Certification

Chapters

Committees

Conventions & Events

Education

General Information

Introduction

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is a nonprofit technical and educational society organized in 1904 and is one of the world's leading authorities on concrete technology. ACI is a forum for the discussion of all matters related to concrete and the development of solutions to problems. ACI conducts this forum through conventions and meetings; the ACI Structural Journal, the ACI Materials Journal, Concrete International, and technical publications; chapter activities; and technical committee work. As its chartered objective states, its purpose is “to provide a comradeship in finding the best ways to do concrete work of all kinds and in spreading that knowledge.”

This implies a willingness on the part of each member to contribute from his or her training and knowledge to the benefit of the public at large. By maintaining a high standard of professional and technical ability in its committee memberships and in the authorship of papers and publications, as well as in local chapter programs, ACI has contributed to a detailed knowledge of materials and their resulting structures.

ACI publishes reliable information on concrete and its applications, conducts educational seminars, provides a standard certification program for the industry, provides local forums for discussion through the Chapter program, and encourages student involvement in the concrete field. Committee members involved with these activities meet at bi-annual conventions.

Publications

The chartered objective of ACI is the dissemination of technical information in the concrete field. This is mainly done through ACI’s publications.

The Institute has an extensive publications program, including national standards, committee reports, periodicals, symposia publications, certification manuals, educational publications, and videos. For a complete listing of these materials, visit the ACI online bookstore, or request a free catalog.

Periodicals

Journals

ACI publishes two bimonthly journals: ACI Structural Journal and ACI Materials Journal. The Journals contain individually authored papers as well as papers developed for convention sessions. These papers address structural research, materials research, design theory, structural analysis, and state-of-the-art reviews. Members may choose a subscription to either ACI Materials Journal or ACI Structural Journal as part of their dues, and may subscribe to a second journal at a reduced rate.

An added benefit to the online format is the ability to access the full text of all archived articles appearing in past issues dating back to the early 1900s. Visit the search abstracts archived section of our website to search abstracts of ACI periodicals and publications (note: you must be an online recipient of the Journal title to access the full text article).

Concrete International

ACI’s monthly magazine features timely information on construction, design, products, materials, and other technology relating to concrete. Members receive Concrete International as part of their dues.

Conventions

ACI conducts two conventions a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Convention sites vary and are chosen to give as many members as possible an opportunity to attend. At each convention, technical, educational, and administrative committees conduct open meetings, and attendees are welcome. These meetings provide ample opportunity to meet and talk individually with some of the most prominent individuals and experts in the field of concrete technology. In addition to committee meetings, the convention program also includes technical and educational sessions, seminars, social events, and exhibits.

Seminars

ACI seminars are held throughout the U.S. and in several other countries. ACI’s members—experts on the program topic—serve as instructors, and local ACI chapters cosponsor and handle on-site registration. These seminars are designed to keep the industry informed on current technology, as well as provide more basic information to those new to the field.

Certification

ACI offers numerous programs internationally to certify concrete craftsmen, technicians, supervisors, and inspectors.

Benefits of ACI Certification to the individual include receipt of an internationally-recognized credential from ACI indicating the individual has demonstrated knowledge and ability. In many cases, certification provides the opportunity to be considered for employment on projects where ACI Certification is required directly or by reference in the project specifications.

Benefits of ACI Certification to employers include the ability to easily identify individuals who have demonstrated their knowledge, skills, and ability to pass the ACI Certification examinations and in employing these individuals, the ability to bid on projects requiring ACI-certified personnel, as well as being recognized as a company committed to quality.

Chapters

ACI has chapters throughout the world. Participation in a local chapter can be extremely rewarding in terms of gaining greater technical knowledge and networking with other local members in the concrete community.

In addition to technical programs and publications, many chapters sponsor certification, educational, and project award recognition programs and social events with the goal of advancing concrete knowledge. Most chapters maintain a library of ACI publications that is available to all chapter members.

Chapters are a blend of architects/engineers, consultants, contractors, educators, material and equipment suppliers, owners, and students—virtually anyone interested in concrete.

