The PCI Plant Certification Program requires plants producing non-prestressed precast concrete products, including non-prestressed architectural concrete products, to have a certified PCI Level I QC Technician/Inspector on staff. PCI-certified plants that produce prestressed products, including prestressed architectural concrete, must have a certified PCI Level II QC Technician/Inspector on staff.

The Plant Certification Program also requires plants that produce non-prestressed architectural concrete and are certified in categories AA and AB to have an employee who holds either (A) both the PCI Level I QC Technician/Inspector certification and the PCI Concrete Mix Design Training Program certificate, or (B) PCI Level III QC Technician/Inspector certification. Plants certified in categories AA and AB that produce prestressed architectural concrete must have an employee who holds either (A) both the PCI Level II QC Technician/Inspector certification and the PCI Concrete Mix Design Training Program certificate, or (B) PCI Level III QC Technician/Inspector certification.

A description of the requirements for each PCI personnel certification, including the pre-requisites and the required skills and knowledge for each, can be found on the PCI Personnel Certification page. A description of the personnel certification process can be found on the How to Become PCI Certified page.

The Level I QC School is a one-and-a-half-day course and begins the series of exciting plant quality control training courses. Registrants will receive a copy of the valuable TM-101, Quality Control Technician/Inspector Level I & II Training Manual, plus class notes and extensive reference material.

The Level I course starts off with a review of PCI certification programs, both plant and personnel. The curriculum was developed especially for quality control personnel, engineers, technician/managers, plant managers/superintendents, consulting engineers, and technicians.

The Level I course introduces basic concrete topics, mix design concepts, such as, the water/cementitious ratio, design concepts, such as, concrete strength and conventional reinforcement. At the start of the second day, the candidate will take a certification examination. The candidates must pass the Level I certification examination, with a minimum score of 70%, to be eligible for the Level I personnel certification.

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The Level II QC School is a one-and-a-half-day course and the curriculum continues with intermediate concrete topics and mix design concepts. Registrants will receive a copy of the valuable TM-101, Quality Control Technician/Inspector Level I & II Training Manual, plus class notes and extensive reference material.

The Level II course introduces prestressing and attendees discuss and practice elongation calculations and correction factors. The Level II course is packed with activities, such as, round-table discussions, practice sessions, and student-instructor interaction. At the start of the second day, the candidate will take a certification examination. The candidates must pass the Level II certification examination, with a minimum score of 70%, to be eligible for the Level II personnel certification.

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The Level III QC School is a three-and-a-half-day course and concludes the series of plant quality control training courses. PCI Level III Plant Quality Personnel Certification offers distinct advantages over Levels I and II. The concepts are advanced and require considerable experience in a precast plant or an advance Civil Engineering or Technology degree. Registrants will receive a copy of the valuable TM-103, Quality Control Technician/Inspector Level III Training Manual, plus class notes and extensive reference material.

The Level III course is packed with activities, such as, round-table discussions, practice sessions, and student-instructor interaction. In addition to exploring in detail the individual components of concrete (like cement), advanced welding concepts are discussed, and the unique process of harping elongated strands is reviewed. At the start of the fourth day, the candidate will take a certification examination. The candidates must pass the Level III certification examination, with a minimum score of 70%, to be eligible for the Level III personnel certification.

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PCI Policy 29, PCI Erector Certification Program, requires all erectors to employee a Certified Field Auditor (CFA). CFA certification requires a minimum of two years of precast concrete erection experience and a commitment to upholding professional standards appropriate to the program. The CFA is responsible for conducting the erectors internal field quality audits. Candidates that attain the CFA certification are also included on a list of CFAs that PCI distributes to erector companies. This list is used by erectors participating in the PCI Erector Certification Program. Erectors must contact an external CFA (a CFA not employed by their company) to coordinate an external field audit which will be conducted in compliance to the requirements of the PCI Erector Certification Program.

The program also requires erectors to be audited annually by Certified Company Auditors (CCA) to ensure an erectors compliance to the program’s quality management system documentation and record-keeping standards and requirements.

The Certified Field Auditor (CFA) QC School is a three-day course that reviews industry quality and safety standards applicable to the erection of precast concrete members. OSHA regulations are also reviewed during this course. Registrants will receive copies of the MNL-127, Erectors Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, and MNL-132, Erection Safety – For Precast and Prestressed Concrete, plus class notes and extensive reference material.

The course provides a unique opportunity to interface with peers to discuss common issues and share solutions and successes. At the conclusion of the course, the candidate will take a certification examination. The candidate must pass the multiple-choice certification examination with a minimum score of 70%, to be eligible for the CFA personnel certification.

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The Certified Company Auditor (CCA) QC School is a one-day course designed especially for experienced CFA's. This course is also a great resource for all erectors, including management, to gain a better understanding of the required management system documents and records an erector should be maintaining to verify compliance to industry erection standards and PCI requirements. This class is highly recommended for all new PCI Erector Certification applicants.

The Certified Company Auditor (CCA) course prepares individuals to conduct Company Quality Audits for the PCI Erector Certification Program, to ensure an erectors compliance to the program’s quality management system documentation and record-keeping standards and requirements. The CCA course reviews concepts of quality assurance and the importance of field quality control. The importance of an effective safety plan and the components of a safety plan are also discussed. Registrants will receive copies of the MNL-127, Erectors Manual – Standards and Guidelines for the Erection of Precast Concrete Products, and MNL-132, Erection Safety – For Precast and Prestressed Concrete, plus class notes and extensive reference material.

The course provides a unique opportunity to interface with peers to discuss common issues and share solutions and successes. At the conclusion of the one-day course, the candidate will take a certification examination. The candidate must pass the multiple-choice certification examination with a minimum score of 70%, to be eligible for the CCA personnel certification.

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