The AACE Certification Program Staff recently attended the 2024 Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) Exchange in Miami, Florida, from November 17th to 20th.

I.C.E. is a professional membership association that provides education, networking, and other resources for organizations and individuals who work in and serve the credentialing industry. It is a leading developer of standards for certification and certificate programs and a provider of and a clearinghouse for information on trends in certification, test development, and delivery, assessment-based certificate programs, and other information relevant to the credentialing community.

The Exchange offered sessions covering the following tracks:

• Beyond Traditional Credentials
• Business of Credentialing
• Credentialing Innovations
• Data Management, Privacy, and Test Security
• Marketing and Communications
• Standards and Accreditation
• Test Development and Administration

Each Certification staff member has provided a take-away summary of one session that challenged, intrigued, or excited them.

For credentialed professionals nearing or having entered retirement, it might seem like a good time to give up the credentials you have worked so hard to maintain rather than worry about earning CEUs or retaking the exam to keep them. However, that AACE credential may have become part of your identity and, therefore, not so easy to abandon. For those of you who are nearing the end of your career or already in retirement, there may be an alternative to recertifying that will allow you to maintain your certificate.

When it comes time to recertify, AACE will reach out and ask if you intend to recertify by CEUs or recertify by exam. In lieu of these two options, you may have the opportunity, under certain conditions, to apply for emeritus certification. AACE provides an emeritus certification category for retiring/retired certified professionals for the certificant’s lifetime with no fees or renewal credits required. To be eligible to obtain emeritus certification, you must be at least 60 years of age, retired, and not engaged in consulting activities or part-time cost engineering-related work of any kind. This seems like a no-brainer for those leaving the workforce and desiring to keep their certification. It is free, and it is a lifetime. What could be better than that?!

As with everything, some terms and conditions come with emeritus certification, which you must know. The first is that if at any time in the future, you accept cost engineering-related work, you must reapply for certification, submit the required fees, and sit for the examination. In other words, you cannot reenter your career field and present yourself as an emeritus certificant. You are not allowed to regain your original status by recertifying with CEUs. You must retake the test. The second stipulation is that you must hold AACE harmless from any future liability associated with, or arising out of, an emeritus certification.

If you opt to go the emeritus certification route, meet the eligibility requirements, and agree with the terms and conditions, it is as simple as filling out a one-page online application. Once approved for emeritus certification, your credential will be switched to emeritus status. You will continue to be carried in the AACE Directory in your credentialed field and listed, for example, as “Jordan Smith, Emeritus PSP.” If you hold multiple credentials, all of your credentials will go into emeritus status simultaneously, and all will be included in the AACE Directory. Credentialed professionals with multiple certificates will likely have staggered renewal dates for their credentials, so those in this category may hold off on applying for emeritus certification until it is time to renew their most up-to-date credentials. For example, you may hold an EVP credential that expires in 2024 and a PSP credential in 2026. When it comes time to renew the EVP credential in 2024, you can inform AACE that you will not be renewing your EVP credential in 2024 but will be applying for emeritus certification in 2026 when your PSP credential comes up for renewal. Once you apply for and are approved for emeritus certification in 2026, you will then be listed in the directory as both an Emeritus EVP and an Emeritus PSP, even though your EVP credential lapsed in 2024. The bottom line for those of you holding multiple certifications is that you cannot become an emeritus certificant in one certificant field and continue to hold an active credential in another certificant field until that second credential is up for renewal. In the case above, if you choose to go the emeritus certification route when the EVP credential is up for renewal, then the PSP credential goes into emeritus status at that point as well.

There are multiple reasons why emeritus certification may be for you. You may want to hold onto your credential because it was hard to attain and maintain, and it still means a lot to you. Or you may be a person who dislikes giving up anything. The best reason is that emeritus status is currently free and is for a lifetime. There are currently over 200 active emeritus certificants and several serve as volunteers with AACE and in other organizations. If emeritus certification seems like a good fit for you and you would rather go that route than continue to maintain your credential through the traditional recertification process, then fill out the online application for emeritus certification when it comes time for renewal and enjoy retirement. If you would like more information or help with guidance through the application process, you can reach out to AACE Credentialing Analyst Sara Peters at speters@aacei.org or (304) 296-8444 ext. 1110.

