Both the AC and CPC exams have educational and experience requirements. The requirements are based on the number of years working in construction, and the number of years of formal education.
Only the CPC exam has a minumum work experience requirement, though work experience can be used to qualify for the AC exam as well.
Neither exam has a minimum requirement for formal education, though applicants without formal education will need to have more work experience to make up the difference.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the exams, all applicants must:
1. Agree to abide by the AIC Constructor Code of Conduct.
(Review the Constructor Code of Conduct on the last page of this handbook before you proceed. By applying for the exams, you agree to uphold these principles.)
2. Meet the minimum requirements to sit for the applicable exam.
(Review the eligibility requirements later in this guide for more details. The Level 1 and Level 2 applications have different requirements.)
3. Complete and file an application.
(Review the application and fill out all required sections. Include documentation if you are using work experience to qualify for the exam.)
4. Pay all required fees.
(Review the fee schedule, and include full payment with your application.)
Level 1 – AC (Associate Constructor) Eligibility Requirements
To take the AC (Level 1) exam, you must have met at least one of the following requirements by the time you apply:
4 years of either Qualifying Experience, Qualifying Education, or some combination of the two. Please see below for definitions of qualifying experience and education
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Be within 9 months of graduating from a 4-year construction management bachelor’s degree program. Please note that you may sit for the exam before you graduate, but you will not be certified until you receive your degree.
Level 2 – CPC (Certified Professional Constructor) Eligibility Requirements
The requirements for taking the CPC (Level 2) exam are different depending on whether you have already received the AC certification.
ACs who are applying for the CPC exam should refer to the “AC Upgrades” section below. All other CPC applicants should refer to the “AC Exemptions” section.
AC Upgrades
If you are already an AC, you must have met all of the following requirements by the time you apply:
Your AC certification must be in good standing.
(If you are not sure of your certification status, please write to contact us)
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4 years of either Qualifying Experience or Qualifying Education since earning your AC, or some combination of these two
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At least 2 of these years in a position where you had overall responsibility for delivery of a project or a substantial portion of a project (for example, as a Project Manager, Superintendent, etc).
AC Exemptions
If you are not an AC and would like to bypass the AC exam entirely, you must have met all of the following requirements by the time you apply:
8 years of either Qualifying Experience, Qualifying Education or some combination of these two
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At least 2 of these years in a position where you had overall responsibility for delivery of a project or a substantial portion of a project (for example, as a Project Manager, Superintendent, etc).
Qualifying Education – Definition
“Qualifying Education” is formal education (such as at an accredited University or other full-time learning) that counts towards your qualification requirements to sit for the exams.
Neither the AC nor the CPC exam have a minimum educational requirement, so you may take the exams if even you have no academic degrees. But, if you do not have any Qualifying Education then you must make up the difference with Qualifying Experience.
Years of Qualifying Education are counted as follows:
- 2 Years – Graduate degree in a construction or management program, such as MS, MBA, PhD, etc.
(Note that the Bachelor’s Degree that preceded the graduate degree counts for additional years of qualifying education)
- 4 Years – Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited construction program, such as Construction Management
- 3 Years - Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited construction-related program, such as Architecture or Civil Engineering
- 2 Years – Any other 4-year degree
- 2 Years - Associate degree from an accredited program with a concentration in construction.
- 1 Year – Associate degree not related to construction
- No Credit –High School and Vocational School.
- Graduating College Seniors: Level 1 (AC) Applicants that are within 9 months of graduating from a 4-year construction management bachelor’s degree program may apply as if they had 4 years of Qualifying Education. Such applicants may take and pass the exam, but will not be certified until the 4-year degree is complete, or until they earn at least 1 year of Qualifying Experience.
Qualifying Experience – Definition
“Qualifying Experience” is work experience in construction management and related fields that counts towards your qualification requirements to sit for the exams. Generally speaking, one year of work in construction management counts for one year of Qualifying Experience.
Only the CPC exam has a minimum experience requirement. But, if you are applying for the AC exam with less than 4 years of Qualifying Education, then you must make up the difference with Qualifying Experience.
How Years of Work are Counted
One year of work is defined as at least 2,000 hours of work in a single 12-month span. If you worked more than 2,000 hours in a single year, this still counts as only one year.
However, if you worked less than 2,000 hours in a single year, you may combine hours from 2 or more years to meet the definition of “a year of work.”
Amount of Qualifying Experience per Year of Work
All work related to construction counts towards qualifying for the exams. However, work other than construction management may count for less Qualifying Experience than construction management work.
Executive, Supervisory and Project Management Work
Full Credit: 1 qualifying year per 1 year of work
Direct and/or executive level supervision of any of the following areas: estimating, quality control, project engineering, scheduling, project management, operations management, operations executive, and/or project management (excluding accounting, marketing, and other support areas not in the direct line of the construction process)
Technical Work
Partial Credit: 3/4 qualifying year per 1 year of work
Construction related work such as estimating, quality control, scheduling, architecture and/or project engineering.
Administrative
Partial Credit: 3/4 qualifying year per 1 year of work
Management level work in areas supporting the construction process, including purchasing, finance, safety, and/or marketing.
Teaching/Research
Partial Credit: 3/4 qualifying year per 1 year of work
Teaching construction coursework at a post-secondary institution or conducting construction research within a governmental agency or university setting. Conducting peer-reviewed academic research related to construction.
Supervision of Specialty Trades
Partial Credit: 3/4 qualifying year per 1 year of work
Direct, first-line management of craft persons, including foremen, general foremen, and craft superintendents.