Locate an ACI chapter near you and learn how to join.

Student Programs

Student E-Membership

In an effort to provide students worldwide with the connections, resources, and opportunities to be successful in their studies and, ultimately, in their careers, ACI has made membership free and easily accessible…electronically.

Scholarships and Fellowships

ACI provides scholarship and fellowship opportunities to encourage outstanding students in their pursuit of a career in concrete. ACI scholarships are available to graduate students for study in the field of concrete.

Fellowships are offered to high-potential graduate and undergraduate
students in engineering, construction, and other appropriate curricula as identified by college/university faculty who are members of ACI. In addition to a sizeable stipend for tuition, books, and other materials, students are provided travel expenses to attend two ACI conventions, industry mentors, and internship opportunities.

Click on scholarship and fellowship opportunities and guidelines for more information.

Competitions

ACI’s internationally-recognized student competitions give students the opportunity to participate in interesting and educational concrete projects. Explore the list of events and rules.

Faculty Network

The ACI Faculty Network is a support group of ACI made up of university-level professors. Faculty Network members serve as the formal conduit between ACI and university students. The objective of the Network is to encourage and support student interest in concrete engineering and construction. This includes the dissemination of educational, scholarship, and research information from various cement and concrete organizations.

Author Opportunities

ACI offers you many opportunities to publish research and/or articles on projects you are involved in. For over 100 years, ACI periodicals have set the standard for scholarly publishing in the concrete community.

Click here for additional information regarding ACI periodicals.

Authors wishing to submit manuscripts for consideration in an ACI Journal may do so via the ACI website. Authors submitting material for consideration in Concrete International magazine can find specific information on submission requirements on the website.

ACI Operation

The basis for the operation of ACI is its Bylaws adopted by the membership at large. Under its provisions, the members elect an 18-member Board of Direction responsible for the general administration of the Institute, including the development of policy for the furtherance of ACI objectives. The ACI Board meets twice yearly to consider such matters as budget, revision or adoption of policy, long-range plans, chapter activities, and other administrative issues.

The Institute staff, under the administrative direction of the Executive Vice President, is responsible for carrying out policies adopted by the ACI Board of Direction, and the details involved in the development of technical literature and its publication and distribution, maintaining services and records, etc.

The ACI Board of Direction assigns part of its administrative and technical duties to various standing committees. Each standing committee is appointed by the Board of Direction, acts as its agent, and is responsible to the Board for performance of functions assigned to it. Actions of all committees are subject to the review and approval of the Board of Direction.

Standing Board Committees

Standing committees of the Board of Direction are established as required. Some that are of general interest, and especially those of most direct concern to members, are described as follows.

Executive Committee

The Institute Bylaws provide for an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the two Vice Presidents, the immediate Past President, and the Executive Vice President. The Executive Committee may act for the Board of Direction between Board meetings.

Certification Programs Committee

The mission of the Certification Programs Committee (CPC) is to develop, implement, maintain, and update programs for use in certification of persons involved in or interested in the field of concrete. Ensuring the integrity and merit of ACI certification programs is a primary goal of the committee.

Chapter Activities Committee

The mission of the Chapter Activities Committee (CAC) is to study and develop recommendations and policies for the operation of U.S. and Canadian ACI chapters and encourage their formation. CAC coordinates chapter activities with the International Committee, and is authorized to approve the formation of U.S. and Canadian ACI chapters and establish their boundaries.

ACI Foundation

The ACI Foundation is a nonprofit organization that receives, administers, and expends funds for educational, research, and scientific purposes. There are three separate councils under the ACI Foundation.

The Concrete Research Council advances the knowledge of concrete materials, construction, and structures by soliciting and selecting research proposals, assisting in financing them, guiding the research, and publishing results in coordination with ACI technical committees, where possible.
The Scholarship Council administers graduate and undergraduate fellowships and scholarships to students interested in opportunities in the concrete industry.
The Strategic Development Council brings together the leadership of the concrete industry, including government and academia, to identify industry critical technologies/issues, define obstacles to their acceptance/resolution, and focus resources to accelerate acceptance/resolutions of those technologies/issues.