Abstract

One of the major hurdles in being selected to testify as an expert witness is obtaining your first assignment, as clients and their legal counsel generally want to have a proven and experienced individual in their corner, leaving little room for first-time testifying experts.  This paper discusses one of AACE International Certification Institute’s (“Institute”) expert-level certifications, the Certified Forensic Claims Consultant (CFCC), and how this certification was designed to help overcome the lack of testifying experience for otherwise exceptionally well-credentialed claims experts.  This paper also discusses how the AACE International (“AACE”) organization assists in the professional development of aspiring experts and how other professionals could benefit from a CFCC certification.

Introduction

One of my favorite lines from my favorite movie, A Few Good Men, is the contested testimony of the prosecution’s expert witness, Dr. Stone, which goes as follows.

Prosecution:

Dr. Stone, you’ve held a license to practice medicine for 17 years, you are board certified in internal medicine, you are chief of internal medicine at a hospital which has served 5,426 people.  In your professional medical opinion, was Willie Santiago poisoned?

Defense:

Your Honor, we renew our objection to CDR Stone’s testimony and ask that it be stricken from the record.  We further ask the court to instruct the court members to lend no weight to this witness’ testimony.

Judge:

The objection is overruled counsel. 

Defense:

Your Honor, the defense strenuously objects and requests an 802 conference so that his Honor might have an opportunity to hear discussion before ruling on this objection.

Judge:

The objection of the defense has been heard and overruled.

Defense:

Move to reconsider.

Judge:

Your objection is noted, the witness is an expert and the court will hear his opinion! 

Of course this was just a movie, but it does make a colorful illustration of how impactful the opinion of an expert can be perceived to sway the potential outcome of a trial.  In the construction litigation arena, delays and impacts are most often analyzed and explained by an expert witness, particularly those related to lost productivity and use of the measured mile approach for damage assessment.  According to the United States Court of Claims:

It is a rare case where loss of productivity can be proven by books and records; almost always it has to be proven by the opinions of expert witnesses. [1]

Also:

Indeed, in every case the court has reviewed involving the measured mile method, an expert was required to apply the method. [2]

It is without a doubt that establishing yourself as an expert, such that a trier of fact recognizes you as an expert and relies, at least in part, on your opinion to make a reasoned judicial decision, is indeed an honorable endeavor.  The question remains, however: How does one attain the necessary credentials to qualify as a testifying expert?  Becoming CFCC certified could be a key component towards achieving that goal. 

Necessary Credentials

Of course, extensive experience and specialized subject matter knowledge is the number one requirement.  But even with this, your chances of ever being given an opportunity to act as a testifying expert are still remote.  You need to build a strong base of credentials, such as:

• An advanced degree in your area of expertise.
• Working in your specialized field in a senior position.
• Drafting high-level technical evaluations and/or analysis.
• Publishing work in trade journals and publications.
• Speaking engagements at professional conferences.
• Being quoted by other publications or by the media.
• Recipient of prestigious awards, grants, or fellowships.
• Establishing a history of providing expert testimony.

Also, in a recent survey, 79% of respondents believe experts should be recognized by a professional body and hold current membership/registration with them [3].  AACE is a preeminent professional organization and could greatly assist in achieving many of these credentials.  AACE provides a forum for peer-reviewed technical papers and, if accepted, provides for papers to be presented at their annual conference and subsequently published within the conference proceedings.  AACE also has a mentoring program that can assist and guide young professionals as they progress in their careers and gain the experience, knowledge and credentials necessary to become an expert.  Once that expertise and experience is obtained and a broad base of related credentials established, the CFCC certification can help position you to secure a role as a testifying expert.

In 1976, AACE International launched its first professional certification, and today, that certification is the Certified Cost Professional (CCP).

Over the past 47 years, the certification examination format for the CCP has evolved from a 2,500-word technical paper accompanied by a paper and pencil exam to the current computer-based examination coupled with a technical paper.

