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12 Construction Certifications to Boost Your Career

The construction industry, despite its pivotal role in creating and maintaining global infrastructure, is experiencing a workforce crisis.

With organizations seeking to fill hundreds of thousands of open positions, there is a need to find new skilled contributors as the current generation of experts ages toward retirement.

One way to fill this gap is through education programs aimed at arming students with the latest digital construction technology. Learn more about how Bluebeam is a key part of the curriculum in hundreds of skilled training programs and colleges around the world.

Another way to navigate these uncertain, transitional conditions is through training and certifications. Putting in the work to earn a certification in a key construction skill is a way to demonstrate aptitude and commitment, and the professionals who go through these processes can become strong candidates to fill key positions.

Certifications can become a useful tool by which the next generation of leaders find their way into the industry and climb the organizational ladder. Studying leading construction certification types is a worthy undertaking for employees and employers alike.

What Are Construction Certifications and Why Do They Matter?

Construction certifications aren’t a monolithic category handed down by one specific body. Rather, they’re varied stamps of approval issued by official organizations or companies to attest that the holder possesses a specific skill or competency.

Certifications can augment applicants’ resumes, showing why a candidate is the right fit for a specific open position. They can also demonstrate why a holder is worthy of advancement or additional responsibilities from a current employer.

Of course, it’s reductive to view certifications solely as a resume-builder. The training and preparation that go into earning certifications are useful processes for increasing construction employees’ knowledge around highly specific areas of their industry.

Whether an employer sponsors certifications for staff members to increase their competencies or employees pursue credentials independently to build their own knowledge, the effect is the same. Certifications in important, relevant areas enhance the skill level of the construction workforce and allow holders to prove their mastery over concepts ranging from jobsite safety to software aptitude.

See how construction firms are boosting the productivity of their workers.

12 Relevant Construction Certifications

To determine which certification program offerings matter most in the construction industry, you simply need to inspect the current state of the sector.

Construction will always have a need for competence in areas such as project management and safety. Despite the persistence of these skills, the space is not stagnant and new priorities are coming to the fore. Dealing with sustainability and technology can be useful construction practices on the jobsite and beyond, and thus worthy subjects for professional certificate programs.

The following 12 examples demonstrate the breadth of certification options open to today’s construction employees:

Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

Accredited under the International Organization for Standardization’s 17024 standard, the CCM is a credential designed to identify top-performing leaders in the construction industry. Areas of focus for CCMs include the use of advanced management techniques that can help them optimize contracting jobs in terms of spending, timelines and the quality of the results. To maintain their standing as CCMs, professionals must renew the credential every three years. They do this by earning points through training or volunteering.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

PMP certification is a widely known credential, held by more than 1.5 million people. The Project Management Institute awards it based on the results of a 180-question exam, and it demonstrates that the holder is skilled at providing project leadership. Despite the fact that the PMP exam is intentionally industry-agnostic, it can be a compelling resume-builder in the construction sector due to the constant need for reliable project management on the jobsite and in the office.

OSHA Outreach Training

Since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the key agency for regulating jobsite safety in the U.S., its training programs hold major importance for construction leaders. The organization emphasizes that its Outreach Training program, available in 10-hour and 30-hour versions, focuses on the best practices of avoiding and negating workplace hazards, rather than simply getting in compliance. Participants learn from peers who have themselves gone through the training and receive a card that states which version of the program they completed.

Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

Designed for professionals who focus on optimizing the energy performance of structures, CEM credentials show a person understands every aspect of efficiency. This extends from the regulatory and policy side of energy management to the technical systems that control lighting, HVAC and everything in between. The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) oversees the credential, and over 40,000 people have participated in the program.

Sustainability Excellence Associate or Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEA or SEP)

These two levels of sustainability credentials signify the holder’s ability to take an innovative leadership role within an organization. An employee with SEA or SEP credentials is someone who can take the necessary actions to make a business more sustainable overall. While SEA focuses on the main ideas underlying sustainability, SEP is for more experienced professionals serving in roles such as Chief Sustainability Officer.

Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)

Unlike some of the more general credentials available to construction professionals, CHST is for very specific workers: It shows that a person has the right skills and knowledge to become a construction safety, health and environment specialist on a jobsite. This focus means leaders can use CHST certification to verify that their chosen worksite safety leader understands how to minimize risk and injury in a construction environment.

Certified Associate Constructor or Certified Professional Constructor (CAC or CPC)

CAC and CPC are two levels of credentials issued by the American Institute of Contractors (AIC). Despite being the lower of the two, CAC is still a demanding certification to attain, and is for participants who are either coming to construction from another sector or have spent four years in a construction management program. Both CAC and CPC identify that their holders have the knowledge and skill to oversee complex projects and complete jobs to a high degree of quality.

8. LEED Green Associate

A sustainability credential issued by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Green Associate status demonstrates that a person is skilled in green building techniques, with a special focus on LEED certification. Professionals just beginning their association with environmentally friendly construction can study for the LEED Green Associate exam to build their knowledge. After passing the exam, credential-holders must take 15 years of continuing education over the next two years to stay certified.

Certified Safety Manager (CSM)

CSM credentials, conferred by the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP), indicate that the holder is capable of being independently responsible for safety on a jobsite. Someone with CSM status has proven their ability to spot risk factors, conduct tests and expectations and keep the organization in legal compliance. The NASP’s course to prepare for the CSM test takes roughly 40 hours to complete, conveying extensive safety knowledge.

Crane Operator Certification

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) offers several certification types to reflect recipients’ familiarity and skill at using the various classes of cranes encountered on jobsites. These include mobile cranes, tower cranes, service truck cranes, articulating cares and other related equipment. The organization also offers certification program options for professionals other than crane operators, including inspectors, lift directors, signal persons and riggers.

National Electrical Code (NEC) Online Training

The NEC regulations cover the safe use of electricity within structures of all kinds. By becoming certified in the rules and learning best practices about applying those specifications, professionals can pick up skills that apply in building stages, from planning to maintenance. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) administers training courses in NEC compliance.

Software Certifications (Example: Bluebeam Certified Professional)

Construction today is a digitized industry. By understanding the technologies that power collaboration and communication within and between contractor firms, employees can deepen their ability to perform on the job. This is why essential construction software platforms such as Bluebeam come with their own certification options.

How Does a Construction Employee Choose Relevant Certifications?

Independently pursuing certifications is more than just a way to deepen knowledge around a current role — it can also represent a pathway into a new phase of a construction career. By selecting certifications that conform to a specific area of construction duties, it’s possible to specialize in:

Construction safety on the jobsite, both in terms of regulatory compliance and in creating secure conditions for fellow workers.
Construction project management and leadership, demonstrating a grasp of effective organizational practices.
Sustainability at various points of a project, whether that means design, construction, ongoing maintenance or all these stages.
Use of specific equipment and the ability to work effectively with certain materials or apply useful techniques.
Construction technology usage for planning, communications and other essential tasks.

Discover how a new generation of construction workers is joining the workforce.

Construction: An Industry in Renewal

With a need to refresh the workforce in the years ahead — and a rapidly evolving approach to technology use — the construction space is always searching for a new group of skilled professionals. Individuals can mark themselves as part of this rising group by seeking out advanced certifications.

Want to increase your aptitude with construction software? Enroll to become a Bluebeam Certified Professional.