NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Program

Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Program

Click Here to access NRMCA's Database of Certified
Pervious Concrete Craftsmen, Installers & Technicians

Program Summary

The goal of this certification program is to ensure that knowledgeable contractors are selected to place the product and thereby minimize the chance for failure.

The program is designed to be administered locally by local sponsoring groups in conjunction with planned training sessions or demonstrations of pervious concrete placement. NRMCA provides certification exams and performance evaluations to approved local sponsoring groups for administering the certification.

Three levels of certification are available:

A Pervious Concrete Technician is a person who demonstrated knowledge about proper procedures to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements, but who lacks the requisite field experience to qualify as a pervious concrete Installer or Craftsman.
A Pervious Concrete Installer is a person who has demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a limited project-based field experience in placing pervious concrete.
A Pervious Concrete Craftsman is a person who has demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a higher level of field time-based experience in placing pervious concrete.

Scope and Knowledge

The program requires knowledge in the following areas of concrete construction:

Basic concrete technology
Pervious concrete materials and mix proportioning
Proper use of tools and equipment
General design principles of pervious concrete pavements
Pervious concrete construction
Maintenance and troubleshooting

NRMCA Publication #2PPCRT Text Reference: Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification will serve as the reference material for the written test. The reference text was developed through funding by the RMC Research Foundation.

CLICK HERE to view the text outline of the Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification.

Download the following forms:

Certification Policy (PDF)
Form PCC8 – Installer Application (PDF)
Form PCC9 – Craftsman Application (PDF)
Form PCC10 – Performance Evaluation (PDF)
Examinee Required Personal Protection Equipment (PDF)
Examinee Required Equipment List (PDF)

Certification Requirements

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Pervious Concrete Contractor certification program includes certification of personnel at the following levels:

Pervious Concrete Technician
Pervious Concrete Installer
Pervious Concrete Craftsman

Pervious Concrete Technician:

Personnel achieving the following criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Technician.

Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA.

Pervious Concrete Installer:

Personnel achieving the following criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Installer.

Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA
Possess a current ACI Flatwork Finisher Technician or Craftsman certification at the time of application
Complete a Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA – Form PCC10.
Provide project experience documentation of successful construction of a minimum of 3 projects with a total area exceeding 10,000 square feet (1000 m²) – Form PCC8.

Pervious Concrete Craftsman:

Personnel achieving the following criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Craftsman.

Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA
Possess a current ACI Flatwork Finisher Technician or Craftsman certification at the time of application
Work Experience:

OPTION A: Complete a Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA and document work experience constructing pervious concrete pavement exceeding 1500 hours – Forms PCC10 and PCC9, respectively

OR

OPTION B: Provide documentation of work experience constructing pervious concrete pavements exceeding 3000 hours – Form PCC9.

NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certifications shall be valid for a period of five [5] years. The expiration date for the certification shall be based on the date of completion of the written examination.

Exam Information

The two-hour written examination is "closed book," consisting of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions. The passing grade for the written examination is 75%.

During the performance evaluation, each examinee must demonstrate procedures for placing, compacting, finishing, edging, jointing and beginning curing a pervious concrete slab. The examiner will observe and evaluate the techniques used and record passing or failing grades on the various individual procedures. A passing grade is defined as "no significant variation from proper procedure and no more than two variations from proper technique in the use of the tools."

The project experience or work experience must include placing, consolidation, finishing, edging, jointing and curing of pervious concrete, and must be documented on the Installer Application form or the Craftsman Application.