In today’s fast-paced work environment of dashboards, charts and graphs, and summary narratives, the technical paper component of the CCP Examination has become outdated. Yes, there are still applications for 10+ pages of technical data accompanied by a bibliography and footnotes. Still, in more cases than not, the analysis communicated to a busy manager consists of a summary-level narrative that is direct and to the point.

Considering this fact, the CCP Certification Committee of the Certification Board conducted a feasibility study to determine if it was time to update the examination by replacing the technical paper with a more appropriate communication assessment that would better align with today’s workplace culture. The feasibility study results presented an opportunity to enhance the CCP examination by adding a memo component that the candidate would write during the exam instead of the separately prepared technical paper. This in-exam memo would be similar to those presented in AACE’s professional-level certification examinations, such as the CEP, EVP, PRMP, and PSP.

While a CCP technical paper is written outside the examination testing environment, it is part of the overall CCP examination. From the very beginning, the objective of the certification program was to ensure that people receiving a CCP designation demonstrated that they could communicate ideas, statements, recommendations, and solutions logically and reasonably. The CCP examination needed more than just multiple choice and scenario questions; it required a method to evaluate the candidate’s communication skills – how the candidate structured words, analysis, and recommendations. Thus, the requirement to submit an acceptable technical paper that contributed to the candidate’s overall examination scoring was implemented. Fast forward to today. With the advancing technology of CHAT GPT, AI tools, and continuing plagiarism issues, the reliability and validity of using the technical paper component of the CCP examination process to assess candidates’ abilities need to be reevaluated.

After the feasibility study and the resulting opportunity to add the in-exam memo, the CCP Committee conducted a beta test of the memo scenarios prepared to replace the separate technical paper. In April 2023, current CCP technical paper graders volunteered to be the beta testers for the proposed memo scenarios. These volunteers wrote the memo using the Kryterion examination platform, just as it would appear during an actual examination. After writing the memo, the beta testers supplied feedback on the clarity of instructions, the memo scenarios, and the grading process. The CCP Committee reviewed the feedback/comments and made necessary adjustments to the memo scenarios, grading instructions, and grading rubrics. On June 10, 2023, the CCP Committee presented their plan to adopt a new structure for the CCP examination by transitioning from a 2,500-word technical paper to an in-exam memo to the Certification Board, which was unanimously supported.

Therefore, starting in the first quarter of 2024, the CCP certification exam will no longer require a technical paper written before taking the examination. Instead, the CCP examination will incorporate a memo scenario within the computer-based examination context, whereby the candidate will write a short business memo to management relating the analysis and recommendation(s) in response to a given scenario. The in-exam memo will be graded as part of the overall pass/fail result of the CCP examination.

Because the CCP examination is the overarching certification covering a wide variety of topics relating to being a cost professional, the examination will allow the candidate to choose from a selection of scenario memos that focus on evaluating cost and the interaction of cost with the other disciplines of cost engineering. Depending on experience and expertise, the candidate will choose a scenario memo that best matches their competencies based on skills, knowledge, and experience.

The candidate must read the memo scenario and the instructions carefully. The instructions have essential information critical to successfully writing the memo. The candidate will need to evaluate the scenario issue, demonstrate their understanding of the problem, decide what solution or solutions would be appropriate, make a recommendation(s) for what action should be taken, and close the memo.

The Certification Board believes updating the CCP examination format will better reflect the current workplace environment, better assess a candidate’s communication abilities, and amplify the overall skills of the CCP-certified professional.

Charles E. Bolyard, Jr.,  CFCC PSP FAACE Hon. Life, Chair of the Certification Board, applauded the effort of the CCP Committee and stated, “As Chair of the Certification Board of the AACE Certification Institute, I am both excited and pleased that the excellent efforts of our CCP Committee have resulted in the introduction of an enhanced Certified Cost Professional (CCP) Certification Examination format. The transition from a separate technical paper to an integrated memo component within the computer-based testing format for the CCP exam is a welcomed and significant improvement in our professional certification examination offerings across a broad spectrum of industries.”

Stay tuned in the coming months, as the CCP Committee will present tips for how to write the CCP memo and offer more information about this new process. Please direct any questions on this matter to certification@aacei.org.

