Construction Documents Technologist (CDT)
Credential: Construction Documents Technologist (CDT)
Credentialing Agency: Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Renewal Period: 3 years
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) is an entry-level certification. The CDT is a prerequisite to CSI's other certification offerings. The CDT allows candidates to demonstrate knowledge of the construction process, contractual relationships, and construction documents. To earn a CDT certification, candidates must have a high school diploma/GED and pass an exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Construction Documents Technologist (CDT)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience
- Education: High School Diploma/GED
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 3 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
110 South Union Street
Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314-3351
Phone: (800) 689-2900
Fax: (703) 236-4600
Email: csi@csinet.org
Education REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Written Exam
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Domain 1: Fundamentals (12%)
- Job roles and responsibilities of the four project teams (i.e., owner team, design team, contractor team, and supplier team; tripartite relationships)
- Facility life cycle with associated activities and documents
- Written Formats (e.g., OmniClass™, Uniformat™, MasterFormat™, GreenFormat™, SectionFormat™, PageFormat™)
- Graphic Formats (e.g. National CAD Standard)
- Principles of communication (4Cs – clear, concise, correct, complete; complete contract document language and coordination)
- Legal implications of contract documents
- Sustainable design and construction
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Domain 2: Project Conception and Delivery (10%)
- Programming, planning and pre-design
- Feasibility and impact studies, and facility evaluations
- Design and construction services
- Budget
- Scheduling
- Delivery methods (e.g., design-bid-build (D-B-B), design-negotiate-build (D-N-B), construction management (CM, design-build (D-B), integrated project delivery (IPD), owner-build (O-B) and contract types (e.g.,single- or multiple prime)
- Team Selection process
- Site selection activities and purposes
- Planning for commissioning
-
Domain 3: Design Process (12%)
- Schematic design documentation (e.g., preliminary project description [PPDFormat™], methods of specifying, drawing types)
- Quality assurance/quality control requirements
- Design development documentation (e.g., outline specificiation, cost estimates, drawing types)
- Procedures to control project variables (e.g., allowances, alternates, unite prices)
- Estimates of probable cost (UniFormat™ or MasterFormat™)
- Life cycle costs and value analysis
- Documentation of decision-making process
- Design considerations and constraints (e.g. aesthetics, regulatory requirements, functional requirements,sustainability, constructability, budget, building systems)
- Product evaluation and selection
- Building Information Modeling - BIM
-
Domain 4: Construction Documents (28%)
- Project Manual – Division 00: procurement requirements (e.g., solicitation, instructions, available information – resource drawings, forms)
- Project Manual – Division 00: contracting requirements and forms (e.g., construction agreements, conditions of the contract, bonds, certificate, modifications, clarifications)
- Project Manual – Division 01: general requirements
- Project Manual – Divisions 02- 49: specifications
- Drawings: role and function; scaled and non-scaled views; identification cover sheet, drawing blocks, special line types, shading, dimensions, symbols, and abbreviations; formats; (U.S. National CAD Standard – NCS)
- Modification process (e.g., addenda, change order instructions, change directive, minor changes in the work)
- Document coordinator
- Methods of specifying (i.e., descriptive, reference standard, proprietary and performance)
- Specification language (e.g., streamlining, indicative, imperative)
- Hierarchy of general, administrative, and procedural requirements (e.g., GeneralConditions, Div 01- General Requirements, Part 1 – General
- MasterFormat™
- SectionFormat™
- PageFormat™
- Warranties
- Insurance (i.e., builder’s risk, liability [general and professional] worker’s compensation)
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Domain 5: Procurement (10%)
- Pricing methods (e.g., stipulated sum, guaranteed maximum price, cost plus a fee or without a GMP)
- Purchasing by owner
- Pricing considerations (cost analysis, types of costs, overhead and profit)
- Competitive pricing (e.g., value analysis of substitutions, pricing of varios delivery methods)
- Project information (e.g. distribution and control)
- Bidding (public or private; addenda)
- Negotiating process (e.g., value analysis)
- Purchasing of goods (e.g., purchase orders)
- Subcontracting (e.g., bid shopping)
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Domain 6: Preconstruction (6%)
- Notice to proceed, letter of intent to award, or executed agreement
- Preconstruction submittals (e.g., bonds, insurance, subcontractor lists, schedules, control plans, permits)
- Roles and responsibilities (i.e., owner, contractor, design professionals, subcontractor, termination for convenience/cause)
- Meetings and meeting documentation
- Verification of site conditions
- Mobilization
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Domain 7: Construction (16%)
- Meetings and meeting documentation (profree, preinstallation)
- Submittals (e.g., types, parties involved, product data, shop drawings, samples, and certificates
- Site visits, observations, inspections and stopping the work
- Quality assurance/quality control implementation (e.g., uncovering and correction of work)
- Contract interpretations and modifications (i.e., minor modification, change directive, change order, requests for interpretations/information (RFIs), substitutions during construction)
- Executing the work (field engineering, supervision, coordination, sequencing, scheduling, construction means and methods, examination and verification, preparation, erection, installation, and application, cleaning and construction waste management, protecting install construction, testing and inspection, and project site safety)
- Claims and disputes (e.g., mediation, arbitration, litigation)
- Measurement and payment (progress payments, schedule of values, retainage, substantial completion, final completion, and final payment)
- Project closeout (e.g., correction period, operations and maintenance manuals, record documents, demonstration and training, substantial completion and final completion)
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Domain 8: Lifecycle Activities (6%)
- Commissioning
- Role and responsibilities of facility manager
- Facilities operations and maintenance (e.g., service providers, building management systems)
- Resource materials (e.g., record documents, BIM)
- Decommissioning (e.g., demolition, deconstruction)
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) examination:
RECERTIFICATION
Construction Documents Technologist (CDT)
Renewal Period: 3 years