Responsibilities and Qualifications of General Contractors

 Construction managers or general contractors are important parts of building projects. They are hired by engineering and architecture companies to monitor and handle development layouts for buildings, houses, and other structures and they frequently coordinate all the activities that are necessary to get the job done. 

Not only do they have extremely dependable, responsible, and capable, but they should also have the appropriate qualifications. The ideal necessities for a certified contractor will vary depending on the state in which the project is based. General Contraction Exams requirements will vary also while working beyond the United States. 

Certification and Education   

General contractors generally have a bachelor’s or associate degree in Architecture, construction science, or management. On the other hand, they might hold an engineering degree in one of the many fields, comprising of industrial, electrical, chemical, or mechanical engineering. Although it is not always a necessity on graduation, most people chase certification after undergoing a business management practice exam, as it makes them more hireable, and it transforms an aspiring contractor into a Certified Construction Manager (CCM). This credential is offered by the Construction of America and needs an exam that may cost a few hundred dollars. If the applicant doesn’t pass on the very first attempt, the exam can be appeared thrice in total. 

Experience

To become a CCM, it is important to complete a general building contractor exam as mentioned above, and if the worker has not completed college, he should have a considerable amount of experience. This experience generally implies working in the field for eight or more years. No matter whatever is the level of education of the applicant, earning the certification will need almost four or more years of experience in the sector, and it is best if the proficiency is achieved in the stages of project development and an array of competencies, which will be discussed later. 

Licensing

While getting a certificate is invaluable, specifically for enticing employers, general contractors also should have the ideal state licenses. These licenses should be applied through the specific mechanism of the state and need a general building contractor exam, proof of job experience, legal residency or citizenship, and application fees. 

Roles and functions

Although general contractors rarely do any actual building, they should realize every phase of the work to properly handle workers at various stages of the progression of the project. 

There are five main stages of the project. First of all, there is the pre-design phase, then design, procurement, construction, and finally, post-construction. In each of these phases, there is a responsibility for the contractor to handle, not just the project only, but also expenses, quality, time, and safety. Contract administration is another functionality.

Verification  

Most of the state licensing boards offer this service and enable people to confirm licenses for business entities and people by entering a particular registration or license number, certificate, or bond detail. This will retrieve all the records associated with the business or the person and therefore, it is vital that the information is up to date and correct.