AACE’s Certification Board again hosted the “Ask Me Anything” series of webinars for each of the seven professional-level (with the two associated technician-level) and expertise-level certifications between April 18 and May 25, 2023. These popular live webinars provide opportunities for potential candidates, examination candidates, and certified individuals to openly discuss with AACE Certification Staff and the members of the Certification Committees of the Certification Board aspects of AACE’s Certification Program.

We appreciate the interest and participation of those attending and asking questions, and we are grateful to the members of the AACE Certification Staff and Certification Board Committees for the advanced preparation and thoughtful responses to the real-time questions posed by participants.

Each of the Ask Me Anything webinars was recorded, and the recordings have been posted to AACE’s website. There is a separate recording for each to include the CCP/CCT, CEP, PSP/CST, EVP, PRMP, DRMP, and CFCC. Please search AACE’s website through the following link to access the recordings – https://web.aacei.org/conferences-events/events/webinars/2023-ask-me-anything-certification-webinars.

The field of questions ranging from the application and registration process to the availability of testing centers and “online proctoring”, to the grading cycles to examination content, and to the availability of study materials for use in preparing to take a certification examination.

The most frequently asked question across all the AMA webinars was “Where can I find previous examinations or old exam questions for use in preparing to sit for one of AACE’s certification examinations?” The response, applicable to all AACE certification examinations, is that the content of our exams is directed to testing the competencies of the candidate(s) that have been acquired through a combination of education, ongoing training, and real-life experience on projects and programs. The candidates are tested on their ability to comprehend the information posed through the question and apply their competencies to arrive at the correct and appropriate response. AACE’s certification examinations are not designed to test the recall or the ability of the candidate to memorize questions/responses from previous exams or material from a test or other technical publication. In other words – AACE does not teach to the exam, which is contrary to what candidates may see in other certification programs. Moreover, AACE’s certifications are independently accredited through the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), which requires that the question banks supporting AACE’s examination program remain secured and are not disclosed at any level.

Another frequently asked question was –“ where do I look for study materials?” Each of AACE’s certification examinations is supported by a “Study Guide” available through our website at the Certification Hub. The Study Guides and additional training materials such as Online Learning Modules and Seminars in a Box are produced by AACE’s Education Associate Board and are accessible through our website – https://web.aacei.org/conferences-events/education. The Study Guides provide general information for preparation to take an exam and references to applicable AACE Recommended Practices, TCM Framework, and other materials relevant to preparation for taking an exam that are published through AACE’s Technical Associate Board, or as may be found in the public domain. Candidates should also be aware that AACE qualifies Approved Educational Providers (AEPs) which are independent entities that offer sessions aimed at the preparation of candidates for many of AACE’s certification examinations. However, candidates are reminded that participation in any of the preparation sessions offered by AEPs does not guarantee a candidate will be successful in passing the examination.

Another often-received question was – “How will an AACE Certification enhance my career?” AACE is studying responses from certified individuals who responded to a survey aimed at enhancing our Certification Program. Of the responses received thus far over 69% of respondents cited “personal recognition and satisfaction” as a benefit; more than 29% benefited from a “salary increase”; 22% identified “better job opportunities”, and 19% were recipients of a “promotion”.

A certification-specific question was directed at the re-introduction of AACE’s Decision and Risk Management Professional (DRMP) certification, which has been in suspension for approximately 18 months. The DRMP examination is targeted to be re-opened for registration and examinations in the fourth quarter of 2023. The DRMP was suspended during the final development and roll-out of AACE’s Project Risk Management Professional (PRMP). With the PRMP successfully launched, the DRMP Committee undertook the task of restructuring the DRMP examination to more appropriately represent the expertise and skill levels required for the risk assessment and decision-making process expected of those senior-level practitioners possessing the competencies required to exercise decision-making responsibilities. When reintroduced in the fall of 2023, the restricted DRMP examination will be accompanied by a fully restructured DRMP Study Guide.

There are many more questions relevant to each of AACE’s Certification Examinations, as discussed in each of the Ask Me Anything webinars, and we invite you to find the recorded webinar sessions through AACE’s website. After reviewing the AMA webinar recording(s), you are welcome to ask additional questions regarding any of our exams through AACE’s Certification Staff and the Certification Board of AACE’s Certification Institute by emailing your question(s) to certification@aacei.org. We look forward to receiving your application and, with the successful completion of the certification examination, recognizing your accomplishment with the award of an AACE Certification.

