New CDT renewal requirements

Construction Specification Institute Institute Discussions
1

I have a question related to the new CDT renewal requirements in relation to if you have a CCS or one of the other ‘advanced’ certifications. When I originally took my CCS, there was no prerequisite requirement to take and pass the CDT first and then take the CCS. So I never sat for CDT as a separate exam, it was combined with the CCS test that I took and passed.

A co-worker who gets the CSI Leader emails shared the one that arrived yesterday where someone had posted a message to “Update to CDT” that said they had contacted CSI to ask if a CCS or CCCA would ALSO have to renew a CDT and the answer was ‘yes’.

Is this true? What the heck … so a CCS renewal (or CCCA, etc.) actually means TWO renewals and TWO (or double) fees?

2

Good question, Tracy; post to CSI Resources.

3

CSI is aware of the question (a similar one was posted on CSI-Connect) and will be sending out and posting information regarding this transition and why it was necessary.

4

This is in an email I just received on the subject.

“Professionals holding upper level certification (CCS, CCPR and CCCA) are not required to maintain the CDT.”

5

Thank you, Don. I just now saw the same email you reference so am happy to see a double renewal (CDT/CCS or CDT/CCCA, etc.) is not going to be required.

6

Does anyone know what the cost of the renewal fee for the CDT will be? I couldn’t find it anywhere online?

7

I hear it is almost a $200 initial fee that must be paid just to keep your current CDT. Plus additional fees at each renewal.

People can say anything they think here and on the CSI forum thing, but this appears to be just another cash flow issue for the national Institute.

8

Not a cash flow issue at all. There is a cost related to maintaining the CDT as a certification. There is probably no legitimate certification that does not require renewal or requires no fee for renewal.

9

In response to Anonymous, it is very easy to become cynical about fees. During a very bleak period of my life, I could not write the checks, small as they seem now, to maintain my CCS and CCCA certifications. Attaining them took a lot of time and some money, which I will have to re-invest to regain. At this point, I am quite willing to invest in, and thus commit to, my CDT, because it was the first and most important step I took in attaining the others.

The only thing that is free is nothing.

10

I recognize the need for renewal fees and CD requirements; however, I am one of those who earned CCS before any of the other certifications were in place. I have never presented myself as a CDT and was somewhat surprised to find that I was granted CDT by virtue of my CCS credential (at least I assume that was the case). I won’t be maintaining CDT, partly because of the cost (both monetary and administrative) and partly because it is superfluous.

11

If you have earned an advanced certification (CCS, CCCA, or CCPR), there’s no need to maintain your CDT.

12

I think there is an expectation on the part of the Institute that one will maintain CDT even if they have earned an advanced certification.

13

But why? The CDT was a prerequisite and the letters CDT are dropped from one’s signature after receiving one of the advanced certifications.

14

And some of us old hands who earned CCS before CDT never earned CDT to begin with.

15

Peter, I haven’t seen anything from the institute to imply that there is an expectation to maintain CDT even if you’ve earned an advanced certification. In fact, I’ve seen the opposite in the email notification that was sent out, and has been quoted by Don earlier in this discussion. Why do you think the expectation from the institute would be different?

16

CSI has no expectations–people will do what they want to do.

The use of CDT with the advanced certifications will change as the CDT becomes a certification. If the CDT is maintained as per the renewal criteria, then it can be used in addition to the CCS, CCCA, and CCPR.

17

There needs to be some clarification, if we are to begin using CDT in our designations as well.

18

If you want to use the “CDT” designation, then you will have to maintain it every three years like the other certifications with continuing education and a renewal fee.

If you don’t want to use the “CDT” designation, then you have two options: Maintain it as mentioned above or forgot about it.

19

I’ve always looked at the CDT as the equivalent of the EIT; you’re qualified to take the test that really counts, but not significant by itself. I occasionally use CSI after my name, but never used CDT. I guess I’ll let it expire.

20

While I am a strong supporter of the CDT as a stand-alone certificate as well as an entrance to higher certifications, the departure of CDT in terms of my own certification (also attained pre-CDT era) will go by largely unnoticed, much the same as when I found out that I was awarded a CDT by virtue of being a CCS and CCCA. It would be hard for me to care less.