PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION – FOUNDATION

GUIDELINES

Qualification
Platform
Student
Handbook
Terms and abbreviations
The following definitions and abbreviations are used in this document:
Body of Knowledge (BoK)
A resource that provides explanatory
content for all Learning Outcomes within
a specific curriculum. A BoK will be
provided for each curriculum offered
within the Program.
buildingSMART
The worldwide authority driving the
transformation of the built asset industry
through the creation and implementation
of open standards. This refers to both
the international organisation (see
buildingSMART International) as well
as its regional Chapters.
buildingSMART International (bSI)
The central parent body that
coordinates, manages and directs the
worldwide buildingSMART organisation.
Chapter
A national (or regional) membership
body representing the interests of
buildingSMART at a local level.
Committee
The international committee mandated
by bSI to develop the Professional
Certification Program.
Curriculum
A product of the Foundation level
that represents the learning content
for a specific domain (eg. Basic, or
Facility Managers). Each Curriculum
is defined by a set of 25-30 Learning
Outcomes, a Body of Knowledge
and Question Database.
Foundation Qualification Platform
The first level of buildingSMART The online platform to be used by
Professional Certification, representing Students for a Foundation exam.
a basic level of understanding,
specifically in the form of ‘Knowledge Question Database
and Comprehension’. A list of questions and answers used
in a Foundation exam.
Learning Outcome Framework (LOF)
The entire learning structure (comprised Question Review Tool (QRT)
of all modules, topics and individual An online tool developed by bSI
learning outcomes) upon which for Chapters and working groups
the Foundation is based. to evaluate and approve questions
for the Foundation exam.
Learning Outcome (LO)
Student
An individual learning objective that
Individual intending to sit the
forms part of a Topic, within a Module,
Foundation exam.
within the Foundation Learning
Outcome Framework.
Module
A subset of a Curriculum, containing five
to seven individual Learning Outcomes.
Practitioner
The second level of buildingSMART
Professional Certification, representing
a comprehensive level of competency
including applied learning and
practical expertise.
Professional Certification
the buildingSMART Program for
individual learning and qualification.
Also referred to as the ‘Program’.
Program
See Professional Certification.
Provider
A training organisation, specifically one
registered by buildingSMART to deliver
approved training.
Contents
Preface 1

Part 1: Introduction
1.1 buildingSMART International 2
1.2 Professional Certification 2
1.3 Foundation level 2

Part 2: Qualification Platform

2.1 Overview 3
2.2 Access 4
2.3 Platform orientation 5
2.4 Information box 6
2.5 Demo exam 7
2.6 Main exam 9
2.7 Re-exam 9
2.8 Certificate 10
2.9 Feedback and registry 11

Annex A
Professional Certification Foundation document series 12
Preface
This document forms part of a series detailing buildingSMART Professional
Certification – Foundation. The series defines the general structure, terms and
conditions of the Program, as well as providing guidance for buildingSMART
Chapters, Providers and Students.

The series is divided into four document sets, each containing multiple documents:

1. Policy and Process

2. Communication

3. Guidelines

4. Learning Content

A full list of documents is provided in Annex A. More documents may be added to

this series, as the Program expands.

This document, Qualification Platform Student Handbook, is part of the

Guidelines set and provides guidance for Providers of the Foundation level
in using the online examination and Qualification Platform hosted at
https://qualification.buildingsmart.org/

Professional Certification – Foundation

Qualification Platform Student Handbook

Prepared by: Stephen Oxlade & Georg Knobloch

Reviewed by: bSI Professional Certification Steering Committee
Document Ref: bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.4
Version: 2.1 September 2022
Contact: education@buildingsmart.org

