The Process to Become a Certified Construction Manager

When people enter the construction field, they usually know what they want their job to be. This doesn't mean they will have this job right away, as it sometimes takes time to rise through the ranks and get the training needed to fill this position.

Anyone who knows they want to be a construction manager will need to plan accordingly, as it's not as easy as finishing high school and putting in a few years of work to achieve that goal.

After all, once certified, a person will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the construction project. This will include hiring workers, supervising workers, estimating project costs, creating schedules, completing progress reports, and ensuring that safety codes are always met.

Most of these workers are on call 24 hours a day and many will work more than forty hours a week, especially as the project deadline approaches. They will find themselves between the office and the workplace as they juggle every aspect of their work without forgetting any of the small details.

The first step to becoming a certified construction manager is to earn at least a bachelor's degree in a field like construction management. Courses involved in this degree include design, materials, economics, and more. Certain students can even take it a step further by earning their degree in subjects that include construction science and engineering.

Those who want to succeed as a certified construction manager will choose to complete an internship while earning their degree. Most internships are unpaid, but reward the student with the opportunity to learn about the construction field and the various jobs they will perform in the future. Some internships may even allow students to be certified construction manager assistants, where they can learn what it takes to fill this position.

After a student earns his or her degree, he or she will need to find a job in the construction field. Most students will be ready to take on the highest-level position they can find, but the smartest ones will know how to start at the bottom. Starting at the bottom and working your way up, these students will learn more about all aspects of the field and be ready to become certified construction managers much sooner.

After all, there is nothing more humbling than learning to follow instructions before giving them, as well as learning how to do hard work on a job site.

Many construction workers will stop at this point, but those who want to become certified construction managers realize that they need to be certified for their position. Certification is not easy, as there is an exam that needs to be passed, but it is essential if you want to have more opportunities in the future. Certifications can be obtained from a number of places, but the most popular for this position include one through the Construction Management Association of America.

To be eligible to take the exam, an individual must have a bachelor's degree and at least four years of construction management experience. Those without a degree must have at least eight years of construction experience, as well as four years of construction management experience. Individuals are required to pass the exam within three attempts and anyone who fails to do so is barred from becoming certified. All successful candidates must be recertified every three years, which includes sharing information about professional development as well as professional experience.

Once the person has the necessary experience, as well as the training and certification for the position, they can apply for available positions. However, no one should expect to get the first or even second job they apply for. Competition can be fierce, with everyone trying to outdo every other candidate.

One way for a person to set themselves above all others is to continue their studies and obtain a master's degree. This is typically done in the field of construction management, where courses include public policy, labor relations, building materials, construction methods, and construction management practices.

After a while, a person looking for a certified construction management position may be able to find a job. They can use this position to learn even more while continuing their education with workshops, conventions, and even online courses. The goal is to never stop learning, as that is how everyone advances in this area.