ABI Certifications™ (American-Based International Certifications) administers professional certification programs for the construction, engineering, and industrial sectors, with a focus on professional competence in QA/QC, inspection, construction management, quality auditing, and process improvement.
ABI certification programs are structured around defined competence requirements, eligibility criteria, assessment methods, and certification governance controls appropriate to each professional role. Assessments are designed to evaluate candidates’ applied knowledge, professional judgment, and ability to perform within the defined scope of certification.
Through a consistent, impartial, and structured certification process, ABI Certifications™ aims to provide credible evidence of professional competence, strengthen employer confidence, and maintain consistent certification outcomes across its certification programs.
Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC)
QA/QC certification programs are designed for professionals responsible for inspection, verification, quality planning, and quality management functions across engineering, Oil & Gas, construction, and industrial projects.
- Certified QA/QC Inspector (CQI)™
(Discipline-based: Architectural, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Telecom, Chemical, Industrial, Materials) - Certified QA/QC Engineer (CQE)™ (Discipline-based: Architectural, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Telecom, Chemical, Industrial, Materials)
- Certified QA/QC Manager (CQM)™
(Oil & Gas, Construction, Infrastructure & Industrial Projects)
Lean Six Sigma Certifications
Lean Six Sigma certification programs are designed to assess professional competence in process improvement, statistical analysis, quality management, operational excellence, defect reduction, root cause analysis, waste reduction, and data-driven problem-solving across manufacturing, engineering, construction, infrastructure, industrial, and service sectors.
Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)™
Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB)™
Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)™
Inspection Certifications
Inspection certifications are intended for professionals engaged in independent inspection, production monitoring, and verification activities.
- Certified Precast Concrete Inspector (CPCI)™
- Certified Batch Plant Inspector (CBPI)™
- Certified Procurement Quality Inspector (CPQI)™
Vendor, Supplier, Manufacturer & Procurement Quality Inspection Activities
Construction Site Management Programs
Construction and Site management certifications support professionals responsible for planning, coordination, supervision, and execution of construction and engineering works.
- Certified Professional Construction Manager (CPCM)™
- Certified Construction Superintendent (CCS)™
Auditing & Compliance Certifications
ABI Certifications™ offers professional auditing certifications for individuals responsible for planning, conducting, reporting, and managing first-party (internal) and second-party (client, contractor, subcontractor, supplier, and vendor) quality audits across construction, engineering, infrastructure, EPC, EPCM, PMC, and Oil & Gas projects.
Certification Program
Certified Construction Quality Auditor (CCQA)™
The Certified Construction Quality Auditor (CCQA)™ certification recognizes professionals who demonstrate competence in planning, conducting, reporting, and managing quality audits throughout the project lifecycle, including design, procurement, construction, inspection and testing, pre-commissioning, quality documentation, and project handover.
The certification evaluates competence in audit planning and execution, conformity assessment, objective evidence collection, nonconformity reporting, corrective action verification, and the evaluation of compliance with contractual, technical, regulatory, and project-specific quality requirements, while assessing the effectiveness of quality management processes across all phases of project delivery.
Program Development and Additional Scope Requests
Where an institution or industry sector seeks authorization for a certification program or professional scope not listed above, proposals may be submitted for review.
ABI Certifications™ evaluates such proposals based on:
- Defined role scope and competence requirements
- Alignment with applicable standards and industry practices
- Assessment methodology and certification governance controls
Authorization, where granted, is subject to formal review and approval in accordance with ABI Certifications™ certification governance procedures.
Eligibility – Minimum Qualifications & Experience
Certified QA/QC Inspector (CQI)™
- Qualification: Engineering degree or technical diploma (relevant discipline)
- Experience:
- 1 year with an engineering degree
- 2 years with a technical diploma or equivalent
Certified QA/QC Engineer (CQE)™
- Qualification: Engineering degree or technical diploma (relevant discipline)
- Experience:
- 3 years with an engineering degree
- 5 years with a technical diploma or equivalent
Certified QA/QC Manager (CQM)™
(Oil & Gas, Construction, Infrastructure & Industrial Projects)
- Qualification: Engineering degree or Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE) / equivalent recognized technical qualification.
