BIM Q&A | What Role Does BIM Certification Play in the Construction Industry?
Currently, there are two main types of BIM certificates available in the market. The first is a graduation certificate issued by BIM training institutions, and the second is a certificate awarded through exams organized by government bodies and authoritative associations. The first type serves as proof that an individual has completed a specific course or assessment. In theory, any institution or individual can issue such certificates, but their value is generally limited. This article will focus on the National BIM Level Examination and the National BIM Application Skills Examination.
Having previously discussed the differences between the National BIM Skills Level Examination and the National BIM Application Skills Examination, today I will analyze the overall BIM certification system.
Looking ahead, the National BIM Skill Level Examination will undoubtedly hold the leading position and authority within the BIM certification framework. Here’s why:
The National BIM Skill Level Examination is currently in its eighth cycle, surpassing other certifications in terms of standardization, credibility, and market influence. Conversely, the National BIM Application Skills Examination is relatively new. Many government projects—such as the Guangzhou Metro—already require enterprise-level BIM, and tenders commonly mandate possession of the National BIM Skill Level Examination certificate, as stipulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Meanwhile, certificates issued by the China Construction Education Association lack universal recognition.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, in partnership with the Chinese Society of Graphic Arts, holds an excellent reputation for issuing certificates and managing certifications. Exam fees have remained modest, generally only a few hundred yuan, regardless of the number of candidates or total revenue. In contrast, the China Construction Education Association’s reputation in certification—such as with the “Eight Member Certificate”—is widely regarded as less authoritative.
The National BIM Skill Level Examination enforces strict quality control. Only institutions that have successfully completed at least four consecutive sessions without issues are authorized to conduct exams. Authorization is never granted casually. Each exam center undergoes rigorous evaluation, considering factors such as instructor qualifications, valid software usage, enrollment capacity, training experience, and data center readiness. This ensures all centers meet fundamental standards. In comparison, obtaining authorization from the China Construction Education Association appears much less demanding.
It is important to highlight the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security’s central role: no other ministry—such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development or the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology—matches its authority in certification matters. Historically, this ministry has been regarded as a core government body, while others have often been considered peripheral until the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The Ministry’s involvement in construction industry registration exams cements its influential status.
In conclusion, when evaluating which BIM certificate holds more value, the National BIM Level Examination stands out as the preferred and more valuable choice for professionals in the field.
Today, new construction projects are significantly fewer, and competition among companies is intense. Winning bids has become increasingly difficult, and even successful bids often struggle to ensure project profitability. So how can construction companies improve their chances of winning bids and lay a solid foundation for profitability during the bidding process?
BIM technology is an essential tool for construction firms aiming to increase their bidding success and accurately assess potential project profits. As BIM gains prominence, owners’ awareness and acceptance continue to grow. For example, major owners like SOHO and Wanda, as well as high-profile projects such as the Shanghai Center and Shanghai Disney, now include BIM technology application as a mandatory condition in bidding contracts.
The Role of BIM in Bidding Control
Accurate and comprehensive bills of quantities are crucial in bidding control. Calculating engineering quantities is the most time-consuming and critical task during the bidding phase. BIM acts as a rich database containing extensive engineering information, providing the physical and spatial data necessary for precise quantity calculation. By leveraging this data, computers can quickly analyze various components, significantly reducing tedious manual work and minimizing errors that often occur when quantities are estimated from drawings. This leads to improved efficiency and accuracy.
(1) Creating or Reusing BIM Models During the Design Phase
During bidding, establishing BIM models for each discipline is a vital foundation for BIM application. There are three primary methods to build these models:
1. Rebuilding the BIM model directly from construction drawings, which is the most basic and commonly used approach.
2. Converting 2D construction drawings in AutoCAD (DWG) format into BIM models using software tools that recognize and transform these drawings.
3. Reusing and importing BIM models provided by design software to generate computational BIM models—this is the most efficient approach for the entire BIM workflow.
(2) Fast and Accurate Quantity Calculation Using BIM
Using BIM-based calculations greatly enhances the efficiency of engineering quantity estimation. Automated quantity calculation frees personnel from tedious manual tasks, allowing them to focus on more valuable activities such as supplier inquiries and risk assessments. This saved time can be invested in preparing more accurate budgets.
BIM also improves the accuracy of quantity calculations. Since quantity estimation forms the basis of project budgeting, any errors can have significant cost implications. Manual calculations are prone to human error due to the complexity involved. BIM models serve as comprehensive databases containing detailed project component information, enabling cost engineers to access precise data directly without manually extracting details from drawings. This reduces workload and minimizes error risk, resulting in more objective and reliable quantity data.
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