Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Outline
Introduction
Speaker AACE International
Professional Credentials/Certification
Definition and attributes Certification vs. licensure General types of certifications Specific examples of estimating-based certifications (all associations)
Introduction
Speaker Background
General
More than 22 years of project management/controls experience Named contributor to GAO Cost Guide
Specific
Currently hold multiple professional certifications Member of task force that developed both an internal (Parsons) and external (AACE) certification Currently President Elect of AACE International
Will [soon] have responsibility for administration of 6 existing certifications Management of development process in relation to any new certifications
Introduction
AACE International (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering)
Founded in 1956, currently largest global organization dedicated to furthering concepts of total cost management and cost engineering
8 regions 91 sections 7,708 members
According to 2010 Membership Survey, 22% of respondents were Estimators by primary job function
AACE International
Cost Engineering defined as the collective set of practice areas that includes the following:
Business and program planning Cost estimating Economic and financial analysis Cost control Program and project management Planning and scheduling Cost and schedule performance measurement Change control
Total Cost Management (TCM) is the "process" through which these practices are applied
Encompasses multiple Recommended Practices related to estimating, including Cost Estimate Classification System: As Applied in [EPC] for the Process Industries (JAN 2011)
AACE International
DOE Relationship
Cooperative agreement first signed in 1997
Reauthorized in 2002 and 2007
Professional Credentials/Certification
Definition
A designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task
Attributes
Most are created, sponsored, or affiliated with professional associations, trade organizations, or IT vendors interested in raising standards In general, must be renewed periodically, or may be valid for specific period of time
As part of renewal process, common for individual to show evidence of continued learning (PDUs, CEUs, etc.)
Certifications are usually earned from a professional society or educational institute, not the government
For some organizations, certification assessment process is very similar or even same as licensure
May differ only in terms of legal status
Government
DoDs DAWIA certification for acquisition professionals Tri-Service Cost Engineering Certification Program DOEs PMCDP for FPD certification
Product-specific certifications
More involved, since they are intended to be referenced to a product across all applications
Portable across locations, but not across other products
Very prevalent in information technology (IT) industry, where personnel are certified on a version of software or hardware
Profession-wide
Most general type of certification
Intended to be portable to all places a certified professional might work This generalization increases the cost of such a program, since the process to establish legally defensible assessment of an entire profession is very extensive
Estimating-based Certifications
General
Certified Cost Consultant/Certified Cost Engineer (CCC/CCE)
First offered by AACE in 1976 Accredited by CESB Focuses on estimating as component of cost engineering
Estimating-based Certifications
Specific
American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE)
Certified Professional Estimator (CPE)
First offered in 1976 Accredited by CESB Targeted specifically at construction estimators Process consists of educational workshop, writing a 2,500 word acceptable technical paper on estimating, and completing two examinations (general knowledge and discipline-specific) To be eligible to sit for exam, applicant must have at least five years experience in one discipline of professional estimating (mechanical, electrical, landscaping, etc.)
Estimating-based Certifications
Specific (contd)
Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA)
Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCE/A)
First offered in 1990 Body of knowledge required includes estimating in all fields of engineering, not just construction Exam focuses on various methods of analyzing cost of project, as well as estimating models like parametric estimating and comparison estimating To be eligible to sit for exam, applicant must fall within one of three categories:
1. 2. 3. College degree heavy in cost estimating/analysis and two years experience in cost estimating/analysis Associates degree and five years experience as described above Seven years of experience with submission of biographical sketch demonstrating education, experience and relevant performance
Estimating-based Certifications
Specific (contd)
International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA)
Certified Parametric Practitioner (CPP)
First offered in 2002 Provides professional recognition of practitioners education, job experience, knowledge, and skills in parametric estimating/analysis To be eligible to sit for exam, applicant must have either:
1. 2. 3. College degree in field of study directly related to parametric analysis and two years experience performing parametric analysis Associate degree and five years of experience in parametric analysis Seven years of experience in parametric analysis with submission of brief biographical sketch demonstrating applicants ability or knowledge to pass examination
Estimating-based Certifications
Specific (contd)
AACE International (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering)
Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
First offered in 2008 CESB accreditation in process Not specifically targeted toward construction estimators, but majority of examples are construction-oriented To be eligible to sit for exam, applicant must: Have at least 8 full years of professional experience, of which up to 4 years may be substituted by college/university degree Agree to adhere to the AACE Canon of Ethics
Ideally, should encompass all people, processes, and tools that manage or influence project performance
Help PM and relevant organization understand and apply professional practices of project management
Relevant organization is business unit or department influenced by PMO functions & in receipt of direct business benefits from PMO operations What about for an LLC?
Requiring internal certification, but allowing external certification to be substituted for certain elements
Converse (and more difficult) is requesting that an internal certification be substituted for certain elements of a sought after external certification
Conclusion
Subject of certification was discussed extensively at recent meeting of EFCOG Cost Estimating Subgroup
No real consensus on level/scope of what should be required vs. recommended as best practice Bob Raines of OECM then concluded the discussion with following observation:
Similar to how a P.E. is required to stamp a construction design, then so should a certified estimator be expected to sign off on a *complex+ construction estimate
Do you agree?
Association/Certification Websites
AACE International: www.aacei.org PMI: www.pmi.org CMAA: www.cmaanet.org ASPE: www.aspenational.org SCEA: www.sceaonline.org ISPA: www.ispa-cost.org