Many general contractors and design professionals are now requiring that concrete flatwork be placed by certified finishers. To help encourage more contractor participation, the American Concrete Institute recently updated its requirements for the Concrete Flatwork Finisher certification.

The key component of this new certification programs is it allows examiners to visual assess the practical knowledge many skilled craftpersons have acquired from their work experience. “We developed the Concrete Flatwork Finisher certification program because many qualified finishes just don’t do well in a test environment,” said Steve Lloyd, president of Lloyd Concrete Services.

Lloyd, who was a lead person on the ACI committees who develop the certification program, explains to Bill Palmer, WOC360’s editor, why the update was created.

ACI offers contractors three levels of certification:

A Concrete Flatwork Associate (formerly Concrete Flatwork Technician) is a person who has demonstrated knowledge (via a written examination) on proper procedures to place, consolidate, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect concrete flatwork.

A Concrete Flatwork Finisher (formerly Concrete Flatwork Tradesman) is a craftsman who has demonstrated the skills (via a hands-on performance exam) necessary to place, consolidate, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect concrete flatwork.

An Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher (formerly Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Technician) is a craftsman who has demonstrated the knowledge AND skills and/or experience necessary to place, consolidate, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect concrete flatwork.

Lloyd describes how these three certification opportunities allow more finishers to qualify for projects and demonstrate their practical knowledge of placing concrete slabs.

There’s more information here about ACI Flatwork Certification