The Concrete Polishing Council (CPC), a specialty council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), St. Louis, MO, has relaunched its Tradesman and Craftsman certifications. The certification programs were begun by the Concrete Polishing Association of America, precursor of the CPC.
A certified Tradesman requires knowledge on the proper procedure to polish concrete but lacks sufficient work experience to qualify as a Craftsman. Craftsman certification is open to those who have achieved Tradesman certification and have a minimum of 4,500 hours of work experience in surface preparation, grinding, edging, chemical application, honing, polishing and polishing equipment maintenance. Recertification is necessary every five years and requires successful completion of a written examination.
Those applying for Tradesman certification may purchase the Tradesman Certification Manual, an 86-page booklet covering Safety, Polished Concrete, Grinders/Equipment, Diamond Tooling, Maximum Refinement, Chemicals and Concrete. The book also includes a Glossary and the CPC Position Statements. The certification exam is based on the Manual. Cost is $50 for CPC members and $65 for non-members. An online review course covering the same information and with sample test questions is available to help technicians prep for the exam. The review course is $150 for members and $190 for non-members.
The Tradesman examination, also online, is approximately two hours and consists of 50 multiple choice questions. It requires a score of 70% or better. CPC members pay $250 to take the exam; $315 for non-members.
Craftsman certification requires a passing grade on the Tradesman exam and 4,500 hours of verified work experience. Work experience forms for employed workers, self-employed workers, and union laborers are available online. Craftsman certification is $75 for members and $100 for non-members.
The concrete polishing certification program provides the industry with distinction between skill levels based on knowledge and real-world experience. Polishing contractors can use the program to provide employees long-term goals toward education, training and mastery. Owners and general contractors can utilize it to set specifications and determine the best qualified bid list.
The CPC was formed to provide standards, education and a professional network for polishing contractors and others serving in the industry. The primary goals are to furnish training opportunities and certification programs for members and to share information on best practices with the design and construction community.
The American Society of Concrete Contractors is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of those who build with concrete, and to providing them a unified voice in the construction industry. Members include concrete contracting firms, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in the concrete industry such as architects, specifiers and distributors. There are approximately 770 member companies in the United States and 15 foreign countries. For more information, visit www.ascconline.org or call the ASCC office at (866) 788-2722.
For more information on this program go to www.ascconline.org/concrete-polishing- council/certification.
