Technician to Expert: Identifying the Right Certification(s) for Your Career Plan
By The Certification Board
AACE International (AACE) offers certifications that span the full range of career paths from Technician to Professional to Expert. Certifications bring value to your career, the organization you work for, and the clients that you serve. Sustained growth beyond a college degree shows commitment to professional ethics, while distinguishing yourself ahead of others in the job market and keeping your skills up to date.
AACE certifications are tailored to experience and specific disciplines:
Technician level certifications:
- Certified Cost Technician (CCT)
- Certified Scheduling Technician (CST)
Certifications for early-career professionals or recent college graduates. Eligibility requirements include 4 years of industry related experience, or 4 years industry related degree.
Professional level certifications:
- Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
- Certified Estimating Professional (CEP)
- Earned Value Professional (EVP)
- Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP)
- Project Risk Management Professional (PRMP)
Certifications for experienced practitioners with advanced knowledge and technical know-how. Eligibility requirements include 8 years of industry related experience, or 4 years of industry experience plus a 4-years industry-related college degree. The CCP also requires an additional technical paper.
- Certified Forensic Claims Consultant (CFCC)
- Decision & Risk Management Professional (DRMP)
Certifications for senior-level practitioners, specialists, decision makers, and expert witnesses. Eligibility requirements differ between the two certifications, with both reflecting a high level of knowledge and experience.
The CFCC eligibility requirements include 12 years of relevant claims experience, a 4-year college degree, four letters of recommendation, additional current certifications or licenses referenced on the AACE website, and submission of an expert report submitted as evidence, a formal claim submittal, or a professional paper accepted for publication.
The DRMP eligibility requirements include 4 years of industry-related experience plus a 4-year industry-related college degree. The industry-related experience does not need to be continuous but does need to be directly related to the field of decision and risk management. Additionally, three letters of recommendation from clients and three sample work products are required. More detailed information can be found on the AACE website.
Recently, the Certification Board held a webinar series individually highlighting six of the nine certifications focusing on the professional and expert level certification. The recordings of the webinars may be found on the AACE website and for access by any potential candidates. Questions asked by live participants and answered by certification board volunteers are presented in these videos to highlight the features of each certification.
Are you ready to get started on your career plan? AACE provides step-by-step application guidance on their website to assist you on this journey. We look forward to helping you move your career forward.