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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) Foundation Qualification Platform


A resource that provides explanatory The first level of buildingSMART The online platform to be used by
content for all Learning Outcomes within Professional Certification, representing Students for a Foundation exam.
a specific curriculum. A BoK will be a basic level of understanding,
provided for each curriculum offered specifically in the form of ‘Knowledge Question Database
within the Program. and Comprehension’. A list of questions and answers used
in a Foundation exam.
buildingSMART Learning Outcome Framework (LOF)
The worldwide authority driving the The entire learning structure (comprised Question Review Tool (QRT)
transformation of the built asset industry of all modules, topics and individual An online tool developed by bSI
through the creation and implementation learning outcomes) upon which for Chapters and working groups
of open standards. This refers to both the Foundation is based. to evaluate and approve questions
the international organisation (see for the Foundation exam.
buildingSMART International) as well Learning Outcome (LO)
Student
as its regional Chapters. An individual learning objective that
Individual intending to sit the
forms part of a Topic, within a Module,
Foundation exam.
buildingSMART International (bSI) within the Foundation Learning
The central parent body that Outcome Framework.
coordinates, manages and directs the
worldwide buildingSMART organisation. Module
A subset of a Curriculum, containing five
Chapter to seven individual Learning Outcomes.
A national (or regional) membership
body representing the interests of Practitioner
buildingSMART at a local level. The second level of buildingSMART
Professional Certification, representing
Committee a comprehensive level of competency
The international committee mandated including applied learning and
by bSI to develop the Professional practical expertise.
Certification Program.
Professional Certification
Curriculum the buildingSMART Program for
A product of the Foundation level individual learning and qualification.
that represents the learning content Also referred to as the ‘Program’.
for a specific domain (eg. Basic, or
Program
Facility Managers). Each Curriculum
See Professional Certification.
is defined by a set of 25-30 Learning
Outcomes, a Body of Knowledge
Provider
and Question Database.
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 1.2 Professional 1.3 Foundation level
International Certification The Foundation level is divided into
buildingSMART International (bSI) is the The buildingSMART Professional specific learning curricula. Each
worldwide industry body driving the Certification Program enables learning Curriculum can be thought of as a
digital transformation of the built asset organisations to educate and certify separate course that is built around the
industry. bSI addresses the challenges of individuals according to a recognised following structure.
information flow across the built asset global learning framework. 1. Content Development – bSI defines
industry by supporting the development The Program goals are: the Learning Outcomes, a Body of
and adoption of open, standards and Knowledge (BoK) and the examination
1. Supports the standardisation
solutions for infrastructure and buildings. question database for each
of openBIM® training content.
Through its Standards Program, bSI Curriculum.
2. Provides a registration mechanism
acts as custodian for some of the most for training organisations. 2. Training Provider registration – bSI
important standards in this domain, such Chapters review and register
3. Enables the testing and qualification
as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), Providers, authorising them to give
of individuals (who have undertaken
the Information Delivery Manual (IDM) approved trainings for a Curriculum.
these approved trainings).
and the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF).
Additionally, the Program: 3. Online Examination – Students who
In 2016 bSI began the development of have undertaken an approved training
Professional Certification to support the 4. Promotes international standards,
can sit the online exam to gain their
training and certification of individuals, processes and best practices.
Foundation certificate.
particularly in the understanding and 5. Promotes buildingSMART, its
correct use of these standards across standards and solutions For further details on the Professional
the industry. As of April 2020, there are 6. Positions buildingSMART as a global Certification – Foundation, visit
17 Chapters, representing a total of 23 brand and assurance of quality. https://education.buildingsmart.org/
countries, involved in the Professional
7. Create a revenue stream for Chapters
Certification Program.
and buildingSMART International.

