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Have you ever felt like you’re ready to take on more? Amanda MacRitchie says she knows that feeling. She had plenty of experience in the construction industry and was ready when the opportunity came her way to take on more project work and responsibilities. That's why she decided to earn a Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA®) certification.
It was a game-changer. Amanda studied hard, even attending a boot camp and getting tips from others in the field. The hard work paid off! Earning her CCCA certification has made her job so much easier, she says.
Now, Amanda can see the big picture of a project and spot potential problems early on. She's more confident when looking at contracts and knows how to keep her company safe. Amanda's CCCA certification has not only helped her career but also made her a more valuable member of her team.
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Tell us about your career and why you chose to work in this industry. And why earn a CSI certification?
Most of my career was spent working in administration, but several years ago, I was offered a chance to become more heavily involved in project work, specifically construction administration and specifications. It was here that I really developed my love of working with the teams of people on the construction projects and their highly varied skill sets. Working with these teams and being able to improve the way the projects advance has now become a passion of mine.
How did you study or prepare for the certification exam?
When prepping for the CCCA exam, I was lucky enough to attend a boot camp and meet somebody from the local community (a big shout out to Mark Ogg!) who shared not just his flashcards, but his experiences in the community, tips and tricks for studying, focus areas, and was able to provide comparisons between different tests I had already taken. He gave me the confidence boost I greatly needed, and even gave some insight into the CSI community as a whole.
On top of the flashcards, I read both the Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide text and the Project Delivery Practice Guide back-to-back several times.
How has earning your CCCA certification informed how you approach new projects, especially when developing, administering, and enforcing construction documentation?
Since getting the CCCA certification, it's become easier to navigate the life cycle of the projects I work on and the responsibilities of each role. This has allowed me to be more cognizant of what I should be on the lookout for in contracts and has made it easier to spot things that will put the company or project at higher risk.
I use the CSI textbooks regularly to back up conversations and research best practices for our teams.
Overall, having my CCCA has put me in a better position to be able to think strategically about a project from start to finish, not just the portion that my team may work on, and be able to look out for the project and company in a more informed way.