The AACE Certification Board is reaching out to the certificants who hold one or more of AACE’s Certifications (CCP, CEP, CFCC, DRMP, EVP, PRMP, PSP) to bring additional attention to the process of Recertification. Certifications within AACE’s Certification Program are independently accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB). As with any worthwhile licensing and certification program, ongoing experience, education, and training are required to stay current with the changing and advancing nature of the various industries to which AACE’s Certifications are applied and thus drive the need for periodic recertification. AACE encourages each of its certificants (those who achieved certification) to begin the recertification process immediately upon becoming certified or recertified.

The question most asked of the AACE Certification Program regarding Recertification is – Why is recertification important to me? The answer to that question has many facets, not the least of which is your relationship with your employer. Employers look to their professionals to continue to train, educate, and broaden technical acuity as their individual careers advance. Achieving a certification and continuing to periodically recertify demonstrates to your employer that you are committed to ongoing advancement in your chosen technical field. This can have a direct bearing on your position/title and compensation, and, in the grander picture, the ability of your employer to continue to win projects because of your continuing commitment to growth in your professional skills and recognition in the industry.

A benefit of achieving and sustaining certification in good standing is the recognition among your business associates and contacts who work with other entities of the status of your qualifications and your viability as a teaming partner or participant in project opportunities. This carries over into how you are viewed by others with whom you may actively participate in association initiatives that advance the global recognition and acceptance of standards of performance and the impact on the accuracy and quality of work product.

There are downsides to not following through with recertification. The following are examples of the impacts reported to AACE as consequences that can arise from the failure to recertify.

• Representing that one is “certified” when in fact one is not, or the certification is lapsed and not currently recognized as valid, is a violation of the AACE Canons of Ethics relating to an individual’s standing in both membership and certification.
• Companies have reported the loss of opportunities because the professionals whose resumes are presented in proposals to prospective clients do not have the certifications represented or the certifications have lapsed and are not currently recognized as being in good standing by the issuing entity.
• Individuals who work at the expertise levels represented by AACE’s advanced certifications, such as the CFCC, can be denied the opportunity to testify as experts because the status of certifications is misrepresented in their personal qualifications. At the very least it can be embarrassing during questioning to be qualified to testify as an expert or during actual testimony to acknowledge that your certification status is inaccurate or misrepresented.
• Employers do not look favorably on those who fail to maintain certifications in good standing with the organizations under whose auspices the certifications were issued, a circumstance that can adversely impact advancement and compensation.

Another circumstance that we often encounter, and that is worthy of a cautionary discussion, is when a certificant requests and receives “Emeritus” status for certification as a result of retirement from the workforce. Once Emeritus status is granted through the Certification Program, the individual discontinues recertification efforts only to then find that they are reentering the workplace and in need of current certification status. The Emeritus certified professional must reapply for certification, pay any applicable fees, and sit for the exam if at any time in the future, they accept any form of cost engineering-related work.

AACE’s Technician level certifications – the Certified Cost Technician (CCT) and Certified Scheduling Technician (CST) are designed to expire after 4 years and are not eligible for recertification. These two early-career certifications are fully intended as stepping stones or building blocks to set the stage for career advancement/growth and moving upward to AACE’s professional-level certifications.

Within the AACE Certification Program, recertification is required every three (3) years for the professional level and expertise level Certifications. There are two ways to recertify. One way is to sit for the full certification examination every three years. Since 2016, 137 certificants have chosen this path, with 85% passing the reexamination in order to keep their certification active. The remaining 15% who failed the reexamination lose their historical certification details and are required to start over if they wish to be AACE certified (Chart 1):

Why Do We Use the Memo Writing Component of Testing for Potential Certification?

Professionals seeking certification of their career specific experience and training rely heavily on their daily professional activities and their ability to successfully communicate via memos or emails with other project team members or stakeholders. Effective communication regarding pressing project issues and potential resolution of those issues to protect project financial profitability, on-time schedule performance, and/or quality measures, are daily responsibilities. Demonstrating the candidate’s ability to succinctly perform these activities is tested through the memo writing portion of the certification exam efforts.  

