ICPI certification helps win clients

Many factors influence a homeowner’s decision in selecting a contractor. These can include favorable online reviews and word-of-mouth reputation, a creative project portfolio, price, service, construction quality and warranties. ICPI certification is also an important factor in a homeowner’s decision for selecting a contractor. Certification communicates a willingness to keep up with industry installation best practices and to implement them on each job.

Craig Williams with Titan Interlock in Ontario, Canada reinforces the role of ICPI certification in growing his business: “I wanted to grow my business as a professional interlocking paver installer who meets or exceeds industry standards. By becoming a member and [getting] certified I show my potential clients that I install according to ICPI guidelines. This shows I take pride in my work and at the same time attracts the clients I want to work for. ICPI has helped me grow my business not only with my membership and certification, but also by keeping me up to date on trends, changes in the industry, and installation practices for a variety of applications.”

Evidence of the importance of education to contractors is demonstrated by the 36,000+ contractors who have taken ICPI courses since the rollout of the first basic course in 1995. ICPI provides reasonably priced, live instruction and on-line learning opportunities that can fit into very busy project schedules, especially with demand for hardscaping higher than ever.

ICPI’s foundation course is the Certified Concrete Paver Installer course. This 2-day session covers interlock, soils, bases, compaction, edge restraints, bedding materials, and concrete pavers as well as construction safety and efficiency tips.

Upon passing the course exam, the next step is completing an application for certification that documents installation experience of at least 5 projects and 10,000 sf. Applications for certification must be submitted within 5 years of completing this course. Certification is valid for 2 years and is renewed by providing proof of 8 hours of continuing education and submitting a modest renewal fee.

There are 3 additional contractor courses available each covering specialty topics:

• Permeable interlocking concrete pavement,
• Advanced residential construction such as kitchens and outdoor living environments, and
• Commercial pavement covering a range of applications including slabs, roof applications, bitumen-set pavers, and machine-assisted installation.

To obtain a specialist designation in any of these 3 courses, participants need to hold an ICPI Certification because the Certified Concrete Paver Installer Course provides essential basic installation information that’s built upon in these 3 courses. However, these courses can be taken without being an ICPI certified installer, and participants that do so receive a certificate of completion upon taking each course and passing each course exam. For more information on courses, prerequisites, fees and outcomes, visit ICPI.org/installer-certification-designations.

Live courses are hosted by ICPI members or by industry-related organizations that partner with ICPI. Courses are initiated by members based on contractor inquiries. Find the course nearest to you by searching on the calendar of events link at the bottom of ICPI’s home page at ICPI.org.

If there isn’t a course being offered close by, then contact local ICPI producer members and request sponsoring a course. Obviously, that potential course sponsor needs several contractors to express interest in order to hold a live course.

There is also the option of attending virtual courses led by live instructors. This saves travel time while taking advantage of interaction with the instructor and others in the class.

Lastly, there are on-demand courses for those with time constraints where sessions can be started, stopped and resumed according to your availability. These are available at ICPI.org/online-learning.

David R. Smith is Technical Director for the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute.
Call (703) 657-6900 x201, or visit ICPI.org.