Master Code Professional Patrick Moran

It’s considered the Ph.D. of building safety codes certification. The Master Code Professional (MCP) is the highest level of designation the International Code Council offers and is the “gold standard” for demonstrating proficiency in the code profession. The Code Council has certified thousands of individuals, but only a small select number have attained this high level of achievement: just over 800 MCP professionals worldwide. Their achievements are a benefit to the code enforcement profession as well as their communities.

To obtain this level of certification requires and demonstrates a commitment to the profession, diverse knowledge of codes and a high level of self-initiative. Patrick Moran is the latest to join the elite group of Master Code Professionals. In this exclusive feature for the Building Safety Journal, we asked Patrick to share his experience on obtaining the MCP designation, highlights of his professional career and any insights or advice he has concerning the industry.

Patrick Moran
Chief Plans Examiner
Orange County Florida – Division of Building Safety
Orlando, Florida, United States
International Code Council member for 18 years
Region VIII

BSJ: What led you to pursue and obtain MCP certification?
Moran: The pursuit of both personal and professional growth.

BSJ: How did you study and prepare for the many exams you took as a part of your MCP designation?
Moran: I took advantage of the available study materials along with access to experts in all areas and trades and scheduled time to do the work. Also, scheduling time to work through the process was key for me. Being afforded the ability to schedule the study time and multiple practice exams was invaluable. I am fortunate to be able to draw from a team of experts that I have been blessed to work with and who were willing to support me through this process both here in Orange County and in previous jurisdictions I have been a part of in my career.

BSJ: What does achieving the prestigious MCP status mean to you?
Moran: I have been fortunate to work with several MCP’s over the years, and to be able to join that group is a tremendous honor to me. I have gained a great sense of accomplishment with this designation.

BSJ: How would you describe the value or benefits that have come with the recognition of your MCP status?
Moran: My hope is that completing this process that it demonstrates to other code officials that there is value in further learning and additional certification. I have been fortunate in my career to work in several municipalities that believed this and supported me in becoming multi-trade certified.

BSJ: What advice would you offer to those who are considering pursuing an MCP designation?
Moran: Be prepared to put in the time and effort. As with most things, you will get out of it what you put in.

BSJ: How long have you been in the industry?
Moran: Thirty-one years.

BSJ: What major changes have you seen?
Moran: The changes from the analog to the digital world may have been the most dramatic changes. How we deliver our service to our customers has changed in ways that we could not have imagined thirty-plus years ago.

BSJ: What excites you about the future of your industry?
Moran: Probably the new things we will discover and learn that may not even be on our radar now. The changes to come to excite me.

BSJ: What is one piece of advice that you would give to those starting out in the industry?
Moran: Be prepared for the unexpected and sudden changes that you will experience in this business. The ability to multi-task or switch priorities on the fly will be key. The ability to adapt to the changes without becoming frustrated or flustered While working within the constraints of the public sector will serve you well moving forward.

BSJ: Building safety is the focal point of our mission here at the Code Council. What is the importance of building safety to you? How has ICC helped you in your career and commitment to public safety?
Moran: I have made building safety my career and ICC, and SBCCI before that, have been part of that from the beginning. Not only the technical and training resources that they provide, but the network of professionals that I have met Through affiliation with ICC has proved to be invaluable throughout my career.

BSJ: Obtaining all those ICC certifications is quite an accomplishment. What are you going to do now that you have achieved this goal?
Moran: This is only a milestone in the journey. I cannot say exactly right now what the next particular step will be, but I know the journey is nowhere near finished yet.

BSJ: Thank you, Patrick, and congratulations. You have definitely been an encouragement to us all in your pursuit of excellence.

To earn the Code Council’s elite MCP designation, a candidate must first pass 10 core Code Council exams plus a number of elective Code Council exams. Typical Master Code Professionals hold 17 or more Code Council certifications. The Master Code Professional designation requires certified individuals to complete an additional 60 hours of Continuing Education Units every three years to maintain active status.

“The Master Code Professional certification is the pinnacle of all Code Council certifications, representing a level of effort, knowledge, and dedication that elevates not only the individual achieving it but the code official profession as a whole,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO.

Master Code Professionals are typically responsible for all technical and management aspects of code enforcement with duties that range from the management of a code enforcement department to the supervision of inspectors and plan reviewers.

“Congratulations to Patrick on achieving this important and significant accomplishment,” said Autumn Saylor, Director of the Code Council’s Assessment Center. “I challenge and encourage all code professionals to strive for this level of achievement, and look forward to congratulating more Master Code Professionals in the future.”

To learn more on how you can join this elite group and let us help you open the door to increased professional challenges and career advancement, click here.