Some of the primary duties of a permit technician include processing information for license applicants, maintaining permit records, assessing applicant qualifications, and administering permits. You will need to be familiar with licensing regulations, procedures, and policies, which education and training can prepare you to perform most of the required duties of this position. The requirements to become a permit technician may vary depending on the company and you may want to consider working on an associate's degree and applying for certification in the field. Degrees that may help you enter this profession are architecture or engineering and many community colleges offer associate degree programs in these disciplines.
To find the best degree program to become a permit technician, you should make inquiries at various vocational schools and community colleges. Aside from several courses in mathematics and science, you will usually need to take courses designed to train you in permit topics. Some of these topics may include building and zoning codes, various construction courses, and building safety procedures. In addition to coursework, there are training programs that are designed to mix academics with practice field work. You should request information on training programs in your area in order to gain the experience needed to become a permit technician.
Coursework and training should enable you to read construction documents, have an overall understanding of building code enforcement, and perform administrative duties. A large portion of this profession is based on data entry and you will need to be proficient in a variety of software programs. Some students choose to take computer courses while working on their degree. In order to perform administrative and research duties, you will need to be affluent in construction terminology, which is another reason that education is important for you to become a permit technician.
Some jurisdictions may require that you are a licensed permit technician and in some cases, you may be able to substitute this certification with plumbing, electrical, or building inspector certification. One of the most common places to seek employment in this field is through government agencies because many locations have local building and permit departments. Government listings can be found on the Internet, classified ads, or on bulletin boards at local government facilities. Once you have become a permit technician, you should remain up-to-date with legal permit guidelines in the area that you intend to work because policies are subject to change.