Preferred Provider Program growing to provide training.

New ICC program connects approved training providers with an exclusive audience of ICC Members and customers.

In just three months, the International Code Council Preferred Provider Program (PPP) has attracted almost 160 education providers. A collaboration of ICC Chapters, industry, and other education providers supported the launch of the ICC Preferred Provider Program in November with the objective of creating an easily accessible network of extensive training opportunities for ICC Members and others seeking to renew certifications and advance their career through training. The program makes available vast training offerings from a variety of resources, providing access to ICC-approved training on codes and standards, building construction, building products, administration, legal and management, and design-related topics. For students, the program is raising the bar for quality education and broadening opportunities for training. It also provides an effective means to earn CEUs for renewal of ICC certifications. The partnerships support innovation in building safety training by driving deeper relationships between ICC, approved providers and learners. For providers, the program gives instant access to ICC's network of Members and other stakeholders who rely on educational and informational opportunities to stay current on various aspects of building design, construction and administration. The program already has tremendous traction as education providers have realized the PPP offers a substantial opportunity to reach a broad audience of learners in need of educational and other related services. Early participants in the program include academic institutions such as Rutgers University; industry partners including, Simpson Strong-Tie and McKeon Door Company; government agencies such as Johnson County, Kan.; a number of ICC Chapters such as Building Officials Association of Florida, California Building Officials; and organizations including ASTM International, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, the National Association of Home Builders, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, the American Wood Council, and the Center for Public Safety Excellence. For a complete list of Preferred Providers and more visit the PPP website. Among those extolling the virtues of the program are Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Chief Executive Officer Preet Bassi. "The opportunity and overall reach of the Preferred Provider Program was enticing for CPSE. We're proud of our workshop offerings and are glad more people will be able to take advantage of them," said Bassi. "Having instant access to ICC's large, qualified member and customer base gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our workshops to an exponentially larger audience than we can reach on our own. It made good business sense for us to join the program." The program offers approved providers exclusive access to more than 58,000 Members, 350 chapters, and 40,000 ICC-certified individuals. The PPP includes a listing for partners and their qualified training programs on ICC's PPP website, plus use of the ICC Preferred Provider mark on qualifying training program materials. Becoming a preferred provider qualifies a vendor's training program(s) education units, which are required by code officials, inspectors, plans examiners and others to maintain their ICC certification. "The ICC Preferred Provider Program gives me the ability to advertise our seminars nationwide to every building inspector and contractor who needs continuing education credit," said Sean Reid, Program Manager for Johnson County, Kansas Contractor Licensing Agency. "As a Preferred Provider, the Johnson County education program has instant credibility." Preferred providers can be ICC Chapters, governmental units or agencies — municipalities and county, state, and other jurisdictional units or agencies — nonprofit associations, public education institutions and industry educational providers. Acceptable courses in the program, which can be delivered onsite, online or both, include:      • Building construction      • Building products      • Codes and standards      • Administration, legal and management topics related to building construction codes and standards      • Building design related to architecture, engineering and similar professional disciplines To learn more about the Preferred Provider Program, or to view courses offered by Preferred Providers, visit ppp.iccsafe.org. For a short program overview video, click here. To learn more about ICC education, visit www.iccsafe.org/Education.

Share this story: