6 Reasons why CCPR?

Comments have been bantered about in the CSI community about the value and worth of supporting the CCPR- Certified Construction Product Representative exam as part of the certification offerings of the Certification Committee and CSI. These comments are many times attached to a conversation about the financial viability of the entire Certification program. Granted, the CCPR exam does not get as many exam registrations as do CCS, CCCA and CDT. Many hours of effort and validation have gone into revamping the CCPR exam. I can personally attest to the work done to properly align the exam to the study documents, having chaired the CCPR sub-committee for the past three years. I would like to thank Lee Ann Slattery CSI, CCPR, TJ Gottwalt CSI, CCPR and Tan Diep CSI, CCPR, for the countless hours they have invested in making the CCPR exam overhaul a success. We are seeing an upswing in registration for the CCPR exam. Do numbers of registrants alone give value to the CCPR certification? The answer is no. There are other reasons why the CCPR certification has value and should be considered as part of the overall long term CSI certification offerings. The balance of this article will be devoted to discussing the reasons for “Why CCPR”.

Reason #1- The CCPR certification is non-respective of products or industries. The CCPR certification is open to any product representative that passed the CDT exam and can show three years of product representation experience. Most other industry exam programs are for specific products or specialties. The CCPR certification helps all product representatives gain a better understanding of the language of construction. Where the CDT exam gave the basic introduction to the language of construction, the CCPR exam takes it to a more advanced level. Remember taking Spanish I in high school? Well, the CCPR exam is more like Spanish III. It raises the level of conversation to a higher plane.

Reason #2- Passing the CCPR exam shows a commitment to product representation and to the industry represented. I have had doors open that were otherwise closed when an architect saw CCPR on my business card. The reason the door was opened was because the architect knew the value of working with a professional product representative. And to him that CCPR on my card was proof of my commitment to my industry. There are many architects that understand the time and study necessary to pass the CCPR exam. It is not an easy exam. But then again, sometimes things that are easy do not have long term value. If everyone can pass it, then what makes it special? The advanced CSI certifications- CCS, CCCA and CCPR should be and are written to a level that the prepared test candidate should be able to pass the exam.

Reason #3- CSI has a broad membership from Architects to General Contractors, Landscape Architects, Specification Writers, Lawyers and yes, Product Representatives. An exam to show the advanced competencies of the product representative component of CSI is as important as Specifications and Construction Administration. To deny product representatives the value of showing their professional knowledge would not be a fair thing for a diverse organization like CSI. The more value that architects give to the CCPR certification, the more product representatives, I believe, will sit for the exam. In the movie “Field of Dreams”, the star of the movie heard the whisper say “build it and they will come”. To paraphrase that classic movie, architects, “honor it and they will earn it.” If a product representative sees opportunity and value, they will invest in it.

Reason #4- Where else can a product representative learn the language of construction like they can learn it in CSI? One of the foundational principles of CSI is to educate the construction community. MasterFormat has become the standard for construction specifications. Passing the CCPR exam should be the gold standard for product representatives in the construction industry. CSI has created many “firsts” in communication. CCPR should not be four letters that prompts someone to ask, “What does that stand for?” It should be four letters that set apart those who have that certification to their credit. There was a time not so distant where that was the case. The proper use of the language of construction is needed as much today as ever. What if every product representative that a design or construction firm dealt with were CCPR’s? Do you think there would be a difference in the communication on projects, and thereby an improvement in the process in general? Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out?

Reason #5- CCPR certification sets product representatives apart from their competition. Most product representatives are looking for a competitive advantage. Education is one way to differentiate yourself from your competition. Certification programs like CSI’s exist in part to set the bar at a higher level for those who see value and are willing to invest in their futures. Are your competitor’s CCPR’s? If not, think about raising the bar and put yourself in an advantageous competitive position.

Reason #6- Knowledge is power. There is a lot that goes on in construction on a day to day basis that does not follow the rules and principles set forth by the construction documents. Learning the language of construction and understanding how to apply and interpret that language is powerful. When is the correct time to approach a design firm about a project? When should a product representative contact the general contractor instead of the architect? Is the sub-contractor a party to the construction contract? What does being a party to the contract mean? These questions and so many more are answered and a base of knowledge gained that will be a constant help to product representatives, their customers, the rest of the Construction Team and ultimately to their company’s bottom line.

We have covered just six reasons as to “Why CCPR” in these last several paragraphs. I challenge you to consider where you stand with the CCPR certification. What would CSI be like without it? What would the communication from your product representatives be like without it? In this day and age of “change is good”, might it be worth thinking about holding onto what has been a valuable tool for educating one component of CSI diverse members? We have a lot to be proud of in CSI. Our certification program is one element along with others that we can certainly use as recruiting tools for new members. I am proud to be a CCPR. Come join the ranks. I think you will be proud to be one too.