This January we welcome year number two of an exciting new professional development program offered by the Concrete Foundations Association: the Wall Foreman Qualification Industry Training. The program has expanded and looks to provide an even broader range of learning experiences. This program is designed for individuals engaged in residential cast-in-place construction to grow in their proficiency as leaders and craftspersons and advance in their careers. In combination with ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Technician Certification, the Wall Foreman Qualification program was designed to elevate this key position in the residential construction industry.

Last year, sixteen individuals completed the work to obtain a certificate as a residential wall foreman. These individuals, supported by their companies, attended six hours of industry training sponsored by the CFA in addition to another six hours (minimum) of electives taken from pre-approved courses throughout the World of Concrete education matrix.

A Wall Foreman is described by the Concrete Foundations Association as the primary representative of the company for jobsite operations. Responsibilities include working with (or serving as) the project manager for residential foundation installations; directing all field crews from excavation through final site work (as applicable); managing material application, security, and efficiency; implementing and maintaining safety operations; overseeing on-site equipment and operators; serving as Competent Person on site for safety programming; and managing training operations for workforce development.

This program’s goal is to present a consistent set of courses through national education programs, including the World of Concrete, Concrete Foundations Convention, and virtual Learning Management Systems, that provide quality professional development learning opportunities for the broad needs of the residential concrete industry. Additionally, the CFA looks to inspire the current and future generations of company owners to invest in their workforces through these opportunities.

During the World of Concrete 2024, the Wall Foreman Qualifications Certificate will once again be made available to registrants who achieve a total of 12 hours of qualifying education as selected and authorized by the CFA in consort with World of Concrete. Attendees registering for qualifying education during WOC2024 will be required to take six hours of specific residential concrete construction courses presented by industry experts on Thursday, January 25. The three required courses are described below. In addition, attendees seeking this qualification will select their remaining six hours of education from a pre-approved list of WOC seminars, including the optional four-hour ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Technician seminar. (The written exam is not required unless a candidate is seeking full certification.)

How do you register yourself or your rising workers for this opportunity?

Step 1: REGISTRATION. Available only through WOC2024. To access the discount code from the CFA Co-Sponsorship, use custom link https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=130&promocode=A30. Note: The CFA Co-Sponsorship code includes discounted $25 for WOC Exhibits Only admission if you register by 12/15/2023.

Step 2: EDUCATION OFFERINGS. Sign up for the three industry training courses presented by the CFA on Thursday: CFA1 – “Concrete Basics that Impact the Residential Concrete Industry,” CFA2 – “Residential Wall Forming and Reinforcement Best Practices,” and CFA3 – “Solving the Problems of Residential Foundations.”

Step 3: ELECTIVES. Select a minimum of six additional hours from the World of Concrete education matrix between Monday and Wednesday of WOC2024 week. One of the options is TU406 – “Residential Foundations: Compliance and Competency Review.” Additional course codes pre-approved by the CFA for qualification are: MO01, MO02, MO102, MO103, MO11, MO110, MO111, MO112, MO119, MO120, MO121, MO128, TU03, MO07, TU08, TU104, TU105, TU114, TU122, TU13, TU133, TUCSW, TUFF02, TUFF03, WE04, MO06, MO101, WE107, MO12, MO401, MOTRW, WE115, TUFPT, TUSTS1 WE116, WE144, MO129, MO131, WESTS2, MOSP101, TUSP03, TUSP04, WESP05.

The last four codes, those with “SP” in them, are pre-approved courses presented in Spanish. 

A robust variety of leadership-focused, technical, general business, hands-on training, and material science courses has been selected; each course works toward training a well-rounded wall foreman for your company. How will you continue to establish or advance your market leadership?