News Detail

ACI Certification's Expanding Influence

10/1/2016

We know that an effective quality control program in the concrete industry requires accurate and consistent testing procedures, performed by knowledgeable technicians. ACI does a thorough job of ensuring that the industry has these key people in place through our certification programs. It's somewhat difficult to imagine that at one time there was a debate within ACI whether it was part of the Institute's mission to develop knowledge programs and assess technical skills.

After years of discussion, finally, in 1978, the ACI Board of Direction passed a motion to have the Educational Activities Committee (EAC) develop a proposal for a certification program. In the proposal, EAC adopted the position that ACI would assume a leadership role in "establishing and maintaining such a program (Certification) for the purpose of improving and regulating the quality of concrete." ACI Committee E902, Certification, was formed to determine the content, form, and delivery method of the first ACI certification program: Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I (FTT).

The committee agreed on several issues:

• The certification program would be national in scope and not consider regional testing procedures;
• Participants would have to demonstrate that they could correctly use the equipment to perform the procedure and tests;
• The program would cover sampling concrete, making test cylinders, and performing slump, unit weight, and air content tests (the temperature test was optional at first);
• Participants would need a basic knowledge of concrete;
• The examiners and proctors administering the certification program must know the correct procedures and have a concrete industry background; and
• The tests and procedures would follow the American Society for Testing and Materials (now, ASTM International) standards.

After 2 years of meetings, lively discussions, and a great deal of ACI staff time, the ACI certification program for FTT was ready. The ACI Field Testing Technician certification program was implemented in 1983. No one was quite sure if it would be a success or if it would be met with indifference. Initially, the reactions were mixed in the first few years. Over time, however, testing labs and others in the cement and concrete industry began to view ACI certification for the advantage it provided in establishing that technically competent personnel were on staff. These companies recognized the marketing potential and began to promote the fact that their technicians met ACI standards. Within 2 years, ASTM C94, Standard Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete, required that concrete be tested by an ACI-certified technician or approved equal. This, along with an increase in design specifications requiring concrete technicians be ACI-certified (or an approved equivalent), led to acceptance of the program and its ultimate success.

From these humble beginnings, we will fast-forward to the status of the ACI Certification Program in 2016. ACI now offers 20 certification programs, with three new programs nearing launch: Concrete Quality Technical Manager, Cement Testing Technician, and Adhesive Anchor Installation Inspector. ACI's New Certification Programs Committee has eight subcommittees working on 10 new certification programs. ACI now maintains over 112,000 active certifications held by individuals residing in 67 countries, which are serviced by 115 Sponsoring Groups based in 18 countries. ACI currently offers certification programs in English and select programs in Spanish, French, and Chinese.

More than 20,000 individuals were certified last year. The total exam volume has now surpassed 400,000. ACI has recently added staff to provide internal support and coordination of translation activities. This will facilitate broader availability of certification programs.

ACI certification programs provide a critical service to the concrete industry by providing a mechanism to assess and identify individuals who possess specific knowledge and skills necessary to execute specific job responsibilities on concrete construction projects. Typically, certification programs relate to jobs for which education does not exist, or is scarce within the formal education system. Often these certification programs target areas on construction projects where the actions of unqualified individuals can have significant negative impacts.

I take my hat off and offer sincere thanks to the past ACI Boards of Direction that maintained support for the certification program even when they were not sure if it would be successful. Thanks go to the many dedicated ACI members who have served on the various certification committees over the years, as well as our Sponsoring Groups, with whom ACI staff works so closely to deliver the programs to the industry. ACI is indebted to your service.

Michael J. Schneider