1
Part 1
Introduction
1.1 buildingSMART
International
buildingSMART International (bSI) is the
worldwide industry body driving the
digital transformation of the built asset
industry. bSI addresses the challenges of
information flow across the built asset
industry by supporting the development
and adoption of open, standards and
solutions for infrastructure and buildings.
Through its Standards Program, bSI
acts as custodian for some of the most
important standards in this domain, such
as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC),
the Information Delivery Manual (IDM)
and the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF).
In 2016 bSI began the development of
Professional Certification to support the
training and certification of individuals,
particularly in the understanding and
correct use of these standards across
the industry. As of April 2020, there are
17 Chapters, representing a total of 23
countries, involved in the Professional
Certification Program.
1.2 Professional
Certification
The buildingSMART Professional
Certification Program enables learning
organisations to educate and certify
individuals according to a recognised
global learning framework.
The Program goals are:
1. Supports the standardisation
of openBIM® training content.
2. Provides a registration mechanism
for training organisations.
3. Enables the testing and qualification
of individuals (who have undertaken
these approved trainings).
Additionally, the Program:
4. Promotes international standards,
processes and best practices.
5. Promotes buildingSMART, its
standards and solutions
6. Positions buildingSMART as a global
brand and assurance of quality.
7. Create a revenue stream for Chapters
and buildingSMART International.
1.3 Foundation level
The Foundation level is divided into
specific learning curricula. Each
Curriculum can be thought of as a
separate course that is built around the
following structure.
1. Content Development – bSI defines
the Learning Outcomes, a Body of
Knowledge (BoK) and the examination
question database for each
Curriculum.
2. Training Provider registration – bSI
Chapters review and register
Providers, authorising them to give
approved trainings for a Curriculum.
3. Online Examination – Students who
have undertaken an approved training
can sit the online exam to gain their
Foundation certificate.
For further details on the Professional
Certification – Foundation, visit
https://education.buildingsmart.org/

bSI identified two skill levels for which it

will provide services. The “Foundation”
level is focused on ‘Knowledge and
Comprehension’ and is intended to
convey basic concepts and knowledge
about openBIM® processes, and to test
individuals’ learnings in these areas.
The “Practitioner” level is still in
development, however, it will have
a more comprehensive scope, to
incorporate applied learning and practical
expertise. This document series refers
only to the Foundation level.

2
Part 2
Qualification Platform
2.1 Overview
After participating in Foundation training
with a bSI registered Provider, Students
are eligible to sit the internationally
validated, online exam.
If successful, Students will have their
name listed on an international public
registry (https://education.
buildingsmart.org/registry/).
Registering for the exam is summarised
in the following steps. Accessing and
using the platform is outlined in further
detail in this guideline document.
3
1. Student registers to attend a course
with a registered Provider.
2. Student creates an account on the
qualification and self-enroled to their
assigned exam. (https://
qualification.buildingsmart.org/).
3. Student completes training and sits
the exam within the given time frame.
4. Student can give feedback on courses
and the examination platform.
5. Student can give permission to have
their name listed on the
buildingSMART registry.
6. Upon completing the exam, the
Student is immediately informed of
their result. If they pass the exam,
they may download and print their
certificate.
7. If the Student fails the exam (less
than 75%), there is an option for a
single re-exam, at a cost set by the
Provider.
8. If the Student fails the re-exam, then
they will need to re-take the full
training course.
The bSI Qualification Platform is built
in Moodle (LMS V3.7) one of the most
widely used open source free learning
management systems.
2.2 Access
Students are registered in the bSI
Foundation Qualification Platform by
self-registration. Account can be set
up on https://
qualification.buildingsmart.org/
NOTE: Check the spelling of your
full name at the time of signing
up. Your provided name will be
printed on your certificate and
cannot be altered after the
exam took place.
NOTE: Your course Provider will
notify your exam times. Please
log in to the exam platform at
least 2 days before and ensure
everything is ok.

After you have set up the account,

notify your Provider and they will
provide you an enrolment key
(Token). You will need this token for
self-enrolment to your assigned
exam.

NOTE: Please ensure you set the

timezone in your account profile
to the location where your
training provider is. This is to
ensure all times are correctly
shown for your exam.

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2.3 Platform Orientation
Once on the Qualification Platform
landing page, click on "All courses" >
select your country (Chapter). Enter the
enrolment key provided by your course
Provider.
5
Once you have entered the enrolment key, you will see all other available
functionalities on your dashboard:
• Information Box • Re-Exam (display only if applied)
• Demo Exam • Certificate (display only if exam has passed)
• Main Exam • Feedback & Registry (display only if exam has passed)
select your Chapter here
enter token here for
enrolment
2.4 Information Box
The Information Box is for announcements from your Provider.

