Using CSI Certification
Recently had a telephone call from a friend at a nationally known roofing contracting company. They were investigating the advantages of continuing education for their key employees. As with many companies in the construction industry, attracting and keeping quality-minded employees is a challenge. The education and work experience of each individual employee is variable. How does a company bring all the employees “up” to a consistent and measurable standard of knowledge?
For this company, the Construction Specifications Institute offered an answer. The CSI Certification program is an industry-recognized standard of construction knowledge. It has been in place, and validated over many years of use. It provides an excellent overview of the construction process along with the rights and responsibilities of all the parties involved.
The CSI Certification program begins with the Construction Document Technologist designation. This is open to all applicants, there are no pre-requisites other than a willingness to devote time to study and preparation for the exam. The successful CDT candidate will have a good understanding of the construction delivery process and documentation. It is not simply about the construction phase, however. The life cycle of any building begins with a schematic design and continues through to decommissioning or re-use. This is a lot of information to cover, and the CDT candidate will have a good working knowledge of all the subject matter. The CSI Project Resource Manual and the American Institute of Architects’ General Condition document A201 are the main documents of study.
The CSI Certification Program also includes three Certifications. These are more specific than the CDT Program is and emphasize the application of information. The successful Certification candidate must be able to solve problems using skills or knowledge presented in the reference materials. The CSI Project Resource Manual is again the primary document of study.
The three Certifications and their applications are:
CCS, Certified Construction Specifier. This is for those individual whose primary work task is the preparation of Construction Documents. This is typically the “plans and specifications” used in the bidding and construction phases of a project. The prerequisite for this exam include successfully passing the CDT exam and providing evidence of relevant work experience.
CCCA, Certified Construction Contract Administrator. Once the agreement between the Owner and Contractor is signed, the construction phase begins. This is the phase of the project where the Contract Administrators do their work. Contract Administrators can work for or represent the Owner, the designer (Architect or Engineer), or the Contractor. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the content and application of the Construction Documents is required.
CCPR, Certified Construction Product Representative. The CCPR candidate typically works for a manufacturer or product representation company. The CCPR actually works through all the phases of a building’s life cycle from conception to decommissioning. Product selection, substitutions, quality assurance, and maintenance are some of the tasks addressed by the product representative. They understand their role in working with the designer, contractor and building owner.
Back to the Contractor who initiated the call, since they operate on a nation-wide basis, having CSI study groups and exam administration nationally was a great benefit. CSI typically offers the exam nationally in late March or early April. In 2008, the CDT exam will be administered as a computer-based test for the first time. Many CSI Chapters around the country have study groups formed to help the candidates in their preparation for the exam. Not only are these groups a great motivator to stay on task with the reading, but they are excellent learning opportunities. Group discussions provide the benefit of different perspectives on the industry and study materials.
More information is available at www.csinet.org. Click on the “Certification” link.
For this company, the Construction Specifications Institute offered an answer. The CSI Certification program is an industry-recognized standard of construction knowledge. It has been in place, and validated over many years of use. It provides an excellent overview of the construction process along with the rights and responsibilities of all the parties involved.
The CSI Certification program begins with the Construction Document Technologist designation. This is open to all applicants, there are no pre-requisites other than a willingness to devote time to study and preparation for the exam. The successful CDT candidate will have a good understanding of the construction delivery process and documentation. It is not simply about the construction phase, however. The life cycle of any building begins with a schematic design and continues through to decommissioning or re-use. This is a lot of information to cover, and the CDT candidate will have a good working knowledge of all the subject matter. The CSI Project Resource Manual and the American Institute of Architects’ General Condition document A201 are the main documents of study.
The CSI Certification Program also includes three Certifications. These are more specific than the CDT Program is and emphasize the application of information. The successful Certification candidate must be able to solve problems using skills or knowledge presented in the reference materials. The CSI Project Resource Manual is again the primary document of study.
The three Certifications and their applications are:
CCS, Certified Construction Specifier. This is for those individual whose primary work task is the preparation of Construction Documents. This is typically the “plans and specifications” used in the bidding and construction phases of a project. The prerequisite for this exam include successfully passing the CDT exam and providing evidence of relevant work experience.
CCCA, Certified Construction Contract Administrator. Once the agreement between the Owner and Contractor is signed, the construction phase begins. This is the phase of the project where the Contract Administrators do their work. Contract Administrators can work for or represent the Owner, the designer (Architect or Engineer), or the Contractor. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the content and application of the Construction Documents is required.
CCPR, Certified Construction Product Representative. The CCPR candidate typically works for a manufacturer or product representation company. The CCPR actually works through all the phases of a building’s life cycle from conception to decommissioning. Product selection, substitutions, quality assurance, and maintenance are some of the tasks addressed by the product representative. They understand their role in working with the designer, contractor and building owner.
Back to the Contractor who initiated the call, since they operate on a nation-wide basis, having CSI study groups and exam administration nationally was a great benefit. CSI typically offers the exam nationally in late March or early April. In 2008, the CDT exam will be administered as a computer-based test for the first time. Many CSI Chapters around the country have study groups formed to help the candidates in their preparation for the exam. Not only are these groups a great motivator to stay on task with the reading, but they are excellent learning opportunities. Group discussions provide the benefit of different perspectives on the industry and study materials.
More information is available at www.csinet.org. Click on the “Certification” link.
Labels: Certification Program, construction, continuing education, CSI
posted by Robert Dye at 1:44 PM
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