Prior to assuming a supervisory role on a construction site in the state of Massachusetts, the State Office of Public Safety and Security requires that you be legally certified as a supervisor. The process takes into account your years of experience and requires classroom time before you can actually become certified. If you want to move your construction career forward, then you need to become familiar with the supervisory certification process and understand the different categories of certifications that are available.
You need to understand the rules of being a supervisor in Massachusetts before taking the certification courses.
The Application Process
Before you can apply to take the necessary hours of coursework involved in getting a construction supervisor certification, there is a form that must be filled out with preliminary information. The preliminary information requires that you successfully complete a high school level vocational program and also attain a four-year college degree in engineering or another related field.
The state of Massachusetts will also accept four years of practical work experience, or military construction experience, as meeting the preliminary requirements as well. All of the information for the application process, as well as the list of requirements, can be found at the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Security website.
Unrestricted Construction Supervisor Certification
The unrestricted certification allows you to work in any supervisory field on any type of building that is less than 35,000 square feet in size. It requires 12 hours of class time and the passing of a specific unrestricted supervisor test.
Restricted Construction Supervisor Certification
The restricted certification allows you to only work on projects with one to two-family residential structures or masonry work of any kind. There is a separate restricted certification for one to two-family dwellings and one for masonry work. They each require 10 hours of class time and, as with the unrestricted certification, require that you pass a test at the end of the course.
Specialty Construction Supervisor Certification
You can become a specialty supervisor in the fields of:
• Residential roof covering
• Solid fuel burning appliances
• Window construction
• Siding construction
Each of these specialty licenses requires six hours of class time and the passing of a test at the end of the course.
Your experience can help you move into a supervisory position with the right certification.
Things To Consider
Your certifications are supposed to be good throughout the state of Massachusetts, but you may want to check with the city governments in Boston and Lowell before beginning work. Those two cities were allowed to maintain separate certification rules and may or may not be recognized a state certification, depending on the project.
You will also want to keep the limitations of each specialty and restricted certification in mind as you make your certification decisions. If you are only specialty certified for roofing and the project you are on requires masonry work, then your company will also need to hire a masonry supervisor as well. It may be in your best interest to look into restricted or unrestricted certifications that offer you a more universal solution to your company’s supervisory issues.
The Massachusetts Contractors Academy has all of the information you will need to pass your certification tests and move your career forward. Sign up for our classes today and we will guide you through to getting your construction supervisor certification quickly and easily.
George N Root III is a professional freelance writer who has expertise in topics such as Internet marketing, business, advertising, and personal finance.