Becoming a CCM

Is becoming a CCM right for you?

Please be sure to read the Application Handbook for the full details on the certification process.  Below is a brief description of the criteria for becoming a CCM:

Determine your Eligibility

To become a Certified Construction Manager (CCM), you must have a requisite amount of experience and/or education. The eligibility requirements are outlined below:

1. 48 months experience as a CM in the qualifying areas as defined by the Qualifications Matrix
    
2. ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
   • An undergraduate (4-year BA/BS level) or graduate qualifying degree.
   • A 2-year undergraduate qualifying degree (AA/AS level) AND 4 years experience in general design/construction.
     (This experience is in addition to the 48 month CM requirement.)
   • No degree in construction management, architecture, engineering or construction science AND 8 years experience in general design/construction.
     (This experience is in addition to the 48-month CM requirement.)

Degree Requirements

CMCI accepts degrees granted by accredited Colleges and Universities recognized by the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education.  To find out if your school is accredited, please go to either site:

http://chea.org/search/search.asp

Qualifying Degrees

• Construction Management
• Construction Engineering Technology 
• Construction Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Architecture

If you are qualifying for the CCM by using a degree listed above, you must submit evidence of the degree; photocopy of diploma, or have official transcripts sent from the accredited University.

DO YOU QUALIFY?

Before completing an application, make sure you meet the requirements of the certification program by completing the Qualifications Matrix. This is the same matrix that is required of all applicants to complete in the application package.

QUALIFICATIONS MATRIX

This matrix represents the functions/roles of a Construction Manager during project phases as defined by CMAA in its publication CM Standards of Practice. The grey areas represent the MINIMUM qualifying experience for the 48 month CM experience. This is cumulative experience; you do not need 48 months in each area. In order to enroll in the program, you MUST have experience in the grey areas. If you do not have the requisite experience, please do not submit an application at this time.

There are 30 possible experience areas; for each function/role and phase ask yourself the following question:

Did the decisions that you were empowered to make directly impact the successful completion of the project and were you directly responsible in charge of construction management services and for protecting the interests of the project/owner?

If you can answer "yes "to both parts of the question, then select the checkbox in that area;
if you answer "no" then do not check that box.

To qualify for the program, you MUST be able to answer "yes" to all of the required areas as marked by the brackets. If you cannot answer "yes" to the required areas, then do not submit an application at this time. You will be asked to verify this experience in the project attachments in the application.

Application

This phase of the process consists of completing all information required in the application:

1. Provide your professional resume.
2. Document your 48-month project experience.  Here are sample narratives.
3. Provide project organizational charts for each project submitted.  Here is a sample organizational chart.
4. Document challenges you faced on each project submitted. 
5. A copy of your degree or an official college transcript showing proving your qualifying degree.  If using experience instead of education, document your 8 years of general construction or design experience.
6. Provide a minimum of two references for CMCI to contact via email.  Here is a sample reference form.

For this part of the process, you need to complete the application including documenting your project experience and contacting your references. The application and project documentation is sent to this office. Upon receiving an application, all references will be contacted by CMCI and given a form to complete. These forms must be sent back to CMCI in a sealed envelope with their signature over the seal. (You may want to prepare your references by sending them a pre-paid, addressed envelope to be sent directly to CMCI). Use the checklist in the application as a guideline for what is required.

BOG Review

Once your application is complete (all information and references), it is forwarded to the Certification Board of Governors (BOG) for review and evaluation. The Institute will notify you of this date. The BOG will make its recommendation to either advance to candidacy or deny candidacy. This review process generally takes 30-45 days.

Exam 

Once you are advanced to candidacy, you are eligible to take the Certification Exam. The exam is on demand now, you will pick one location and three dates that will fit your schedule best and we will do our best to accommodate your request.  The initial fee to take the CCM exam for CMAA members is $275, re-take fees are $100. See Guidelines for Finding an Exam Site.The exam uses these primary references:

• CMAA's "CM Standards of Practice"
• CII's Best Practice's Guide "Improving Project Performance IR 166-3"

Based on the results of the 2009 CM industry survey, the CMCI Board of Governors has modified the quantity of the CM certification exam questions to incorporate the following breakdown in percentages.

• Project Management 15%
• Cost Management 15%
• Time Management 16%
• Contract Administration 19%
• Quality Management 11%
• Professional Practice 9%
• Safety & Risk Management 15%

The percentage of candidates who have successfully passed the current CCM exam is 83.33%. 

Exam Format:The exam is five hours in length and taken in one sitting. The exam itself is four hours and fifty minutes with a ten minute survey at the end. Candidates may leave when finished. In most cases, results are immediately delivered.Questions are multiple-choice. Some require mathematic calculations.

Passing Score: The passing score varies among the test forms. The passing score is developed by a modified Angoff Method. As a guideline, passing scores range from 65-66%.

Exam Re-takes: If you do not pass the exam the first time, you may re-take the exam up to two more times. There is a $100 fee associated with each re-take. No candidate will be allowed to take the exam more than three times. Re-takes will not be scheduled within 30 days of having taken the exam.  If you fail all three attempts at the exam, you will need wait a minimum of one year and start the application process over again.

Exam Schedule: The exam is given anytime an authorized testing center is open.  To locate an authorized testing, please go to "Finding an Exam Site".

Preparation Recommendations:

The CM Core Competencies provides a general outline of the subject matter on which the exam has been developed and includes an attached bibliography containing publications to purchase. If you are interested in obtaining CMAA publications to assist with your preparation, you may purchase the CM Standards of Practice Study Kit through CMAA. For any specific questions about any of the publications listed, Click Here.

Certification Fees

Email: certification@cmaanet.org if you have questions. You may also find the answers to your questions in our FAQ.