Masonry Magazine February 2008 Page. 44
CERTIFIED TRAINING
A Certified Difference in Masonry Training
By Hazel Bradford
Quality masonry craftsmanship doesn't just happen. It comes from rigorous training. For union masonry, high training standards are upheld through the industry's only trainer program, the Instructor Certification Program (ICP) of the International Masonry Institute (IMI), a strategic alliance of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and their contractors.
ICP covers all the crafts represented by BAC: restoration, brick, tile, terrazzo, stone, marble, cement and plaster.
The overall goal of ICP is to hone instructors' skills in masonry and teaching. Courses fall into three main categories: professional teaching, technical skills, and materials and practices. Instructors must demonstrate mastery of course content and present a comprehensive training materials portfolio.
The wide-ranging curriculum covers everything from new materials and building codes to adult learning principles and computers. Each year, it is updated to reflect industry trends and market demands.
As they gather to learn the latest developments in the masonry and teaching professions, instructors from all over the BAC/IMI training network also get the valuable opportunity to network with colleagues and compare regional techniques and strategies.
A highlight of the 2007 session was test-driving the John J. Flynn International Training Center, which opened last fall in