Construction professionals are in high demand. If you’re looking to get into the construction industry or advance your career, a construction management degree or certification can put you on a fast track to a role in middle or upper management.
But where should you go to acquire the industry-specific knowledge and skills necessary to lead teams of construction workers or operate your own construction company? We took to Reddit to see what people are saying about academic degrees and certifications in the construction industry.
Reddit is a popular news aggregation and discussion website If you have a question about a topic—seemingly any topic—there’s a good chance you’ll find plenty of like-minded individuals on Reddit to discuss it. Nearly 30,000 people are subscribed to the r/Construction community, a place for tradespeople to discuss the industry.
After scrolling through some discussions, we found the most popular options when it comes to construction management degrees or certifications.
Good Colleges for Construction Degrees
One Reddit user from Florida asked about where he could go to college to get a valuable construction-related degree. Several fellow Reddit users chimed in with advice.
- University of Florida in Gainesville
- Seminole State in Sanford/Lake Mary – The Wharton Smith Center for Construction
- Florida International in Miami
- University of North Florida in Jacksonville
- Florida A&M in Tallahassee
Several Reddit users also referenced colleges outside of Florida that have reputable construction-related degree programs.
- Arizona State
- BYU
- Illinois State
- LSU
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Oregon State
- Purdue
- Texas A&M
- Texas State
- Washington
Many of the above schools offer degree programs in construction management. Reddit users engaged in a discussion over the value of such a degree in today’s economy. Many current construction industry managers rose up through the ranks. Today, however, more companies are looking for young professionals armed with a degree—particularly from a good school and program that is accredited. The ACCE (American Council for Construction Education) accredits construction-related programs at educational institutions across the country. The ACCE can help point students in the right direction.
That said, there is still no substitute for field experience. That is why, in addition to a good education, an internship is very important. The combination of education and experience can help young professionals find good jobs faster, and also climb the ladder of success faster.
Valuable Construction Management Certifications
Another asset to help construction professionals climb the ladder faster is a certification. Reddit users have been discussing the best construction management certifications a person can obtain. The following are touted most often by Reddit users.
- CCM (Certified Construction Manager). Accredited program. Contact the Construction Management Association of America for more information.
- PMP (Project Management Professional). Accredited program. Contact the Project Management Institute for more information.
- Civil Engineering FE Exam. Covers the fundamentals of engineering. Contact the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying).
- PE (Professional Engineer). Need a four-year degree from an accredited engineering program. Also need four years of experience working under a PE. Must pass the Principles & Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Also must first pass the FE exam. Contact the NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) for more information.
- DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America). Contact them for more information on their certification, along with any general questions on the discipline of design-build construction.
Although not mentioned on Reddit, it should be noted that crane operators can obtain a certification through the NCCCO, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. Visit nccco.org for more information.
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