The Certified Associate Constructor (CAC) is an entry-level construction management credential issued by the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) with support from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). It validates foundational knowledge across construction technology, project management, economics, safety, and administration. It is designed for recent graduates of construction management or related programs and serves as the first step toward the senior-level Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) credential.

The CAC exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within 4 hours. The exam is administered at approved testing centers. The questions are distributed across the four content domains: construction technology and methods, construction economics and project control, construction administration and management, and safety and risk management. There is no partial credit — each question is scored as correct or incorrect.

Candidates must hold or be completing a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, or a related field from an accredited institution. The exam must be taken within two years of graduation. In some cases, candidates with an associate's degree and additional verified work experience may also qualify. Review the current AIC Candidate Handbook for the latest eligibility requirements before applying, as criteria can be updated.

The CAC exam heavily tests Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling. You must be able to draw activity-on-node networks, calculate early start (ES), early finish (EF), late start (LS), and late finish (LF) for each activity, identify the critical path, and determine total float and free float. Gantt (bar) charts are also covered for their role in communicating schedule to stakeholders. Resource leveling, schedule compression techniques (crashing vs. fast-tracking), and the relationship between schedule and earned value are secondary scheduling topics.

The CAC is an entry-level credential for recent graduates with no or limited professional experience, while the CPC is a senior-level credential requiring a minimum of eight years of verified, progressive construction management experience at increasing levels of responsibility. The CAC covers foundational knowledge; the CPC exam goes deeper into project leadership, complex contracting, risk management, and professional practice ethics. Most construction professionals pursue CAC first, then accumulate the required experience before sitting for CPC.

The CAC exam covers OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 (Construction Industry Standards) with emphasis on several key subparts: Subpart M (fall protection — 6-foot trigger, guardrail specifications, personal fall arrest systems), Subpart P (excavations — soil classification Types A/B/C, sloping/shoring/shielding requirements, competent person obligations), Subpart L (scaffolding — capacity, access, fall protection on scaffolds), and Subpart R (steel erection — decking, connectors, fall protection during erection). Hazard communication (HazCom/GHS), site safety plans, and the employer's general duty obligation under OSHA Section 5(a)(1) are also tested.