What Does the Memo Writing Component Test?

The memo writing component of AACE’s certification examinations is an exercise that tests the ability of the candidate to communicate in writing effectively and efficiently with a project manager, project executive, or other stakeholder regarding a summary analysis of a problem and making a recommendation based on incomplete or conflicting information.  All of this is done while following memo crafting instructions and formatting.  In a memo writing exercise, the candidate is to assume they are communicating with a project manager or other project stakeholder who may not have as much knowledge of the issue and the subject matter provided as the candidate.  The candidate is tasked with summarizing the following for the memo recipient:  

• the nature of the issue(s),
• the impact of the issue,
• the alternate solutions to the issue, and
• a recommended action to resolve the issue.

The candidate should then transfer the ultimate decision-making and follow up activities to the memo recipient for resolution of the issue(s).

How Do You Construct a Test Memo Successfully?

To complete the memo writing activity successfully and efficiently, the candidate should first take the time to read and understand the administrative elements of the memo assignment, to whom the memo is to be addressed, how the project should be described, and how the memo scenario identifies the candidate as writer of the memo. The candidate then summarizes the project issue(s) or problem(s) identified for resolution; the impact of the issue(s) or problem(s) to the project (i.e., cost, schedule and/or quality impacts); and outlines alternative solutions to the issue(s) or problem(s).

The candidate should detail, in their own words, each element of the project issue(s); project impacts, as mentioned previously, their quantitative or qualitative analysis of the alternatives outlined providing support for their recommended solution, concluding with a succinct, recommended action summary.

The candidate will need to keep in mind that the memo outlines the scope of the exercise, and they should strive to work within and with the parameters provided.  Their experience may suggest additional options. However, the specific memo writing assignment provided focuses on using the presented project problem elements to draft a memo that will allow a project manager to take effective action and a successful memo will aim to meet this objective. 

Global Administrative and Memo Format Items to Keep in Mind

The guidance below will prepare the candidate as they prepare their test memo.

The Basics

The candidate’s finished memo should be no longer than a full typewritten page. A multiple-page memo might respond to the assignment, but it will detract from their opportunity to complete the other portions of the exam.

The candidate will need to know their AACE ID# as they will enter it to begin the memo.  The header format for the memo is a traditional business memo format: To, From, Date, Subject, and Project Name including the titles of each named individual.  The Subject should indicate the nature and importance of the problem.

Memo Format and Flow

In the introductory paragraph, the candidate should set the stage for the rest of the memo by clearly familiarizing the recipient with the nature of the issue(s) or problem(s) and the impact that issue has on the project.  This is accomplished by providing adequate background information to set up the scenario. This paragraph should be a complete stand-alone statement of the issue and impact, without further explanations or clarifications.   

In the second paragraph, the candidate should discuss each potential solution to the issue(s) or problem(s).  The problem statement includes the options that should be presented in the memo.  The candidate should address each of them. If the candidate decides the potential solutions are not “complete” and they have a “better” solution, then they may add that solution to the memo.  However, the candidate will not gain credit for presenting alternatives that vary from the problem statement.  The candidate should clearly and succinctly explain the pros and cons of each option, endeavoring to fully present each option in a neutral manner.

In the third paragraph, the candidate should analyze each solution option based upon the data provided in the memo scenario.  Analyze each solution option explaining the cost, schedule and/or quality impact, and the corrective action inherent with implementing each option, as necessary.  An element of this memo exercise is to deal with imperfect, conflicting data.

In the fourth paragraph, the first sentence should present the candidate’s recommendation based on their analysis in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner.  The candidate’s recommendation should address all impacts and include the supporting arguments to completely represent the pros and cons of implementing your recommendation.  The recommendation should be a stand-alone statement, independent of the other elements of the memo.

In the fifth and final paragraph, the candidate should summarize the memo with a clear, standalone statement, including the recommended solution to the issue and an operational handoff to the project manager.  The candidate should explicitly pass the final decision and implementation action to issue/problem resolution to the project manager, offering to assist, or provide clarification on information in the memo, as needed.

