{"id":15088,"date":"2012-12-17T11:42:43","date_gmt":"2012-12-17T16:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=15088"},"modified":"2017-01-11T15:59:03","modified_gmt":"2017-01-11T20:59:03","slug":"why-get-certified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/why-get-certified\/","title":{"rendered":"Why get certified?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DRT_CS-Bio-Photo\"INSIDE CSI<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nDavid Trudell, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP, LEED AP
\n<\/strong>The certification programs offered by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) offer high value in numerous ways, enabling participants to not only advance their own career goals, but also benefit the companies and clients with whom they work. The programs encourage individuals to become familiar with the fundamentals and principles of construction specifications, and the organization of documents as recommended by CSI.<\/p>\n

When I took the Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) exam in the mid-1990s, I had been a registered architect for about 10 years. Studying for the course revealed valuable information about the design and construction process that was not covered much during my school days. In college, having a great design was the dominant focus. Preparing for the CDT exam revealed how design ideas are expressed in both quantitative and qualitative detail to be accurately priced and then constructed; it showed me how both were crucial components of the overall building construction process.<\/p>\n

Last winter, as the Great Lakes Region certification chair, I supported CDT candidates with a batch of practice exam questions I had collected. I recently received a wonderful e-mail from a user of those practice questions. She had just passed the CDT exam this fall with a score of 93 percent. However, she did not contact me about her spring exam results, but rather she was a bit broken up about her previous unsuccessful attempt with a disappointing 71 percent score.<\/p>\n

She went on to tell me about one of her mentors that introduced her to CSI and the CDT, and how this friend encouraged her \u201cto take the exam in order to learn the correct way of doing things, deepen her technical skills, meet diverse industry professionals, and learn more about the industry from an established organization.\u201d This is a great reason to get certified. She is on her way, enrolled in National Council of Architectural Registration Boards\u2019 (NCARB\u2019s) Intern Development Program (IDP) and pursuing her structural PE registration, with an advantage over those without her credentialed understanding of the construction process.<\/p>\n

Once earning the CDT certificate, I now had other, more advanced certifications to consider. Based on my experience and career goals, I decided to pursue both Certified Construction Specifier (CCS) and Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA) designations. After putting in the necessary dedicated work effort, I passed the exams.<\/p>\n

In December 2004, I established my own business as an independent specification consultant. It has been eight years\u2014my personal income has increased, and working out of a home office eliminated my daily commute. My wife travels for her business, and a few years ago I \u2018carried her luggage\u2019 on a trip to Brisbane along Australia\u2019s Gold Coast, and we stayed at the luxury Sofitel Hotel. During that visit, I worked via remote desktop on a project deadline while looking out over the beautiful Coral Sea. I truly believe being CSI-certified helped me get here.<\/p>\n

Taking the CDT
\n<\/b>The Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) exam is the prerequisite for all of Construction Specifications Institute\u2019s (CSI\u2019s) other certification exams. It consists of 120 questions to be completed within two hours. The advanced designations\u2014Certified Construction Specifier (CCS), Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA), and Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR)\u2014have exams comprising 200 questions to be completed within four hours.* A passing score is 75 percent or greater.<\/p>\n

For those candidates involved with the Intern Development Program (IDP), passing the CDT exam provides 40 elective credit hours, while achieving CCS and CCCA offer 40 core credit hours in \u201cMaterial Selection and Specification\u201d and \u201cConstruction Administration,\u201d respectively. More details can be found under the \u201cCertification\u201d tab from under \u201cQuick Tasks\u201d within the \u201cNCARB & CSI Certification\u201d link at www.csinet.org.<\/p>\n

Early-bird registration for the 2013 spring exam closes Thursday, January 31; all exam registrations end on Thursday, February 28. After registration, CSI e-mails candidates an \u201cAuthorization to Test\u201d message, which contains necessary information for scheduling the exam at a local Prometric Test Center from April 1 to 27. Visit www.prometric.com to find your local test center.<\/p>\n

Visit www.csinet.org and select \u201cCertification\u201d for additional information on:<\/p>\n