Registered Exterior Wall Observer – REWO®

Those who desire to become Registered Exterior Wall Observers must fulfill certain requirements. These requirements include completion of an application, agreement to abide by the IIBEC Code of Ethics, and earning a satisfactory score on an online examination.

REWO Application Requirements

Applicants must have experience in one of the following areas:

QA observer/consultant in exterior walls for two cumulative years
Exterior wall construction for two cumulative years
Exterior wall manufacturer’s technical or sales representative for a period of four years

AND

Twelve hours of continuing education earned and a minimum of three building enclosure-related seminars are needed for application approval, as well as five references.

REWO Flyer Current Page 1 — Click the REWO Flyer to download and learn more.

REWO Application Process

Candidates are encouraged to use the online interactive electronic process to complete the application.

A user account is all that is required to log in to the portal to complete an application. You may enter and save the information until the application has been completed. It can then be electronically submitted to IIBEC for review and approval. Once begun, the application must be completed and submitted to IIBEC within one year or the application in process will expire.

Applications in .pdf format are also available upon request.

Click here to download the REWO handbook

The computer-based REWO exam is available at over 1,000 conveniently located testing centers worldwide. Ninety days should be allowed for processing once an application is submitted to IIBEC. Applications will be processed within 60 days for an additional expediting fee ($50 member/$100 nonmember). An exam registration form will be provided to the candidate when the application has been approved. Once registered, the candidate will be contacted by Scantron, the internet-based testing company, to schedule an exam.

Computer-based testing is offered on demand to approved candidates subject to individual testing center hours and availability. Consult Scantron for testing center locations.

Contact Staff

REWO Exam

The exam is 75 multiple-choice questions designed to measure the applicant’s knowledge regarding construction documents, ethical standards, communication skills, safety practices, exterior wall systems, field observation practices and reporting.

Download a Registered Exterior Wall Observer (REWO) exam study guide.

Note: IIBEC Educational Programs, in particular the Building Envelope Quality Assurance and Exterior Walls Quality Assurance courses, may prove useful for anyone planning to pursue the REWO credential.

Download Exam Study Guide

REWO Annual Renewal

Annual renewal is required in order to maintain the REWO registration. The REWO must maintain activities as a quality assurance observer or perform job duties requiring the skills of a quality assurance observer.

An annual renewal fee is required and 10 building enclosure-related continuing educational hours (CEHs) must be earned each year. All registrants are encouraged to self-report CEHs via the IIBEC website.

In the event the REWO discontinues employment in the construction industry or takes employment with a firm that provides services that cause a conflict of interest, the REWO registration will be forfeited. Registration granted by IIBEC shall remain its property.

REWO Fees

Application Fee

$350 – IIBEC member
$425 – Nonmember

Examination Fee

$250 – IIBEC member
$350 – Nonmember

Annual Renewal Fee*

$175 – IIBEC member
$275 – Nonmember

*There is a 10% discount from the base renewal rate for each additional designation.

For more membership, registrations, and external IIBEC-approved continuing education information, contact a member of the membership & credentials team.

Membership & Credentials Team

Professional Registration

Your Input Needed! Help Shape IIBEC’s Technical Advisories and Code and Standards Work

The IIBEC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Codes and Standards Committee (CSC) need your input. A major TAC objective is to identify building enclosure technical issues important to IIBEC membership. As you encounter topics, issues, or concerns, please notify the TAC so they may be considered for possible advisory development. Technical Advisories are developed and approved by the TAC, reviewed and approved by the IIBEC Board of Directors, and then posted to the IIBEC website for use. No topic is too large or small to be considered. Major CSC objectives are to develop IIBEC’s strategy on participation in various code- and standards-development activities, and to identify relevant building enclosure issues and concerns to be addressed by IIBEC staff and members in taking them before the appropriate code- or standards-development bodies.

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