Today, we are recognizing the Construction Engineering Technology (CET) department at Oklahoma State University (OSU) as one of our leading University Partners. OSU serves as an AIC Certification testing site for its construction management students, creating a strong foundation for future constructors to enter the field.

This is the fourth in a series of articles recognizing AIC certification college and university Certified Associate Constructor (CAC Level I) testing sites.

• Read our first article highlighting the LSU Department of Construction Management.
• Read our second article highlighting Alfred State College of Technology.
• Read our third article highlighting Montana State University.

These sites are being recognized for their long-term dedication to not only providing their students with the opportunity of obtaining the CAC professional certification but also to enhance the level of professionalism in the construction industry. All of these university programs have experienced an increased level of visibility and credibility as the result of serving as a test site.  

In preparing to write this article, I interviewed Dr. Heather Yates, CPC, who is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Construction Engineering Technology Program in which the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology degree is housed.

I also interviewed Mr. Gregg Bradshaw, Construction Manager, Joe D. Hall General Contractors, Elk City, Oklahoma, Mr. Clint Black, Chief Operating Officer, Ross Group, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Dr. Amy Lewis, Assistant Professor in the Oklahoma State University Construction Engineering Technology program.

Overview of Oklahoma State University Construction Engineering Technology (CET) Program

The Francis and Kathleen Rooney Construction Engineering Technology (CET) program began over 65 years ago as a two-year vocational-based associate’s degree program.  The early program focused on trades including carpentry, masonry, and electrical wiring which prepared students to enter the residential construction field.

In 1969, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology was added to the existing two-year degree, allowing the students to choose between two- or four-year degrees. In the mid-1970s, the department was renamed “Construction Management Technology” and the curriculum was overhauled to meet an ETAC ABET accreditation.

Since the mid-’70s, the program has steadily changed with the addition of technical writing, supplementary estimating courses, design courses, computer software application courses, and required internships. The changes were in response to the demands of the dynamic construction industry and ABET accreditation.

In 2018, the name of the program was changed from “Construction Management Technology” to “Construction Engineering Technology” due to a change in ABET accreditation.

The year 2020 was a pivotal year for the Construction Program. Francis and Kathleen Rooney, the owners of Manhattan Construction, made a $3 million gift that named the Construction program and established the second endowed chair. The Construction Minor was established to help non-CET majors expand their career opportunities in the construction industry.

In the fall of 2023, the CET faculty grew to six faculty members, adding a professor of practice to the five tenure-track positions. The CET program now offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering Technology and a minor in Construction.

• In the Fall 2024 semester, CET served 316 students.
• There are 247 students with declared CET majors and 65 students in the minor.
• Other students are being serviced due to cross-listing courses in the Civil Engineering Department construction electives.

CET Program’s Service as an AIC CAC Certification Examination Test Site

The CET Program requires all of its students to take the CAC Level I examination but not to pass it. OSU has administered the CAC examination since 1998 and during that time approximately 1,000 CET students have been tested.

Up until 2024, the CET program administered our CAC examination once a year. In 2024, OSU started to administer the exam twice a year. The school tests between 40 to 60 students each exam period and students pay the entire exam fee.

The Program administration and faculty, with support from the Construction Management Advisory Board (CMBA), have realized the value of having their students take the exam and become certified as a critical ingredient in the growth and success of their careers in the construction industry.

Dr. Amy Lewis reports that the value of students taking the CAC examination is the first step in obtaining a construction industry professional credential (CPC) equivalent to that of the licensing of architects and engineers resulting in a higher level of respect for constructors as professionals in the design and building process.

CET Program’s Commitment to Professional Certification

The Program clearly demonstrates its commitment to having all CET students pass the exam and become certified by dedicating both time and resources in helping them to be successful. 

Students learn about the importance and value of professional certification and the requirement to take the CAC examination throughout their entire Program. In addition, the Program helps students prepare to take the CAC examination in their capstone course – CET 4293 – by spending five weeks going over the subject matter covered by the exam. Currently, three of the six program faculty have earned the CPC certification.

The Construction Engineering Technology program has used the online test preparation material to prepare their students to take the exam. While students are not required to pass the examination in order to graduate, their scores count for 15% of their final grade in their capstone course.

Not only does the CET Program require all students to take the CAC exam but it also uses the resulting scores on the exam as direct measures for assessing the students’ mastery of the appropriate ABET-TAC outcomes as part of the accreditation process. The Program has found doing so reduces the amount of work that has to be done in preparing for future ABET-TAC accreditation visits and provides them with an objective (third-party) assessment of the academic performance of their students.

Dr. Yates and Dr. Lewis both devote time and effort to helping improve the image of the construction profession and Constructor Certification within and outside of their state.

– Dr. Yates stated that “the value of the exam is that the state of Oklahoma requires a CPC on CM projects. It is an exam that also is used as a method to compare student competencies from year to year. We also use it as a backup assessment method for both University and ABET accreditation.”

– Dr. Lewis stated that “passing the examination demonstrates to the industry that their graduating students have acquired the basic set of standards needed to be a more productive employee.

Construction Industry Commitment to Having Students Become Certified

Dr. Yates indicated that the CMBA highly supports her OSU students taking the CAC examination.  She stated, “that the CMBA values the CAC exam in that it helps ensure employers that the CET Program graduates have attained minimum targeted competencies.”  Dr. Yates also indicated that she regularly shares the results of the CAC examination with the CMBA and, when appropriate, considers their feedback in future Program curriculum reviews.

Mr. Gregg Bradshaw is a graduate of the program and has been an active member of the Civil Engineering Board of Advisors since 2005.  He is a regular guest speaker for the Capstone Course and includes in his presentation the importance of passing the CAC exam to the student’s career development.

Mr. Bradshaw’s company hires graduates from the CET program and they are very pleased with their performance. He indicated that the members of the Board highly support the requirement that students must take the CAC examination.

In addition, Mr. Bradshaw indicated that “he loves the examination because it serves to increase the readiness of students to be more productive as entry-level professionals in their companies.” 

Based on his experience, Mr. Bradshaw is certain that having CACs is an advantage to construction companies in the development of their proposals for future work. Furthermore, based on his many years of experience, Mr. Bradshaw has found that among his peers, having students take the CAC examination enhances the visibility and integrity of the CET program both regionally and nationally.  

Mr. Clint Black is also a graduate of the program and has served on the Advisory Board for about eight years. Mr. Black observed the value of having students take the CAC examination: “It provides a benefit to the company that they would go to work with after graduating. When we propose on projects, we can show a certification for our staff that gives us a leg up on companies that don’t have that on the resume.”

Furthermore, Mr. Black stated that “including having passed the examination on one’s resume demonstrates the student’s willingness to go above and beyond when they interview for a full-time position.”

Mr. Black’s company covers the costs of certifications and renewals as a part of their employee incentive program. Finally, Mr. Black stated, “The CAC is a good certification and the examination is reasonable. As a student, it can be slightly challenging as you have not experienced much construction yet. If you spend time in the industry, it becomes easier after experience is received.”

Join Oklahoma State University as a University Partner

We appreciate our long-standing partnership with Oklahoma State and the Construction Engineering Technology program as a certification testing site. It’s clear that the faculty’s commitment to incorporating our CAC exam into their degree program has yielded significant results for graduates entering the construction field.

We invite other accredited Construction Management programs to participate in our certification program to validate that their construction management students have the skills and knowledge necessary to manage construction projects.

– Learn how your college or university can participate as an AIC exam testing site. Let’s work together to accelerate constructor excellence one student at a time.