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 1. Student registers to attend a course 6. Upon completing the exam, the
with a bSI registered Provider, Students with a registered Provider. Student is immediately informed of
are eligible to sit the internationally 2. Student creates an account on the their result. If they pass the exam,
validated, online exam. qualification and self-enroled to their they may download and print their
assigned exam. (https:// certificate.
If successful, Students will have their
name listed on an international public qualification.buildingsmart.org/). 7. If the Student fails the exam (less
registry (https://education. 3. Student completes training and sits than 75%), there is an option for a
buildingsmart.org/registry/). the exam within the given time frame. single re-exam, at a cost set by the
Provider.
Registering for the exam is summarised 4. Student can give feedback on courses
and the examination platform. 8. If the Student fails the re-exam, then
in the following steps. Accessing and they will need to re-take the full
using the platform is outlined in further 5. Student can give permission to have training course.
detail in this guideline document. their name listed on the
buildingSMART registry. The bSI Qualification Platform is built
in Moodle (LMS V3.7) one of the most
widely used open source free learning
management systems.

3
2.2 Access NOTE: Check the spelling of your NOTE: Your course Provider will
Students are registered in the bSI full name at the time of signing notify your exam times. Please
Foundation Qualification Platform by up. Your provided name will be log in to the exam platform at
self-registration. Account can be set printed on your certificate and least 2 days before and ensure
up on https:// cannot be altered after the everything is ok.
qualification.buildingsmart.org/ exam took place.

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.

4
2.3 Platform Orientation Once you have entered the enrolment key, you will see all other available
functionalities on your dashboard:
Once on the Qualification Platform
landing page, click on "All courses" > • Information Box • Re-Exam (display only if applied)
select your country (Chapter). Enter the
• Demo Exam • Certificate (display only if exam has passed)
enrolment key provided by your course
Provider. • Main Exam • Feedback & Registry (display only if exam has passed)

select your Chapter here

enter token here for


enrolment

5
2.4 Information Box
The Information Box is for announcements from your Provider.

6
2.5 Demonstration exam
Here you can test the exam environment • On the right you see the state of your • On the last question page (Module 05)
and learn about the structure of the exam and a clock showing the you will find the button Finish
Multiple Choice Questions. You have remaining time for the exam. attempt. This will open an overview
unlimited attempts on five test questions • On the bottom you find the button of all questions and whether or not
(one from each module). The time limit Next page to go to the next set of they have been answered. If you
for the test is five minutes. On each questions (one question in Demo Test happy with what you see you can click
question only one answer is correct. but five in Exam). Do not click on next on the button Submit all and finish
Depending on your screen resolution activity on the top of the page, since (the attempt will be handed in
you get additional navigation and you would leave the test. If this happens automatically when the time is up)
information panes. accidentally you can jump back into • You have unlimited attempts
the test by clicking previous activity on therefore do familiarise yourself with
the page that opens 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

7
8
2.6 Main exam 2.7 Re-exam
The exam will only be accessible within • After handing in your attempt you If you fail the exam and wish to re-sit it,
the examination period. This predefined will get your result intermediately please contact your Provider. You will
date/time will be given to you by your and have the option to provide an need to pay a re-examination fee that is
Provider. Your Provider will inform you individual feedback to your Chapter set by the Provider and arrange a new
about the rules of the exam and the Administrator and bSI. time frame. The exam structure of Re-
means of supervision. • Congratulations if you pass (75% Exam is the same structure as the Main
right answers). If you do not pass Exam, but the questions will differ. If
On your exam day, after your ID is you will see the new activity Re- you fail Re-Exam you will not get any
checked, your provider will hand out Exam on your course page further attempts. You will need to attend
the exam password and you can start another course training in order to take
the exam. 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.

9
2.8 Certificate
This certificate becomes visible once you • You can download a pdf of your • You can download more (non-validated)
pass either Exam or Re-Exam. personal certificate copies of your certificate so long as
• Your Provider will offer you a choice of you have access to the platform
how to validate the original certificate

10
2.9 Feedback and registry NOTE: Your name on the
buildingSMART registry is not
After the exam you will be able provide To ensure quality and consistency of the automatically uploaded. Please
optional feedback and give permission to tests bSI has access to all attempted allow 4-6 weeks for display.
have your name displayed in the Registry tests for one year.
on the Education Web Site: https://
It you have any questions at any stage,
education.buildingsmart. org/registry/
then please contact your Provider.

11
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

12
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

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