Personnel Certification Program Benefits
Owners, architects, engineers, and contractors all benefit from working with precast concrete plants and erectors that employ PCI-certified quality-control personnel and auditors. These professionals can effectively and efficiently develop and implement a quality-control program, and help improve the quality component of the precaster in many other ways. Their input can help companies cut costs even as they produce better and more efficient precast concrete components and building systems.
Demand for qualified personnel continues to grow. Plant quality personnel certification is required by over one third of state departments of transportation. These agencies require PCI certification not only for plant personnel, but also for their own materials inspectors and quality assurance personnel.
Achieving plant quality personnel certification status is a demanding task, but those who rise to the challenge improve their proficiency and provide better service to the precast concrete structures industry. PCI certification is a reliable means of ensuring that the precaster working on your project meets the highest possible industry standards.
Personnel Certification Program Overview
The Plant Quality Personnel Certification Program, started in 1985, provides instruction and evaluation for three levels of trained, knowledgeable, and certified quality-control personnel. PCI also trains Certified Field Auditors (CFAs) and Certified Company Auditors (CCAs), who perform the audits to certify the precast concrete erector. This process extends personnel certification into the field. PCI offers personnel certification programs for the following areas:
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Plant quality control technicians
- Field quality control technicians
- Glass fiber reinforced concrete technicians
More information about the certification process from application to initial certification and throughout the recertification/renewal periods can be found in the
Proctored Exam and Personnel Certification Program Information Packet.
PCI personnel certifications can be attained by one of two available paths. The examinee can either attend a PCI quality control training course or undergo a proctored examination.
PCI Quality Control Training Courses
PCI offers training programs for the personnel certification programs. For more information about registration and course agendas, please
see the information about training through PCI's Quality Control Schools on the PCI website.
PCI Proctored Exam Program
The PCI Proctored Exam Program is a self-study program that allows examinees to study at their own pace before scheduling their certification exam.
To request a proctored exam, please complete the forms included in the
Proctored Exam Request Packet.
Please see the
Proctored Exam and Personnel Certification Program Information Packet for detailed instructions on how to request a proctored exam, including exam day instructions and more information on the certification process from application to initial certification and throughout the recertification/renewal periods.
Plant Quality Control Technicians
Plant quality control manuals MNL-116 and MNL-117 require that plants have at least one PCI Level II-certified technician in the plant during production if the plant produces products with prestressed reinforcement. Plants that produce architectural concrete only, or any other concrete that does not contain prestressed reinforcement, must have a PCI Level I-certified technician in the plant during production.