BIM Q&A | Types and Future Prospects of BIM Level Qualification Certifications
Currently, there is no clear national regulation in China specifying which BIM certification practitioners must obtain, nor is there a definitive ranking on which BIM certificate holds the highest value.
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced registration for the “National BIM Professional Technical Ability Level Examination”:
1. Exam Date: December 18, 2016.
2. Registration Period: From 10:00 AM on September 20, 2016, to 6:00 PM on October 10, 2016.
3. Registration Process: Candidates must register through the National BIM Professional and Technical System Job Talent Training Engineering Comprehensive Service Platform.
This announcement has sparked many discussions among professionals and readers regarding which BIM certification is the most reliable and authoritative among the various exams available in China.
Let’s summarize the main BIM certification systems below:
National BIM Skill Level Examination
Issuing Authorities: Jointly issued by the Chinese Society of Graphic Arts and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Each successful candidate receives two certificate samples.
Certificate Levels:
- Level 1: BIM Modeler
- Level 2: Senior BIM Modeler (specialized by profession)
- Level 3: BIM Design Application Modeling Engineer (specializing in in-depth professional model analysis)
Application Requirements:
Prerequisites:
- Level 1 and Level 2 applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Level 3 applicants require a college degree or above in civil engineering or related majors (or equivalent).
Specific conditions for each level:
- Level 1: Eligible if either (1) completed the recommended training time for Level 1 skills, or (2) have at least 1 year of continuous BIM modeling or related work experience.
- Level 2: Eligible if either (1) obtained Level 1 certification and completed the recommended Level 2 training, or (2) have over 2 years of continuous BIM modeling and application experience.
- Level 3: Eligible if either (1) obtained Level 2 certification and completed Level 3 training, or (2) have over 2 years of continuous BIM design and professional application experience.
Exam Frequency: Twice annually, in June and December.
National BIM Application Skills Examination
Issuing Authority: China Construction Education Association (a separate institution).
Certificate Levels:
- Level 1: BIM Modeler
- Level 2: BIM Application Specialist (profession-specific)
- Level 3: Integrated BIM Application Specialist (expertise includes multi-discipline modeling, BIM process implementation, BIM standards development, and multi-party collaboration, focusing on management applications)
Application Requirements:
- Level 1: Students majoring in civil engineering or related fields and practitioners in the construction industry.
- Level 2: Applicants must comply with national laws and meet at least one of the following:
- Passed the BIM modeling application exam or have a minimum of 3 years of BIM-related work experience.
- Hold professional or qualification certificates related to engineering construction at national or provincial levels (e.g., first or second-level construction engineer, cost engineer, supervising engineer, first or second-level registered architect, registered structural engineer, registered equipment engineer).
- Level 3: Applicants must comply with national laws and meet at least one of the following:
- Passed the professional BIM application exam with at least 3 years of BIM-related work experience.
- Hold a diploma or higher in engineering construction-related majors with more than 5 years of BIM-related work experience.
- Hold national professional or practicing qualification certificates in engineering construction (e.g., first-class constructor, cost engineer, supervising engineer, first-class registered architect, registered structural engineer, registered equipment engineer).
- Hold the title of engineer or above with 3 years of BIM-related work experience.
Exam Frequency: Held in the second and fourth quarters each year.
National BIM Professional Technical Ability Level Examination
Issuing Authorities: Jointly issued by the Electronic Industry Vocational Skills Appraisal and Guidance Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Beijing Green Building Industry Alliance. Successful candidates receive two certificate samples.
Certificate Categories:
- BIM Modeling Technology
- BIM Project Management
- BIM Strategic Planning
Application Requirements:
- Prerequisite: Compliance with national laws and regulations; majors in engineering, engineering economics, finance, or management; college students who have completed BIM-related theoretical and operational courses; professionals engaged in architectural design, construction technology, or project management with BIM knowledge; or individuals who have studied BIM theory and practice through self-study or systematic training.
- BIM Modeling Technology: Can apply if the prerequisite is met.
- BIM Project Management: Requires a college degree or higher.
- Either at least 4 years of experience in construction technology and management (requires passing four exams),
- Or at least 6 years in construction technology and management with at least 2 years in BIM technology before taking the third exam.
- BIM Strategic Planning: Requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, with at least 6 years of construction engineering experience and 2 years in BIM-related work.
Exam Schedule: Held twice a year: second weekend of June and second weekend of December.
ICM International BIM Qualification Certification
The International Society for Construction Management (ICM) is a globally recognized authoritative body offering professional certifications covering the entire construction process, including planning, development, design, construction, operation, and project consulting.
ICM promotes two key BIM certifications worldwide: BIM Engineer and BIM Project Management Director. These certifications are essential professional qualifications in developed regions such as Europe and North America. By the end of 2012, over 100,000 individuals had been certified worldwide. Since 2010, ICM has been active in China, where over 3,000 professionals have earned certification.
Certificate Categories:
- BIM Engineer
- BIM Project Management Director
Admission Criteria in China:
- Applicants must hold a relevant degree and have at least 5 years of construction industry management experience; or
- Have membership qualifications in relevant professional associations and at least 10 years of construction industry experience.
Senior Professional Path: Applicants meeting the above criteria must complete a Professional Competence Assessment (APC).
Connection Path: This membership route is designed for construction professionals in China seeking ICM membership and international recognition.
Having worked in this industry for over a year, I have gained a clearer understanding of its dynamics. I entered through training but have noticed some salespeople misleading newcomers driven by unrealistic expectations. It’s essential to clarify the difference between BIM and Revit.
BIM is a concept encompassing five key features: visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, and documentation. Revit, on the other hand, is just a tool—a software platform.
Think of it like buying a car: BIM is the idea of owning a car, while Revit is like buying a Volkswagen. Volkswagen, known for its high sales and affordability, is the Autodesk platform’s flagship BIM software. Bentley and Dassault platforms could be compared to luxury brands like Porsche and Martin.
Other BIM software exists, such as ArchiCAD, although it is less commonly used in projects. Revit is the most basic and important Autodesk BIM software, with a low entry barrier—similar to buying a Volkswagen for a reasonable price.
In the future, Revit will become a basic, expected skill—much like CAD is today. If you cannot operate it, you may struggle to remain in the industry.
Therefore, those without genuine interest in construction who want to switch careers into BIM should proceed with caution.
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