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2.5 Demonstration exam
Here you can test the exam environment
and learn about the structure of the
Multiple Choice Questions. You have
unlimited attempts on five test questions
(one from each module). The time limit
for the test is five minutes. On each
question only one answer is correct.
Depending on your screen resolution
you get additional navigation and
information panes.
7
• On the right you see the state of your
exam and a clock showing the
remaining time for the exam.
• On the bottom you find the button
Next page to go to the next set of
questions (one question in Demo Test
but five in Exam). Do not click on next
activity on the top of the page, since
you would leave the test. If this happens
accidentally you can jump back into
the test by clicking previous activity on
the page that opens
• On the last question page (Module 05)
you will find the button Finish
attempt. This will open an overview
of all questions and whether or not
they have been answered. If you
happy with what you see you can click
on the button Submit all and finish
(the attempt will be handed in
automatically when the time is up)
• You have unlimited attempts
therefore do familiarise yourself with
the procedures before attempting
the exam. The questions are not
random, they never change as the
purpose of this Demonstration Exam
is for your see how the exam will look
like ie. the user interface
8
2.6 Main exam
The exam will only be accessible within
the examination period. This predefined
date/time will be given to you by your
Provider. Your Provider will inform you
about the rules of the exam and the
means of supervision.
On your exam day, after your ID is
checked, your provider will hand out
the exam password and you can start
the exam.
• After handing in your attempt you
will get your result intermediately
and have the option to provide an
individual feedback to your Chapter
Administrator and bSI.
• Congratulations if you pass (75%
right answers). If you do not pass
you will see the new activity Re-
Exam on your course page
2.7 Re-exam
If you fail the exam and wish to re-sit it,
please contact your Provider. You will
need to pay a re-examination fee that is
set by the Provider and arrange a new
time frame. The exam structure of Re-
Exam is the same structure as the Main
Exam, but the questions will differ. If
you fail Re-Exam you will not get any
further attempts. You will need to attend
another course training in order to take
the exam again.

• The test consists of 25 questions

(five on each module) NOTE: Contact your Provider
immediately, if you encounter
• Once you start the exam, you have
serious technical or health
30 minutes to answer all questions
problems while taking the exam.
(one minute per question and five
Issues that are raised afterward
minutes changing time to between
the exam will not be considered.
pages)
• For Chapter that offers 6 modules
(National Content), there will be 30
questions and the time limit is 36
minutes.
• There is no predefined order for
answering the questions
• The questions are grouped by
module on different pages
• The exam will be submitted
automatically after 30 minutes.
If you finish early you can click on
Finish attempt beneath the last
question and confirm this decision
on the next page by clicking on
Submit all and finish.

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2.8 Certificate
This certificate becomes visible once you
pass either Exam or Re-Exam.
• You can download a pdf of your
personal certificate
• Your Provider will offer you a choice of
how to validate the original certificate
• You can download more (non-validated)
copies of your certificate so long as
you have access to the platform
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2.9 Feedback and registry
After the exam you will be able provide
optional feedback and give permission to
have your name displayed in the Registry
on the Education Web Site: https://
education.buildingsmart. org/registry/
11
NOTE: Your name on the
buildingSMART registry is not
To ensure quality and consistency of the automatically uploaded. Please
tests bSI has access to all attempted allow 4-6 weeks for display.
tests for one year.
It you have any questions at any stage,
then please contact your Provider.
Annex A
Professional Certification Foundation
document series.
A series of documents have been created for Professional The series is divided into four document sets, each
Certification – Foundation, to define the structure, terms branded with a distinct colour coding. It is expected that
and conditions of the Program, as well as providing guidance more documents will be added within these sets as the
for bSI Chapters and Providers. Program expands.

DOCUMENT SET DOCUMENT NAME DOCUMENT REFERENCE

(Colour code)

Policy and Process 1.1 Policy and Process bSI_PCERT-F_Doc1.1

(Red)
1.2 Provider Approval Process bSI_PCERT-F_Doc1.2

Communications 2.1 Program Overview bSI_PCERT-F_Doc2.1

(Green)
2.2 Branding and Logo Usage bSI_PCERT-F_Doc2.2

Guidelines 3.1 Learning Outcome and Question Development bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.1

(Blue)
3.2 Qualification Platform Chapter Handbook bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.2

3.3 Qualification Platform Provider Handbook bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.3

3.4 Qualification Platform Student Handbook bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.4

Learning Content 4.1 Body of Knowledge

(Purple)
Basic bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.1

Owner/Operator bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.2

Designer bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.3

Contractor bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.4

Facility Manager bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.5

Manufacturer bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.6

Project/Information Management bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.7

Building Performance bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.8

COBie bSI_PCERT-F_Doc4.1.9

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Contact Information
For technical issues with the Qualification Platform please contact:
Stephen Oxlade, bSI Web Support, at websupport@buildingsmart.org

For general enquiries regarding buildingSMART Professional Certification, please contact:

education@buildingsmart.org

International Program Sponsors:

Document reference: bSI_PCERT-F_Doc3.4