Accreditation of competency
Loadpath certificates run at Levels 1, 2 and 3, so the structural understanding you gain becomes evidence you can show a client, a main contractor or building control.
Three levels of structural competency.
Each level builds on the one before. Your certificate names the topic, such as steel or timber design, and the level you passed.
You’ll be able to:
- Read structural drawings, schedules and calculation summaries
- Explain how load travels from roof to ground through each element
- Know what section sizes, timber grades and concrete grades mean
- Recognise when a change needs an engineer, and what to send them
You’ll be able to:
- Build up the loads on a beam, joist, wall or foundation
- Follow how bending, shear, deflection and bearing set the size
- Check an engineer’s calculation against what is on site
- Spot errors, missing information and over-design before you buy
You’ll be able to:
- Compare structural options for cost, programme and buildability
- Plan temporary works and propping for alterations
- Question your engineer with specific, technical alternatives
- Take responsibility for structural competence on your jobs
Draft level descriptions. Confirm the assessment requirements for each level before launch.
What the certificate is worth.
Lower costs on the jobs you have, and a reason for clients to choose you for the jobs you want.
Save money
Spend less on every job.
- Challenge over-design before you order the steel, the timber or the concrete.
- Avoid redesign rounds and the extra fees and programme delay that come with them.
- Price the structure accurately at quote stage instead of padding it with contingency.
- Cut site errors, call-backs and remedial work.
Win more clients
Show you’re competent. Get chosen.
- Put your Loadpath certificate on quotes, tenders, your website and your van.
- Explain the structure to homeowners in plain terms. Clients pick the builder who understands the job.
- Evidence your competence under the Building Safety Act dutyholder regime.
- Stand out from builders who can only wait for the engineer’s answer.
Builder competency is changing
Get ahead of the curve.
Competence is no longer something a builder simply claims. It is becoming something you are expected to show, and the builders who can evidence it first will have the advantage when clients, building control and main contractors start asking.
- Since October 2023The Building Safety Act dutyholder and competence duties apply to all building work in England, domestic jobs included. Anyone carrying out the work must have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to do it in line with the Building Regulations.
- December 2025Government published proposals for a single construction regulator, including licensing for principal contractors on higher-risk buildings and formal competence standards across the built environment.
- Coming nextExpect clearer competence standards and more requests for evidence. A Loadpath certificate is written proof of structural understanding, at a stated level, that you can show today.
Where to use your certificate.
- Quotes and proposals to homeowners
- Pre-qualification questionnaires and tender returns, under training and competence
- Your website, social media and van livery
- Your competence records under the Building Safety Act dutyholder regime
Questions about accreditation
How do I get a certificate?
Complete a topic at your chosen level and pass its assessment. Your certificate is issued in the student portal and names the topic and level.
Can my whole team be certified?
Yes. We can run any topic for a company group and track each person’s progress. Ask about team training.
Does a certificate let me design or sign off structural work?
No. A Loadpath certificate shows you understand how structures are designed and can check and question a design competently. Structural design and sign-off remain with a qualified engineer.
Get ahead of the competency changes.
Registering isn’t a commitment. You’ll get outlines, dates and pricing in writing, and you’ll be first to hear when new topics open.
Register your interest