- Experience:
- Engineering degree holders (or higher): Minimum 6 years of total QA/QC experience.
- DAE / equivalent qualification holders: Minimum 8 years of total QA/QC experience.
Inspection Certifications
- Qualification: Discipline-specific technical qualification
- Experience: 3–5 years relevant inspection experience (scope dependent)
Six Sigma Certifications
Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB)™
Qualification:
Open to students, professionals, Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE) holders, Bachelor’s degree holders, or equivalent recognized qualifications.
Experience:
No prior work experience required.
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)™
Qualification:
Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE), Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent recognized qualification.
Experience:
Minimum 2 years of professional work experience.
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)™
Qualification:
Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE), Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent recognized qualification.
Experience:
Minimum 5 years of professional work experience.
Certified Professional Construction Manager (CPCM)™
- Qualification: Engineering degree or technical diploma in construction, civil, mechanical, electrical, or related discipline
- Experience:
- Engineering degree holders (or higher): Minimum 6 years of total Construction Work Experience.
- DAE / equivalent qualification holders: Minimum 8 years of total Construction Work Experience.
Certified Construction Superintendent (CCS)™
- Qualification: Engineering degree or technical diploma in construction, civil, mechanical, electrical, or related discipline
- Experience:
- Engineering degree holders (or higher): Minimum 6 years of total Construction Work Experience.
- DAE / equivalent qualification holders: Minimum 8 years of total Construction Work Experience.
Certification Validity (All Programs)
Certification Examination Requirements
ABI Certifications™ certification examinations are administered as online proctored Computer-Based Tests (CBT) in accordance with the applicable certification program requirements.
| Certification | Exam Format | Duration | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance & Quality Control | |||
| Certified QA/QC Inspector (CQI)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified QA/QC Engineer (CQE)™ | 70 MCQs | 105 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified QA/QC Manager (CQM)™ | 80 MCQs | 120 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Lean Six Sigma Certifications | |||
| Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)™ | 70 MCQs | 105 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)™ | 80 MCQs | 120 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Inspection Certifications | |||
| Certified Precast Concrete Inspector (CPCI)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified Batch Plant Inspector (CBPI)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified Procurement Quality Inspector (CPQI)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Construction Management Certifications | |||
| Certified Professional Construction Manager (CPCM)™ | 80 MCQs | 120 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Certified Construction Superintendent (CCS)™ | 70 MCQs | 105 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
| Auditing & Compliance Certifications | |||
| Certified Construction Quality Auditor (CCQA)™ | 60 MCQs | 90 Minutes | Minimum 65% |
Each certification examination is developed against the applicable ABI Certifications™ approved Body of Knowledge (BoK).
For discipline- or specialization-based certifications, the examination is aligned with the technical knowledge, applicable codes, standards, specifications, and industry practices relevant to the respective discipline or certification specialization. Where applicable, regional and internationally recognized requirements relevant to the certification scope are incorporated into the assessment.
Approved BoKs are made available to candidates through ABI Certifications™ Authorized Training Centers (ATCs).
Certification Validity & Recertification
ABI Certifications™ credentials are valid for four years from the applicable certification date, subject to the requirements of the respective certification program.
Certification holders are required to maintain continued professional competence throughout the certification period. Recertification requirements may include evidence of continued professional practice, relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD), or reassessment/examination, as applicable to the certification program.
Recertification applications may be submitted directly to ABI Certifications™ or processed through an ABI Certifications™ Authorized Training Center (ATC), in accordance with applicable certification requirements.
All certification decisions and credentials are issued exclusively by ABI Certifications™.
Where training or examination preparation is offered, it is delivered through Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) in accordance with applicable ABI Certifications™ certification governance requirements.