The benefits of becoming a FIDIC Certified Trainer
FIDIC, as an international federation, prides itself of its commitment to improving the quality of people’s lives around the world and to helping professionals working in the infrastructure industry gain new skills and further develop their capacity.
For most of its history, FIDIC has been actively engaged in collecting best practices from its members, publishing them as policies or guidelines, as well as providing the blueprints on how best to address some of the challenges or issues facing those working in the industry. These documents have helped FIDIC’s members in a variety of ways, including by providing them with examples of ways to solve problems. In addition, sharing the opinions of experts working the field in white papers and in policy documents, have also opened up new avenues to avoid such issues in the future.
Drafting contracts between the Employer and the contractors as well as model agreements for professional services is not new to FIDIC. The creation of the FIDIC body of knowledge or the FBOK came into existence over time. From the first publication of the Red Book in 1957, to the Rainbow Suite of contracts editions of 1999 and 2017, up to the recent FIDIC Guide of 2022, FIDIC has been developing an industry-vouched series of documents which remain pertinent and beneficial to the engineering and construction industries.
This however created a new issue. How could the FIDIC contracts and other service agreements be effectively applied or interpreted equally by all? Due to an increased need to understand the scope of the FIDIC standard forms of contracts, as well as the who has the obligation to apply them and when they should be applied, those working in the industry started to request training. FIDIC chose to address this need by also providing access to knowledge-based tools for professionals working in the industry. For example, the FIDIC Golden Principles is still provided today for free.
By generating and maintaining a comprehensive knowledge base applicable to the infrastructure industry, FIDIC has placed itself at the forefront of the international consulting practice as a repository of knowledge for the engineering and construction sectors. At the same time, through the FIDIC Academy, it has created a platform for learning, as well as for gaining professional qualifications, through FIDIC Credentialing, for those who wish to broaden their capabilities.
With the creation of the FIDIC Academy, practitioners can take various courses – or as they are more popularly known – training modules, to better understand the standard forms of contracts as well as other documents which are pertinent to the infrastructure industry. This allows for learning and expansion of knowledge so that practitioners are more confident when using FIDIC’s major construction contract forms whether they are representing the Employers, Consultants or Contractors.
But someone has to train these practitioners.
To be able to provide training, subject matter experts are needed and they have to be qualified professionals working in the industry who have both the practical and theoretical knowledge of how FIDIC standard forms of contracts work for projects, etc. Until 2020, these practitioners were broadly known as FIDIC Accredited Trainer. Thereafter, their title changed once they became recertified by FIDIC’s subsidiary body, FIDIC Credentialing (FCL).
How does a qualification from FIDIC Credentialing help?
FCL is mandated by FIDIC to provide certification services to professionals working in the industry. This means that if you have the experience and relevant qualifications which applies to any of the five certification programmes offered, you can participate in our assessments and have those skillsets tested and validated by FIDIC.
In the case of the FIDIC Certified Trainer programme, the application process requires a minimum of five years’ work experience in the infrastructure industry and 80 hours of training delivery. In addition, this certification programmes comes with various sub-categories. Currently, it is possible for a FIDIC Certified Trainer to receive a certificate as a trainer of Fundamental Construction contracts, as well as in the FIDIC Silver Book sub-category.
Becoming a FIDIC Certified Trainer in Fundamental Construction contracts is however the first step. This certification is suited to qualified persons who have knowledge of the eight FIDIC publication materials – as listed on the programme’s webpage – and who are able to demonstrate they have 80 hours of training experience which was delivered in the last five years.
The benefits of this certification are innumerable. For one, it would be an excellent way for a practitioner who is already working in the engineering and construction sectors, whether for a private/public company or independently to gain a unique international qualification from FIDIC as an expert who can deliver training on FIDIC materials, in particular, to cover among others, the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction for Building and Engineering works designed by the Employer (FIDIC Red Book) and the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Plant and Design-Build (FIDIC Yellow Book and the FIDIC Short Form of Contract (Green Book). Secondly, this is a professional development qualification that gives you access to the FIDIC alumni and other networking opportunities. There is also the possibility to work with FIDIC Academy in the future.
Application for the FIDIC Certified Trainer in Fundamental Construction contracts is currently open until 21 April 2023.
You can read more about this programme by clicking on the programme webpage and you can apply by submitting your documents on our credentialing platform. The two-phased assessment takes the form of an online examination and a virtual micro-teaching session. The Phase 1 multiple choice exam takes place on 3 May 2023.
Why is this certification important?
The industry needs more engineers and practitioners who have practical experience in the industry and who are familiar with FIDIC contracts. These are also specialists who are looking to share their knowledge with others and thereby help ensure that projects are effectively executed. A good understanding of how FIDIC standard forms of contracts apply can also help the Contractor and/or Employer to establish the right parameters for the projects and thereby safeguard against some issues which may arise in the future.
FIDIC is looking to certify infrastructure professionals who have the experience and understand issues relating to construction and engineering sectors, whether it is with projects in the built or natural environment, and who have experience teaching others working in the industry.
This is an international qualification that would allow specialists to train others working in the industry. They will be reassured to know that with this FIDIC seal of excellence, they are on the right track to succeed in their future projects.
