The Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA) administers certifications to nearly one thousand industry employees through the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in Colorado. The first and most important certification required by most in the industry is the Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 1 certification. This certification demonstrates the knowledge and ability to properly perform and record the results of seven basic field tests on freshly mixed concrete, which are performed regularly on construction projects around the world. Individual certification for any industry is costly for companies, and more so for individuals, such as student engineers and tradesmen.
To continue the betterment of the growth of the industry and widen the span of knowledgeable industry professionals, the CRMCA has been providing the opportunity for Civil Engineering and Construction Management students to gain this first certification since 2017. The students gain experience and training before graduation or entering the industry workforce with their first certification at no cost. These students typically gain a significant advantage in career opportunities, because construction and engineering firms hold professional certifications in high esteem.
In addition to other schools in the State of Colorado, the CSU-Pueblo students are taught the procedures included in the field testing certification through their coursework. A total of 35 students from the Construction Management course were provided the opportunity to gain the ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I Certification. With obtaining the certification, the students are prepared for a successful career.
Thank you to CSU-Pueblo Professor, Kevin Sparks, and to the Construction Management students for being enthusiastic and showing interest in concrete materials! We continue to look forward to a another more successful event every year. We would also like to thank the CRMCA member companies that volunteered this year:
Colorado Department of Transportation, Region 2
Granite Engineering Group (GEG)
RockSol Consulting Group
Voestalpine Nortrak, and
Yeh and Associates, Inc.
If you are interested in helping during our Student Partnerships at CSU-Pueblo, during our other Student Partnerships at CSU in Ft. Collins, at Aims Community College in Greeley, or even helping at the regular ACI certification session, please contact me at jt@coloradocaa.org to get involved!
