Construction consists of a wide variety of tasks and duties. This is why workers need the right skills and knowledge to perform them. Professional qualifications give you everything you need to know and more. People who choose this path ensure that they’re equipped with a specific set of skills to do the job.
Moreover, these help construction workers do their job better. It opens many opportunities that they can choose from. Additionally, earning a lot is also an added benefit. In this article, you’ll learn more about these certifications and why they matter in the industry.
What are professional qualifications in the UK?
These are certifications given and awarded by a recognised institution that validates your skills in a specific field. To make it simple, it shows employers that you’re good at what you do. In construction, these accomplishments prove that an individual has the needed skills to do a lot of tasks in the field. These include following safety measures or using machines correctly. Additionally, it shows that an individual has high standards when working on a project
Moreover, these accomplishments are available to fresh graduates or workers who wish to further their careers. These are awarded by trusted schools and organisations once completed. In general, it’s a vital part of career growth for both students and professionals. Professional qualifications are often seen as an impressive standard of knowledge among applicants. It ensures that the companies accept workers who can greatly influence their success.
To sum it all up, these credentials are every student's helping hand in landing the job of their dreams. Among the various selections of qualifications offered, choosing one greatly influences an individual's outcomes. Furthermore, it sets them apart from other applicants in the same field. These are essential to providing competence and credibility.
How qualifications help workers and companies
One of the biggest advantages for workers is that it leads to better opportunities in the field. When employers know that you’ve studied more than usual, you catch their eye. Workers with these accomplishments are also most likely to get promoted. For example, you can become a project manager or site supervisor. Because of this, you get to work on more exciting projects.
On the other hand, if you are an employer looking for candidates, it also helps the application process. If an applicant has professional qualifications, it means that they will know how to get the job done correctly. This means that projects are completed according to the highest standards and rules. Furthermore, it leads to less accidents within workers on site.
Are professional qualifications better than degrees?
If you wish to excel in a specific set of skills for a job, then yes. However, deciding on which you should choose depends on your career path. You should be able to determine what job you wish to apply for before deciding. To further enhance your understanding, let’s mention some comparisons.
Professional qualifications
- Purpose: To train individuals for a specific job or profession.
- Time needed to complete: Longer, due to additional practical training and experience.
- Requirements: Additional exams or licences.
- Tuition fees: More expensive due to the longer time for completion.
- Career path: Graduates have jobs connected to what they studied. Immediate employment is highly possible.
Academic degrees
- Purpose: To train individuals for more general roles in different fields.
- Time needed to complete: Shorter, depending on the school’s plan.
- Requirements: No exams or licences needed.
- Tuition fees: Generally cheaper.
- Career path: Graduates can choose a variety of courses. Employment depends on the chosen field’s trends and demands.
Furthermore, professional qualifications are focused on a specific set of learning schedules and topics. This ensures that you know all about the field you’ve chosen. There are trainings, exams, and many more. On the other hand, academic degrees are focused on research in different fields. These are known as “generalist degrees”.
The benefits of pursuing qualifications
These programmes can be quite expensive and may take a longer time than others. That’s why many are reconsidering if professional qualifications are worth it. However, with these benefits, you’re sure to see that taking on programmes like these leads to better career paths.
- Employers will consider hiring you first: Seeing a CV that lists down different certifications is eye-catching. This applies especially to construction, where skills and practicals are important.
- You become more competent and skillful compared to others: As an applicant, you need to have an edge over competitors. These professional qualifications give you that and many more.
- Continued personal and career improvement: Studying more means learning more valuable information. You can use this to advance in your career.
- A chance to increase your salary: Qualifications help you get promoted. With this, your salary also increases. You get paid more because of all those years of hard work.
- Build a network in the industry: You meet other professionals who can share insights and valuable information. You can use these to improve the workplace.
- Companies trust you more: Employers will see you as responsible and willing to learn for a better work outcome. In turn, this builds trust between you and the company.
What professional qualifications should you try?
In the construction industry, certifications often focus on a specific area or skill. It may also relate to safety measures and protocols. Because of this, courses focus on developing workers who have attention to detail and machine-handling skills. Here are some examples that you should know about:
1. Construction Management
When you become a construction manager, you will be responsible for a few tasks. Namely, leading the team so that the project finishes on schedule and within budget. Furthermore, you’ll help manage workers on-site and collaborate with other needed professionals.
2. Safety Management
Studying this programme will help you become a recognised leader in safety practises and skills. When you gain a certificate, it proves that you studied high-quality training courses. Overall, this gives you professional qualifications and the ability to lead a team toward safety.
3. LEED Green Associate
This programme focuses on construction practises that promote helping the planet. It tells employers that a worker understands and knows different concepts that reduce waste. Furthermore, being a part of this programme ensures that you help the economy and community with your projects.
4. Residential Concrete Foundation Technician
This course focuses on workers who want to learn more about building walls or roofs. It offers training that specialises in handling concrete projects. Additionally, it helps improve a worker’s knowledge about concrete placement and maintenance.
5. Certification from OSHA
OSHA is an administration that creates safety rules that cater to different industries. It ensures that every worker has their right to being safe in the workplace. Studying professional qualifications show employers that you know a lot about onsite safety. Moreover, this leads to the safety of the clients and future users of the structure built.
Keeping up with industry changes
The field of construction is always evolving, always changing. In a year or two, there will be new tools or techniques available. For example, projects nowadays use 3D printers for fast building and efficiency. Because of these changes, it’s important for professionals to keep learning and improving.
To do so, continuing education is important. Professional qualifications help workers become more valuable because of continuous updates on trends and demands in the field. Moreover, it allows an individual to adapt to changes. This is the most important part of staying competitive in the market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, professional qualifications are an essential part of improving for success in the field. It helps workers become more mindful of the tasks they need to do. Also, they become more skillful in many aspects. These awards and certifications open many doors and opportunities for professionals.
Moreover, education is a never-ending process. There is always something new to learn about and apply. In the field of construction, being able to adapt effectively to industry changes is a quality that makes an impressive candidate. Make sure you’re one of them. Schools and organisations are readily available to help you every step of the way.
The College of Contract Management is the perfect partner to help you reach your career goals through professional qualifications. We make programmes and courses that are up to date on the latest trends and demands of the industry. If you want to further your career or a bigger salary, start your educational journey with us today.
