AGC Supports Contractor Success Through Education

This article originally appeared in the July/August edition of Constructor Magazine Even in an uncertain economy, one thing remains the same: Education helps construction professionals meet changing market demands. AGC’s ability to offer continuing education credits to meet licensing or designation requirements helps members get the most from professional development programs. In addition, the added convenience of local programs, webinars and audio conferences reduces travel costs and time away from the job. Whether the student is a project manager, specialty contractor, safety director, supervisor, estimator or other project leader, AGC’s increasing variety of courses help build a successful career. Many AGC professional-development and training programs offer continuing education hours that allow attendees to meet state-mandated continuing education requirements while also gaining the benefit of attending AGC meetings and networking events. AGC now offers AIA/CES learning units in addition to IACET continuing-education units and American Institute of Constructors’ continuing professional-development units, creating a simple avenue for members to earn or maintain designations from organizations such as the Certified Safety Professional Board, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Institute of Architects and Society for Human Resource Management. AGC recently added a new resource to its Career Development Web site, adding value to an already comprehensive guide to professional development. A state-by-state listing of continuing education license requirements will serve as a valuable tool for any construction professional seeking updated information on these important obligations. The state-by-state listing was designed to help licensees easily reference required continuing education hours per license period for their state. The goal of continuing education, often referred to as Mandatory Continuing Education, is to help professionals remain current on best practices, business methods and regulatory requirements. This ultimately allows them to create, maintain and improve upon the built environment. On the green front, AGC has added several new curricula to its offerings, including LEED Estimating for Green Building and the full-day course Building to LEED for New Construction: Overview and the Impact on Construction Practices. The latter was recently reviewed and approved through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Education Provider Program, attesting to the credibility of the course. More than 20 chapters are arranging for local delivery of the course. Programs offered locally in partnership with AGC chapters bring nationally recognized content and qualified instructors to AGC members. AGC currently offers chapters 12 Supervisory Training Programs, plus nine different professional development programs, including Project Scheduling, Meeting the Media and Time Management. Focus Four Hazards in Construction Training seminars are also held across the country each year, funded by the Susan Harwood Grant. The course covers falls, electrocutions, struck-bys and caught-ins, which account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. More intensive safety training such as the Safety Management Training Course or the Advanced Safety Management Training Course are offered over three days at various locations across the country. Unfortunately, work schedules do not always permit leaving the office. For those occasions when offsite attendance is not possible, technology has made professional development easier than ever before. AGC’s audio conferences and webinars literally bring the education experience directly to the student. Members can benefit from the professional development, interaction with other attendees and the instructor from the comfort of his or her office or home. Courses on topics ranging from contract documents to safety are offered regularly and are often downloadable after the course is complete. AGC is proud to offer a breadth of topics and vehicles for learning. Education is paramount to building a successful work force and America’s most valued monuments and infrastructure. For more information on any of these courses, contact Allison Brotman, senior director, AGC’s Professional Development Division, at 703-837-5355 or brotmana@agc.org