Finally, the candidate should remember to be professional and precise in their writing.  If this guidance is followed, then the candidate will have provided a well-written, successful document.

The AACE Certification Program Staff recently attended the 2022 Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) Exchange in Savannah, Georgia on October 16^th-20^th.

I.C.E. is a professional membership association that provides education, networking, and other resources for organizations and individuals who work in and serve the credentialing industry. I.C.E. is a leading developer of standards for both certification and certificate programs and it is both a provider of and a clearing house for information on trends in certification, test development and delivery, assessment-based certificate programs, and other information relevant to the credentialing community.

The Annual Exchange is a gathering for the credentialing community to exchange ideas on industry trends and best practices, connect with each other, and participate in high quality education. This year’s Exchange offered 75 sessions broken down into seven distinct tracks:

• Beyond Traditional Credentials
• Business of Certification
• Credentialing Innovations
• Marketing and Communications
• Security, Records, and Data Management
• Standards and Accreditation
• Test Development and Administration

Each Certification staff member has provided a summary of their experience and highlighted at least one take-away of something that challenged, intrigued, or excited them.

Sara Peters, Credentialing Analyst

It’s an exciting new era for the AACE certification program!

The journey began in January 2022 when the AACE International Certification Institute was formally incorporated. The Institute’s volunteer Board of Directors was tasked with developing the required fundamental and foundational governing documents. I can report, with pride, all official documents were completed, properly approved, and appropriately filed with state and federal agencies. Click here to review.

The Institute is an affiliated organization of AACE International Inc. with the purpose of overseeing the strategic growth of the renowned certification program. There is and will be a close relationship between AACE International, the Institute, and the Certification Associate Board. 

The Certification Associate Board manages the daily activities of the program and has historically been chartered under the AACE International bylaws. With the incorporation of the Institute, it is now time to transfer the Certification Associate Board and program under the umbrella of the Institute’s bylaws. During the AACE election in March 2023, this transfer will be on the ballot for membership to approve and make official.

Together, we will move the certification program into the future and promote the certifications to individuals and businesses with the intent to broaden the awareness of the benefits in achieving certification. The certification program currently includes nine certifications: Certified Cost Professional (CCP), Certified Cost Technician (CCT), Certified Estimating Professional (CEP), Certified Forensic Claims Consultant (CFCC), Earned Value Professional (EVP), Decision and Risk Management Professional (DRMP), Project Risk Management Professional (PRMP), Certified Scheduling Technician (CST), and Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP). The CCP, CCT, CEP, CST, EVP, and PSP certifications are independently accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB). There are currently 4,000 AACE International certification holders worldwide.

As an introduction to the Institute, I would like to present the mission and vision for its future.

The Institute’s mission is: “To provide value through validation, where a certified professional’s competence drives success through expert application of skills, knowledge, and experience.”

The Institute’s vision is: “AACE certifications will be globally recognized as the hallmark of professional excellence.”

As the certification program moves forward, our hope is you will amplify the significance of your own certification or join us by achieving certification. Be part of our mission and vision by adding value to the profession through the validation of your skills, knowledge and experience – be globally recognized for symbolizing professional excellence.

This is an exciting time for the AACE Certification Program – come join us!!

AACE International’s Certification program continues to grow in recognition and strength globally. While challenging to achieve, the industry recognition that comes to those who have achieved our certifications continues at a very robust pace. During the June 2022 Annual AACE International Conference and Exposition, the Certification Board participated with the Technical and Education Associate Boards to provide conference attendees insights into the activities by the AACE headquarters liaisons and the volunteers comprising these three essential bodies within the overall AACE organization. This article is based on that presentation.

As we all know, there have been global impacts from the COVID Pandemic over the past two years. Other circumstances as well have affected AACE’s certificants across the globe. Recognizing that many of our members and certificants did not have the opportunity to attend the 2022 AACE CONEX, we thought it appropriate to provide in a broader forum the status of our Certification Program as we enter the 2022/2023 program year for AACE.

The sources of the information that provide the basis for our certification examinations are shown graphically below. Each of AACE’s certifications is represented by a rigorous examination that challenges the skills and competencies acquired by our candidates through their training and work experiences.