Report of the MCAA Certification Committee

Words: Danks BurtonSince the inception of the certification program in 2008, 29 companies have become certified. Currently, we recognize twenty-five of these companies, while four companies have been suspended for not keeping up with their continuing education. We currently have seventy-one companies enrolled in the program with approximately half considered active. Thirteen of the twenty-five certified companies are due for renewal in 2017; we encourage these companies to get their continuing education hours and renew their certification. There are plenty of opportunities for education through the MCAA Live Webinars and On Demand Education.

The Storm Shelter Program, being developed by the Education Committee, will debut on Thursday January 19, 2017, at the MCAA Convention. The program is broken down into five different topics:
  • Introduction and Background
  • Anchoring Dowels
  • Connections
  • Quality Control and Assurance
  • Reinforcing and Grouting
Classes can be taken as a series or individually. Upon completion of all five courses, the participant will earn Credentialed Storm Shelter Installer (CSSI). We plan to record, edit and make the course available online during the second quarter of 2017.

The Certification Committee is working in cooperation with the Education Committee to develop short credential programs on a variety of topics. These topics will be approximately one hour in length and include an exam at the conclusion of the program. A credential would be issued for those who successfully complete the course. If you have a masonry or business topic you would like the committee to consider, please provide us with your suggestions.

We continue to work closely with and assist other regional certification programs. The Upstate NY MCAA Chapter recently developed a code and best practices, web-based training/certification program. This program will be directed at the job site level. They feel the area most in need of this type of training is at the mason level. The program is based on the concept of explaining the “why” which will reinforce the “how”.
Managing the Mysterious Job Site Slowdown
August 2026

Every contractor knows the feeling. A job looks good on paper. The schedule makes sense. The crews are lined up. The material is supposed to be there. Then, for no obvious reason, the whole job starts crawling. That is what makes it so frustrating. Nobod

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
August 2026

Imagine being handed a set of plans calling for the largest brick cathedral in the world. Now imagine building it without modern cranes, engineered scaffolding, forklifts, power tools, or structural analysis software. That was the challenge facing medie

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More