Master Code Professional Joshua Ney

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. Joshua Ney, inspector with the Martin County Board of Commissioners in Florida, is the latest to join the elite group of Master Code Professionals. In this exclusive feature for the Building Safety Journal, we asked Joshua to share his experience on obtaining the MCP designation, highlights of his professional career and any insights or advice he has concerning the industry.

Joshua Ney
Inspector
Martin County Board of Commissioners
Stuart, Florida, United States

BSJ: What led you to pursue and obtain MCP certification?
Ney: I was led to pursue the MCP certification because it is the highest certification an individual can achieve for a building code inspector/administrator. It is a challenge that requires knowledge, understanding, determination, and discipline.

BSJ: How did you study and prepare for the many exams you took as a part of your MCP designation?
Ney: I prepared for my exams by obtaining study guides and practice exams. I would copy practice questions on flashcards, write the answer on the back, and find the answers to the questions in the applicable codebook.

BSJ: What does achieving the prestigious MCP status mean to you?
Ney: I am very proud to be a part of the small group that has achieved the MCP.

BSJ: How would you describe the value or benefits that have come with the recognition of your MCP status?
Ney: The value that has come with the MCP status is the satisfaction of setting the goal to achieve the MCP and fulfilling that goal.

BSJ: What advice would you offer to those who are considering pursuing an MCP designation?
Ney: Try to dedicate time to studying every day, and focus on each individual certification/exam.

BSJ: How long have you been in the industry?
Ney: 8 years

BSJ: What major changes have you seen?
Ney: Most recently, the increase in prices and the difficulty in obtaining materials.

BSJ: What excites you about the future of your industry?
Ney: I am excited about continually learning and growing with the industry.

BSJ: What is one piece of advice that you would give to those starting out in the industry?
Ney: I would tell someone starting in the industry to view their career as a marathon rather than a sprint. Set a pace to continually learn and grow over the course of your career. The goals worth achieving are not going to be reached overnight.

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?
Ney: Building safety is the foundation for the ICC; as well as the future of my career. ICC has helped my commitment to public safety by helping to increase the breadth and depth of my understanding of the code and the relationship between safety and buildings and building systems.

BSJ: Obtaining all those ICC certifications is quite an accomplishment. What are you going to do now that you have achieved this goal?
Ney: I am continuing to set goals to increase my understanding and my value to the organization with which I am employed. I am looking forward to obtaining my Florida State General Contractor license and FEMA Certified Floodplain Manager.

BSJ: Thank you, Joshua, 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 Joshua 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.