ACI & TCA Certify More Than 1250 Tilt-Up Professionals

As of April 1, 2009, 222 Supervisor and 1,048 Technician certifications have been issued, for a total of 1,270 total certifications.

The joint Certification program, developed through ACI’s C-650 Committee, is designed to recognize the growing construction method and maintain its professionalism. To further increase participation in the Certification program, the exam is now offered in Spanish.

Full certification as a Tilt-Up Supervisor requires a passing score on the exam (70 percent) and a minimum of five years (7,500 hours) of verifiable construction experience, of which at least three years (4,500 hours) shall be as a Tilt-Up supervisor or assistant supervisor, as well as a demonstrated proficiency in and an understanding of overall on-site administrative and technical management for producing Tilt-Up projects.

Those lacking the sufficient work experience to qualify may become certified as a Technician by successful completion of the same written examination. The examination consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions.

Those certified will hold the status for five years before having to re-certify by successfully completing the current requirements for certification.  A certified Technician may upgrade to Supervisor status within a five-year time period of his or her certification through the completion of the necessary work experience. The program requires knowledge in safety, plan reading, scheduling, site preparation and foundations, slabs-on-grade, layout, forming, placement and properties, erection, and structural systems.

The next public offering of the Certification exam is September 29 at the TCA Annual Convention in Amelia Island, Fla.

This location, like most other opportunities, will also offer the certification seminar that is a great introduction and refresher course to many Tilt-Up construction concepts. The seminar serves as a final preparation tool for those seeking Tilt-Up certification.

The cost to attend only the seminar is included as part of the registration fee for the TCA Convention. The cost for the Certification exam is $145 for TCA members and $215 for nonmembers. Recommended study materials include the ACI Tilt-Up Certification Manual and the 6th edition Tilt-Up Construction and Engineering Manual, both available through TCA. TCA offers a standard three-part specification for Tilt-Up construction that adds the importance of certified supervision to the project. For more information about the exam, visit www.tilt-up.org or call 319-895-6911.

TCA was founded in 1986 to improve the quality and acceptance of site cast Tilt-Up construction, a construction method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place. Tilt-Up construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment. For more information about the TCA, visit www.tilt-up.org.