[Red Slinger]

I've worked in the field now for about 17 years and I don't have a PMAC designation. That said, I have been to a few Bob Worthington seminars and I agree that he is excellent (in small quantities).

I've found that the PMAC designations are becoming less and less necessary to make a decent living in the field. Most of the big operating companies still like CPP designations but even many of them are starting to value experience over letters. There are many training programs and international programs that are at least as good, much shorter and cheaper although they aren't necessarily recognized formally by many companies. From a performance standpoint I don't think that there is any substitute for effective experience and when you are a proven performer, that's when promotions and raises tend to follow. I guess I would be considered PMAC skeptic, especially considering the level of competence (or lack thereof) that I've witnessed from some CPPs I've worked with. (I know, I know correlation ain't causation, etc.)

When I was still in Calgary and working for a big EPCM I asked my boss (VP Contracts & Procurement) about his recommedations for some additional education. I asked him about the PMAC programs and even a MBA. He actually recommended a U of C program for construction contract management. I think he was probably right as construction contracts cover just about anything you'll encounter in procurement and more. However, if you're less on the project side and more on the historical supply chain side of things (owner/operator maintenance type of work or supplier inventory type) than a PMAC or equivalent is probably more for you and better recongnized.