Since 2012, CMAA has been a member of ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Initially, CMAA was the Lead Society for Construction Management within the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission (ANSAC). In 2020, CMAA also became the Lead Society for Construction Management Technology in the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). Since then, CMAA has participated in ABET governance, has also provided program evaluators (PEVs), and completed the development and approval processes for program-specific criteria for both commissions.
Engagement with specialized accrediting agencies like ABET contributes to achieving the outcomes in the CMAA Strategic Framework by sharing our members’ unique perspectives, leadership skills, experiences, insights, and best practices to:
- Be the industry leader in leveraging leadership skills, technological innovations, digital tools, trends, and resiliency best practices to pave the way for innovative and successful project execution.
- Become the trusted source of knowledge and best practices in program and construction management.
- Promote, develop, and educate professionals to build and sustain teams and work cultures that are diverse, welcoming, and inclusive.
- Expand the program and construction management narrative and tell the stories of the roles, opportunities, breadth, and values of the profession.
- Build brand awareness of CMAA resources and the program and construction management professionals who steward the entire project life cycle.
- Actively engage with other industry groups.
Accreditation is a system of reviewing the quality of higher education institutions and programs. In the United States, and increasingly internationally, accreditation is a major way that students, families, government officials, and the press know that an institution or program provides a quality education.
Any accreditation system includes five core elements:
- The evaluation is carried out by a non-profit, non-governmental organization.
- The program or institution prepares a self-evaluation report.
- The program or institution hosts a visit by a team.
- Judgments are made by peers who are trained.
- The program has opportunities to respond to the process at certain points along the way.
For details about the process and scope of ABET accreditation, please visit ABET's informational website.
Program and construction management programs can obtain more information about becoming accredited from ABET.
Individuals can join the construction management accreditation process as ABET program evaluators. Full society requirements are listed on the ABET website. CCM recertification points are available for this service.
Contact CMAA for additional information on becoming a program evaluator.