A new agreement between the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) will automatically accept some quantity surveyors into the Gold Seal program.

Signed at the end of the April, the agreement between the two national organizations allows CIQS members who hold the Construction Estimator Certified (CEC) and Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) designates to be automatically accepted into the Gold Seal Certification program.

CEC members will be required to challenge the Gold Seal exam for estimators, while PQS designates will be accepted as GSC Estimators without any additional testing or experience requirements.

“CIQS and CCA share a vision to enable our members to get the recognition they deserve for their commitment to professional excellence,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president. “Our renewed agreement will open doors for more people.”

Also under the terms of the agreement, CCA members who hold the Gold Seal Certified Estimator designation will have their CEC designation applications automatically accepted without the need for additional testing. Should they wish to go further and gain their PQS designation, they can become direct finalists and be exempt from most educational subjects and diaries.

“I am excited to be working with the team at CCA to promote a unified standard for construction economics in Canada through this agreement,” said CIQS chief executive officer Sheila Lennon. “Allowing our designated members to more easily take advantage of each others’ certifications makes our profession as a whole stronger and more resilient. While others dream about building great things, the GSC, CEC and PQS make that dream a reality by always keeping fiscal responsibility top of mind.”

The Gold Seal Certification program offers a national standard for construction management and is managed by the Canadian Construction Association. Eligible applicants must meet specific experience and training criteria in order to be approved to challenge the Gold Seal exam which requires individuals to prove having essential competencies regardless of company field, size or location.

The Construction Estimator Certified and Professional Quantity Surveyor designations are managed by the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and uphold the ethics and standards for construction and infrastructure economics in Canada. To gain a CIQS designation, applicants must successfully complete the Test of Professional Experience, which may include various stages of exams, structured training and a professional interview.