Designer and Other Designer Information and Qualification Explained:

"Other Designer" must qualified by writing Ministry exams but is not required to carry Errors and Omissions Insurance. Limited in design activities.

"Designer" must be qualified by writing Ministry exams, be registered with the Ministry, and carry Errors and Omissions Insurance.

Excerpts from the pertinent section of the 2006 Ontario Building Code:

3.1.9. Categories of Qualifications

3.1.9.1. Categories

(1) Table 3.5.2.1. Contains categories for the purposes of this Section

Section 3.2 Qualifications for Designers

3.2.1 Scope

3.2.1.1. Scope

(1) This Section prescibes, for the purposes of Clause 8 (2) (c) and subsection 15.11 (5) of the Act, the qualifications for a person who carries out design activities after December 31, 2005.

3.2.2. General

3.2.2.1. Persons Engaged in the Business of Providing Design Activities to the Public

(1) Every person engaged in the business of providing design activities to the public, other than a person who is the holder of a Certificate of Practice or a Temporary Licence issued under the Architect's Act, must have the qualification set out in sentence 3.2.4.1. (1).

Other Designers

(1) Every person who carries out design activities, other than an architect, must have the qualifications set out in Sentence 3.2.5.1. (1) if the person is not required to have the qualification set out in Sentence 3.2.4.1.(1)

3.2.3. Definition

3.2.3.1. Definition

(1) In this Section, registered means registered under Article 3.2.4.2.

3.2.4 Qualification-Persons Engaged in the Business of Providing Design Activities to the Public

3.2.4.1. General

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (3) and (4), every person engaged in the business of providing design activities to the public must have the following qualifications:

    (a) The person must be registered with the director.

(2) A registration shall be a form established by the director.

(3) A person is exempt from the requirement to comply with the qualification set out in Sentence (1) if the person’s design activities relate only to,

    (a) Construction of a home as defined under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act that will be constructed or sold by that person, if the person is a builder or vendor as defined in the Act and is registered under that Act,

    (b) construction of a building that is owned by that person,

    (c) construction of a farm building that is,

        (i) of low human occupancy,

        (ii) of 2 storeys or less in building height, and

        (iii) has a building area of less than 600 m² .

    (d) the extension, material alteration or repair of a detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse, or row house containing not more than two dwelling units in each house,

    (e) a sewage system to be constructed by that person if the person is registered under Article 3.3.3.2.,

    (f) construction of tents described in Sentence 3.14.1.2.(2) in Division B,

    (g) construction of signs

    (h) construction of site services, including,

    (i) surface drainage, and

        (ii) plumbing located underground, either outside a building or under a building

    (i) construction of a factory-built house certified to CAN/CSA-A277, “Procedure for Certification of Factory-Built Houses

    (j) construction of a mobile home conforming to CAN/CSA-241 Series, “Park Model Trailers”

    (k) construction of a park model trailer conforming to CAN/CSA-Z241 Series, “Park Model Trailers”,

    (l) construction of pre-engineered elements of a building if the design of the elements is carried out by a person competent in the specific discipline appropriate to the circumstances,

    (m) construction of appliances, equipment and similar incidental components of a building, or

    (n) construction of a building for which a permit under section 8 of the Act is applied for or issued before January 1, 2006 and for which construction is commenced within six months after the permit is issued.

(4) A person is exempt from the requirement to comply with the qualification in Sentence (1) if the person’s design activities are with respect to a detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse or row house containing not more than two dwelling units in each house and design activities relate only to

    (a) a plumbing system,

    (b) a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, or

    (c) ancillary building such as garages.