then take action to submit any additional evidence identified. After this, the assessing body will carry out an audit within your office, where you need to demonstrate the application of BIM standard methods and procedures within a real project. If both your documentation and the audit are compliant with their requirements, your business will be granted a BIM Level 2 Certification.

Does every team need to be certified?

One important point to highlight is that if one team within an office gets the certification, then the entire office can claim to be BIM Level 2 certified. Also, after one of your offices has been certified and you want another office to get certified as well, you don’t need to submit all the evidence again. The logic behind it is that your company should have consistent, company-wide methods and procedures in place. Therefore, after you’ve got the certification for one of your offices, you only need to carry out a 1 day audit in another office for that office to get certified as well.

Why should you get certified?

The main advantages of being certified as a company are:

• Removes your requirement to carry out a BIM capability assessment.
• Demonstrates compliance with relevant standards, i.e. ISO 19650 series and PAS1192 series.
• Speeds up the tender process, saving money and time to both the employer and your company.
• Helps your business stand out from the competitors, demonstrating not only your capabilities but also your commitment towards BIM.

In summary, whether you are a business or an individual working on BIM projects, you should consider getting BIM Level 2 Certification to get ahead. And if you’re just starting your BIM journey, get in touch with us to see how we can help you deliver on your projects.