The launch of a new bursary scheme will make it easier for bridge inspectors to demonstrate quality and consistency across the profession.
Offered by the Rochester Bridge Trust, the bursary provides £400 towards the cost of the Bridge Inspector Certification Scheme (BICS) which is operated by Lantra.
James Booth, Director of Bridges at the Trust, explained: “We are pleased to offer this bursary to enable more engineers to achieve BICS accreditation. This is the only independently assessed scheme in the country that certifies the knowledge and experience of bridge inspectors. Such certification is vital to the Trust when selecting the consultants who help us to provide and maintain our three bridges across the tidal River Medway.
“This bursary aims to remove cost as a barrier to professional certification, so making it easier for more engineers to demonstrate their capabilities to bridge owners.”
The BICS bursary is available for engineers on an annual income of under £50,000. It covers £400 towards the cost of the accreditation, with £200 paid when you book the review, and a further £200 paid upon successful completion. The process must be completed within one year. A Bridge Inspector may then apply a second time, to become a Senior Bridge Inspector.
BICS is operated by Lantra on behalf of the UK Bridges Board. It is backed by the Bridge Owners Forum and has the full support of the Department for Transport (DfT).
The certification process covers detailed competencies around the inspection of common structural forms and materials, focusing largely on bridges, retaining walls and culverts constructed from masonry, steel and concrete, as well as knowledge of other less common materials and assets.
Upon registration, candidates are required to successfully complete a knowledge-based test, then allocated an e-portfolio of mandatory units to complete within a 12-month timeframe, along with a minimum of one specific bridge type chosen from masonry, concrete and metallic.
Upon completion, the portfolio will be reviewed by an assessor. Candidates who pass this assessment will then be invited to an interview to answer a series of questions to demonstrate the necessary competencies. For more information about the BICS process, visit the Lantra website.
For more information about the bursary and how to apply, visit the BICS bursary website.