The manipulation of natural resources to create a suitable living environment is essential for the longevity and progress of societies. Evidence of the practice of construction engineering can be traced back to the early days of civilization. The way this craft is performed will directly affect public health, welfare and safety. Therefore, it is important that governing authorities establish rules and regulations that protect the public from the dangers of poor construction performance and guarantee that individuals involved in such practice possess the knowledge and experience necessary to effectively fulfill this role. Evidence of early efforts made to hold builder accountable for their performance can be found in the ancient Babylonian “Hammurabi’s Code” (c. 1800 BC) where is written the following: “If a builder erect a house for a man and do not make its construction firm, and the house which he built collapse and cause the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death. If it cause the death of the son of the owner of the house, they shall put to death the son of the builder.”[1]

Commonly, Project Management is perceived as a broad and independent discipline, not related to any technical discipline in specific. Currently, construction projects are frequently run by individuals that have not received any formal education in civil engineering. In an effort to verify and declare that a person is qualified for this practice, different institutions have developed accreditation programs that certify project managers; most notably the Project Management Institute (PMI). The Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification covers projects across multiple disciplines. However, this certification attests to the qualifications that an individual has acquired, but does not grant legal permission to exercise and it is not required by law nor carries any legal responsibility with it. Additionally, it does not guarantee that a construction project manager is knowledgeable about construction principles, theories and practices.

A different modality of certification is “Licensing”. This is the most restrictive form of certification and determines who can offer professional services to the general public. This certification is regulated by government laws, and is enforced whether the person is certified by a private institution or not. Generally, these requirements include education, experience and examination. Once the requirements for licensing are met, practitioners are granted legal permission to practice engineering within the established jurisdictions. The permanence of this license is subject to certain requirements, which include continued education and retesting. The acquisition of a license can be viewed as a privilege and a mechanism to legally protect the practice of engineering and the public.

As a conclusion, certification is a recognition that an individual possesses knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform project management duties. A license certifies that an individual has obtained satisfactory knowledge and experience, and restricts the practice to legally protect the public and practitioners. Licensing provides a mechanism through which individuals offering professional services can be held accountable to and will need to respond to a legal authority in case of failure or malpractice.

[1] (McGuirt, Doug. “The Professional Engineering”. THE MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, June 2007, pp. 25-29)