Criteria For Becoming PDCA Accredited

A. Applicants must complete 18 credit hours of education within 18 months from the date of notification of acceptance into the program.*

Accreditation courses taken within 30 days prior to notification of acceptance into the program may count towards the education requirement, with proper documentation.

Courses are typically one (1) hour in length and are accompanied by a test which must be taken and passed, with a score of 70% or higher, (learners may retake tests until a passing score is achieved) in order for the course to apply as one credit hour toward the 18 hour education requirement. PDCA Online Courses are $74.00- member price, $114.00- nonmember (includes testing fee). Affiliate courses (offered through Councils, Chapters, Forums and PDCA Partners) range in price (to obtain course pricing, visit http://train.pdca.org ). Accreditation candidates may "test out" of courses in which they are already proficient by taking and passing the required test without completing the course (course fee remains $74.00-member $114-nonmember).**

The 18 hour Accreditation education requirements are as follows:

1. Complete eight (8) technical courses (available exclusively on-line at http://train.pdca.org).**
2. Complete four (4) core business courses (currently available exclusively on-line at http://train.pdca.org).**
3. Complete four (4) additional courses from any of the four (4) categories of the Curriculum: Business Practices and Procedures, Practical Business Techniques and Applications, The Technology of the Industry and Profession, General Electives (available on-line at http://train.pdca.org, PACE and through Participating Councils, Chapters and Forums).
4. Attain two (2) Industry Involvements from the following list, or complete two (2) additional courses from any Curriculum category.

The courses can be completed by any employee of the company. Courses taken by any individual(s) other than the owner of the company must be accompanied by a proof of transfer of information to the company's employees. For example, course knowledge can be discussed at weekly and/or monthly company meetings. This requirement can be verified through completion of the Verification Form, a written confirmation from the owner of the company. Completed Verification Forms can be sent to PDCA Contractor College via email: Lilly@pdca.org, by fax 314/514-9417, or by mail to PDCA Contractor College, 1801 Park 270 Drive, Ste 220 St. Louis, MO 63146

* If the 18 hours are not met within the allotted 18 month time frame an applicant must wait one year to re-enter the program, re-submit business pre-requisites re-submit application and re-pay the $399 application fee.

**Accreditation candidates may not "test out" of the core requirement courses for Accreditation (including the eight (8) technical courses and four (4) core business courses). Accreditation candidates are allowed to "test out" of a maximum of nine (9) credit hours per re-Accreditation period.

B. In addition, every applicant must submit copies of the specific documents listed below to complete the program and before the award of Accreditation status. These documents are not required to be submitted at the time of application but must be submitted no later than the company's two (2) year anniversary date of program enrollment.

• Workers Compensation Coverage and modification rate for the last three years (if your state does not require workers compensation you will not have to submit this document)
• Business Plan and Company Five Year Goals
• One Year Business Objectives
• Sample Budget (your company does not need to submit confidential forms,
  simply an example of how your company's budget is structured)
• Cash-Flow Projection (demonstration that the "process" has been incorporated into the management of the business)
• Calculating Hourly Cost (demonstration that a bona fide cost and estimating procedure is in place)

Safety Program including:

• Safety Policy
• Safety Rules
• Hazard Communication Program
• Respiratory Protection Program
• Lead Compliance Program
• Fall Protection Program
• Safety Meeting Training Log