State departments of transportation (DOTs) are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining construction inspectors in an increasingly competitive job market. Federal, state, and private funding is available for building and maintaining transportation infrastructure, but state DOTs are seeing shortages in the workforce supporting these activities. State DOTs have historically promoted innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving to achieve their goals. Further collaboration is needed to address workforce issues like the shortage of construction inspectors.

While federal funding can be applied to the workforce issue, state DOTs can help by offering solutions that address workforce shortages by cutting red tape and expanding access to federal funds promoting job training and other initiatives to build the rising workforce. State DOTs can also explore innovative ways to collaborate with schools, the public, and industry professionals for funding and creating a nationwide, structured program to promote construction inspection. This program can enable access to resources across education systems by partnering with high school districts and community colleges.

The objective of this research is to develop a framework for the Registered Construction Inspector program at the state level. The framework will be developed to be customizable by state DOTs to facilitate implementation. Establishing registration programs for construction inspectors at the state level will help state DOTs obtain the high-skilled construction inspectors they need, provide employable skills to professionals, and boost local economies. A Registered Construction Inspector program could ultimately furnish a career path for tomorrow’s quality-promoting workforce.