According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) back in 2008, the architecture profession was one of the hardest hit professions when it came to layoffs. However, a year later in 2009, the BLS stated that between then and 2018, the architecture profession will grow “faster than the average” with a total increase of 16 percent. Other construction professionals, according to the BLS, will also see a similar increase with the exception of mechanical and electrical engineers, which expect a much smaller increase of around 2 to 6 percent. The construction trades will also see a moderately aggressive increase over this time period.
Why is this outlook important? When the work begins to increase, so will the demand for employees, and with the large field of eligible prospects (i.e. those without jobs and looking), the competition for the jobs that become available will be aggressive. The key to securing one of those jobs is to stand out above your competition—and the CSI Certification program can help give you that extra competitive edge.
Time and experience in practice are good measurements for evaluating employee candidates; but time and experience does not objectively show that you understand the construction process and the documents used in getting a project built. Through CSI’s Certification Program, there is something for everyone in the construction industry that will help you prove to others that you do understand the construction industry and, specifically, your profession.
The Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) Certificate: This is the ideal starting point for anyone in the construction industry. By passing the CDT, you have demonstrated your understanding of the design and construction process; the purpose and importance of clear, correct, complete, and concise construction documents; knowledge of General Conditions and their relationship to the specifications; the various types of delivery methods available to construct a project, and the contractual relationship between the parties of each. The CDT is the prerequisite for the following CSI certifications.
The Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA): If you are an individual who is regularly engaged in the administration of a construction contract during the construction, or have responsibilities that extend into the construction phase, the CCCA is the next step. This certification focuses on the details of the construction process from contract execution to final completion; including subjects on site observation, pay applications, contract modifications, submittals, substitutions, and project closeout.
The Certified Construction Specifier (CCS): The CCS is the oldest of CSI credentials, which was first offered in 1978. With this certification, you have shown that you have mastered the ability to properly prepare a set of construction specifications to convey the qualitative requirements of a construction contract. This certification covers subjects such as page layout per PageFormat, section organization per SectionFormat, specification language, Division 01 General Requirements, and master guide specifications.
The Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR): Every product representative wants to sell more of their product, and one of the best ways of doing this is by learning how to do it better. The CCPR credential shows specifiers and other construction professionals that you understand their business as well as your own—it establishes that credibility that is so important for a product representative to become that “golden rep”: the “go to” person who knows their specific industry.
That is CSI’s Certification Program in a nutshell. If you were an employer and you had several candidates of equal strengths and experiences, but there was one with a CSI credential, which one would you choose?
I thought so.
I earned the CDT last fall and I wish I had done it years ago! It's a great program that brings clarity and order to what often is a fuzzy process. I hope the BLS predictions are correct - I'm working on the CCCA now.
Posted by: Deborah Corr | 02/21/2012 at 07:23 AM
This helps me a lot in my school project about construction contract. Thanks for posting it in here.
Posted by: effective ROI | 07/10/2012 at 02:53 AM