Your financial support of the ACI Foundation is encouraged and is tax-deductible to the full extent of U.S. law. Contributions may be made to the ACI Foundation or to individual councils by sending your check to:

ACI Foundation
PO Box 9094
Farmington Hills, MI 48333

Applications for scholarships may be obtained from the ACI Foundation.

Construction Liaison Committee

The mission of the Construction Liaison Committee (CLC) is to advise the ACI Board of Direction on the needs of the concrete construction industry and recommend the establishment of committees, programs, and activities to address contractors’ needs and problems. CLC also assists other committees by suggesting possible construction-oriented members for various committees.

Convention Committee

The mission of the Convention Committee is to be responsible for the physical arrangement, format and social and other non-technical or non-educational functions of Institute conventions, and for scheduling all convention activities, including technical program material provided by the Technical Activities Committee and educational program material provided by the Educational Activities Committee.

Educational Activities Committee

The mission of the Educational Activities Committee (EAC) is to be responsible for academic and practice-oriented educational programs and publications, for supervision of educational committee activities, and for increasing the Institute’s effectiveness in the field of education.

Financial Advisory Committee

The mission of the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) is to advise the Board of Direction on financial aspects of ACI. FAC reviews proposed budgets, monitors ACI’s financial status, and reviews the anticipated financial impact of proposed programs or activities before they are presented to the Board of Direction.

Honors and Awards Committee

The mission of the Honors and Awards Committee is to guide, oversee, and coordinate the activities of all honors and awards committees to ensure that individuals, organizations, achievements, and activities that exemplify the mission and strategic plan of the Institute are appropriately recognized.

International Committee

The mission of the International Committee (IC) is to develop and coordinate ways and means to promote communication, cooperation, and collaboration between ACI and organizations, institutions, and individuals of other nations that share common interests with ACI. IC is authorized to approve the formation of international chapters and the establishment of their boundaries.

International Partners

An International Partner is a concrete-related association committed to cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with other concrete-related societies in an effort to develop a worldwide unified concrete community of equal partners. The intent of an ACI International Partner Agreement is to increase collaboration and cooperation between the Partners for the purpose of improving concrete construction by making technical expertise of each Partner available to the other through publications, meetings, conferences, Internet links, committee membership, certification activities, and any other activity as mutually agreed. ACI has fostered closer and more formal relations with a number of international concrete organizations through International Partner Agreements. Each agreement is tailored to the particular partnership and identifies common interests, outlines a mutual understanding, and defines areas of cooperation between the Partners.

Marketing Committee

The mission of the Marketing Committee is to increase awareness of the Institute’s benefits, products, and services. The committee works to increase demand for ACI’s products and services; to increase membership; and to improve the perceived value of ACI.

Membership Committee

The mission of the Membership Committee is to develop and recommend strategies for the recruitment and retention of ACI members. The committee works to review, evaluate, and make recommendations on issues that relate to ACI membership value and membership. It also collaborates with pertinent committees to maximize the recruitment and retention of members.

Publications Committee

The mission of the Publications Committee is to review and recommend general policies for ACI publications. It also explores ways and means to enhance the Institute publication program as a service to members and the public, and is responsible for recommending to the Board the establishment of new periodicals or series of publications and other information services.

Responsibility in Concrete Construction

The mission of the Responsibility in Concrete Construction Committee is to make recommendations regarding the responsibilities of and the interactions among the principal parties involved with concrete design and construction.

Standards Board

The mission of the Standards Board is to verify that proper standardization procedures have been followed and to rule on matters of policy as related to standards. The Standards Board consists of the five most recent and available ACI past presidents.

Technical Activities Committee

The mission of the Technical Activities Committee (TAC) is to be responsible for technical committee activity; the development of ACI standards; and the technical content of convention programs, archival and special publications of the Institute (including peer-reviewed articles in periodicals and symposium volumes). TAC shall be the final authority on technical issues in all publications.