BIM Q&A | How Many Types of BIM Certificates Are There?
I’m not sure which company offers the best BIM certificate, but I found out that certificates issued by industry associations typically cost around 20 yuan. Many people are still taking exams through these associations. Is there an authoritative certification body?
Currently, BIM certificates in China can be broadly categorized into three groups based on the issuing and examining institutions: National BIM Level Examination, National BIM Application Certificate, and National BIM Professional Skills Series Job Examination. Additionally, Autodesk and ICM international certificates are also available, which will be detailed below:
Category 1: National BIM Level Examination Certificate
Issued by the Chinese Society of Cartography and the Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
This certificate is divided into three levels:
- Level 1: BIM Modeler
- Level 2: Senior BIM Modeler
- Level 3: BIM Design Application Modeling Engineer
Level 1 BIM Modeler
Requirements: 300 hours of study or at least one year of BIM work experience, regardless of major.
Level 2 Senior BIM Modeler
Requirements: 600 hours of study or at least two years of BIM work experience, with specialization in architecture, structure, or equipment.
Level 3 BIM Design Application Modeling Engineer
Requirements: 850 hours of study or over two years of BIM work experience, with five application directions: architecture, structure, equipment, construction, and cost (currently not yet available).
Exam Schedule: Twice a year, in June and December.
Cost: 350 yuan per person.
Social Recognition: ★★★★★ (currently the mainstream certification in China).
Category 2: National BIM Application Certificate
Issued by the China Construction Education Association.
This certificate includes:
- Level 1 BIM Modeler
- Level 2 BIM Application Specialist
- Level 3 Integrated BIM Application Specialist
Requirements are similar to the National BIM Level Examination Certificate, with the stipulation that a higher-level certificate requires holding a lower-level one.
Exam Schedule: Twice a year, during the second and fourth quarters, with specific dates set by the Construction Education Association.
Cost: 400–550 yuan per person.
Social Recognition: ★★★★★
Category 3: National BIM Professional Skills Series Job Examination
Jointly issued by the Electronic Industry Vocational Appraisal Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Beijing Green Building Industry Alliance.
This certification is not divided by levels but by job roles:
- BIM Modeling Technology
- BIM Project Management
- BIM Strategic Planning
It offers a comprehensive assessment covering BIM modeling, management, and strategic decision-making.
Exam Schedule: Twice a year, in June and December, with a unified nationwide schedule. There is a special channel for college students to apply for the BIM Modeling Technology exam, allowing colleges to arrange separate examination times.
Cost: To be determined.
Social Recognition: ★★★
Other BIM Certificates:
Revit Engineer Certification Exam
Issued by Autodesk.
Certificate levels include:
- Revit Junior Engineer Certification Exam
- Revit Engineer Certification Exam
Exam Schedule: Not fixed; onsite exams are available at each Autodesk University (AU) conference free of charge.
Cost: 200 yuan for Junior Engineer, 300 yuan for Engineer certification.
Social Recognition: ★★★
ICM International BIM Qualification Certification
Issued by the ICM International Society for Construction Management.
Certificate types include:
- BIM Engineer
- BIM Project Management Director
Requirements: Applicants must hold a relevant degree and have at least five years of construction industry management experience, or hold membership in relevant professional associations with at least ten years of industry experience.
Social Recognition: ★★★
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