AACEI Certification Explained

The premier professional association for cost and management professionals, AACE International has offered top-notch certification programs since 1976. AACEI’s Certification programs are designed to help you establish outside professional credentials and give you a means to validate your skills and knowledge. With AACE Certification, you can be sure that you have met a high quality standard. 

AACEI’s CCC/CCE, CCT, EVP, and PSP certifications are independently accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards and the International Cost Engineering Council. Recommended study guides for the CCC/CCE, CCT, CEP, EVP, and PSP certifications can be found on the AACEI website. The CFCC exam has no recommended texts for study as the knowledge in which you would be tested is gained completely from experience. 

AACE International Certifications Include:

AACE International’s Certified Cost Consultant (CCC) / Certified Cost Engineer (CCE) 

8 years total experience and/or education and submissions of a 2,500-word technical paper. This program encompasses specialties in cost estimating, cost control, business planning and management science, profitability analysis, project management, planning and scheduling, and other related cost management disciplines.

The exam is all multiple-choice. Two parts are open book while two parts are closed book. Effective Spring 2010, they are as follows: 

Part I – Supporting Skills & Knowledge – open book 

Part II – Economic Analysis – open book 

Part III – Project Management – closed book 

Part IV – Cost Estimating and Control – closed book

 

AACE International’s Certified Cost Technician (CCT) 

4 years of total experience and/or education. This program is for young professionals. This is a closed book exam consisting of two parts of multiple-choice questions. They are as follows:

Part I Supporting Skills & Knowledge – closed book 

Part II Supporting Skills & Knowledge – closed book

 

AACE International’s Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) 

8 years of experience and/or education. This is a closed book exam consisting of four parts with both multiple-choice questions and a written memorandum. They are as follows:

Part I – Basic Knowledge – 70 multiple-choice questions 

Part II – Estimating Scenarios – 40 multiple-choice questions 

Part III – Applying estimating knowledge, principles, processes, and practices in solving more complex estimating problems – 5 multiple-choice questions 

Part IV – Estimating Communications – written memorandum

 

AACE International’s Certified Forensic Claims Consultant (CFCC) 

8 years of total experience, 4 years of education, at least 1 professional certification, and 4 letters of recommendation. There is also a written requirement of any of the following: a copy of an expert report submitted as evidence, a formal claim submittal, or a professional paper accepted for publication, any of which must have been written within the 24 months prior to applying to take the examination. This exam consists of two parts each includes 75 multiple choice questions and 4 essay questions, of which the candidate is required to answer 2 of the questions. This is an open book exam testing the following general knowledge areas relating to expert witnesses:

Damages and Productivity Loss 

Planning, Scheduling, Costs, and Estimating 

Legal Knowledge Dispute Resolution and Evidentiary Rules 

Project Management and Documentation 

Ethics and Professional Practice

 

AACE International’s Earned Value Professional (EVP) 

8 years of experience and/or education. This is a closed book exam consisting of four parts with both multiple-choice questions and a written memorandum. They are as follows:

Part I – Planning, General Organization Planning, and Budgeting – multiple choice 

Part II – Control Accounting Revisions/Reporting – multiple choice 

Part III – Earned Value Applied – multiple choice 

Part IV – Earned Value Communications – written memorandum

 

AACE International’s Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) 

8 years of experience and/or education. This is a closed book exam consisting of four parts with both multiple-choice questions and a written memorandum. They are as follows:

Part I – Basic Knowledge of Planning and Scheduling – multiple choice 

Part II – Planning and Scheduling Principles – multiple choice 

Part III – Practical Exercise concerning various aspects of a single problem – multiple choice 

Part IV – Planning and Scheduling Communications – written memorandum