The CMCI, a subsidiary of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), offers the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential. Widely considered the pinnacle certification in construction management, the CCM recognizes construction managers who are experts in all phases of a construction project, from planning and design through construction and completion.
Eligibility requirements are hefty. Candidates must have at least four years of responsible-in-charge (RIC) experience; an undergraduate or master's degree in construction management, construction science, architecture, or one of several engineering disciplines; and another eight years of experience in construction or general design.
The CCM exam features 200 multiple-choice questions and takes up to five hours to complete. The CMCI charges a $275 application fee, and the exam itself costs $275 ($300 for non-CMAA members).
Another good source of general certifications is the AIC Constructor Certification Program, which administers the Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) certifications.
The AC aims at candidates who have completed an accredited four-year construction management degree program or have four years of qualifying experience. The AC exam has 300 multiple-choice questions, is administered in two four-hour sessions over the course of a day and costs $165.
After achieving the AC certification, constructors who have accrued another four years of experience (with two of those years managing projects) can sit for the CPC exam. Without the AC certification, a candidate needs eight years of experience and/or education. The CPC exam is available only twice per year, has 175 questions, takes up to four hours to complete and costs $575 ($650 for non-members).
Green building continues to be a hot area of the construction industry, for both commercial and residential projects. The GBCI's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional certification program starts with the Green Associate credential, which validates a person's understanding of current green building principles and practices.
From there, candidates can pursue one or more LEED Accredited Professional (AP) certifications in building design and operations (LEED AP BD+C), operations and maintenance (LEED AP O+M), interior design and construction (LEED AP ID+C), neighborhood development (LEED AP ND), and residential homes (LEED AP Homes).
The Green Associate exam costs $200 ($100 for students, $250 for nonmembers), and each specialty exam is $250.
The NICET has certified more than 135,000 engineering technicians and technologists since the organization was founded in 1961. NICET's certification programs cover nearly 30 certifications across civil engineering (building construction, materials testing, transportation and many more) and electrical and mechanical systems engineering (power, fire protection, etc.).
Each certification has four levels. Level 1 is for those with minimal experience, and Level 4 requires at least 10 years of experience. A candidate must pass a single exam for each desired certification and get a letter from a supervisor that verifies the candidate's competency to sit for the exam. At levels 3 and 4, candidates must also submit personal recommendations.
Exam prices vary but are typically between $200 and $300.
While a layman might view concrete as simply mixing water and cement and then flowing it into a form, those who work in construction know the process involves a certain amount of science to get it right. ACI certifications help to ensure that technicians and inspectors are current on various facets of concrete manufacturing, such as anchoring, proportioning, testing and finishing methods.
ACI offers more than 20 certifications, each with various requirements, which usually include a written exam and a practical or performance-based exam.
The NCCER is the organization behind the National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP) and the Pipeline Training and Assessment Program. Basically, NCCER tracks the credentials for people who have completed NCCER-approved training and received a certificate of completion. In turn, organizations can verify the qualifications of those professionals, whether looking at a new hire or someone already involved with a project.
There are more than 70 craft areas to choose from, which include boilermaking, carpentry, construction technology, mobile crane operation and plumbing. Each credential requires the candidate to pass a written exam and agree to performance verification.
NACE is a member-driven organization that advocates for corrosion awareness and action, and offers certifications relevant to corrosion control. More than 35,000 people have earned NACE certifications to date. The organization's certification programs include Cathodic Protection (CP), Coating Inspector (CIP), General Coatings, General Corrosion, Pipeline Industry, and a Specialty program that covers certifications for carbon steel, chemical treatments and many other areas.
For each certification, candidates must complete one or more training courses, meet minimum experience requirements, or both. Then, candidates must pass a written exam that costs $240, and some certifications require a practical exam as well (which is part of the required training course).
Construction is often dangerous work, so safety is a major undertaking throughout the construction industry. In fact, many construction certifications include a component on safety because of its industry-wide importance.
The National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) has several certifications aimed at managers, trainers and other safety professionals. Check out the organization's website to learn about the Licensed Safety Professional (LSP), Certified Safety Manager (CSM) and similar credentials.
Finally, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) delivers general training and certificate programs through its education centers. The agency's Construction Outreach Training Program offers 10-hour courses for entry-level workers and 30-hour courses for construction managers. For certificates, visit the certificate and degree programs webpage and search for "construction" to see certificate programs relevant to the industry.