Certification


Certified Erectors

Check out the newly updated version of AISC's Certification Standard, 207-23!


AISC's certification programs set the quality standard for the structural steel industry and are the most recognized national quality certification program. The program's goal is to confirm to owners, the design community, the construction industry, and public officials that certified participants, who adhere to program criteria, have the personnel, organization, experience, documented procedures, knowledge, equipment, and commitment to quality to perform fabrication, manufacturing, and/or erection.

Any questions? Check out our new Frequently Asked Questions page!

Resources

Benefits

It demonstrates your commitment to quality.
AISC Certification shows your dedication to quality—by confirming that your company does what it says it does. AISC Certification helps highlight that your company has the personnel, knowledge, organization, equipment, experience, capability, procedures and commitment to produce quality work.

It builds-in quality from the start.
AISC Certification goes far beyond product inspection requirements—it examines a company’s quality management systems as a whole. The program results in a quality management system embedded within an organization to increase productivity, which helps to reduce unnecessary costs and ensure the quality of processes. The result is better quality without the need for special inspection. AISC-Certified companies are required to have complete QMS that covers the entire fabrication or erection process, from quality goals to employee training to product delivery.

It increases the consistency of your operations.
Nobody likes to find mistakes, especially mistakes that cost the project time or money. AISC Certification helps reduce the risk of problems by requiring documented procedures to be followed to ensure that you deliver a consistent level of quality.

It makes you look good when questions are asked.
What if a piece of steel delivered to the jobsite last week suddenly turns up damaged? Do you have the documentation to show that it was delivered to the site unharmed? What if a coating system starts to peel? Do you have documentation regarding the surface prep? When these processes are part of your QMS, you will have the information you need.

It makes your firm better, every day.
A key feature of AISC Quality Certification programs is that they require you to set goals for improvement. Even the best and brightest company—regardless of size—benefits by reviewing its quality procedures on a regular basis.

It provides value to the client. 
Chapter N of the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings allows for the transfer (the code calls it “waiving”) of special inspection from a third-party inspector to a structural steel fabricator and erector, who is approved by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). This saves the project money and time because those inspections are performed with the fabricator or erector’s in-house staff, resulting in a better-quality project at a lower cost.

It makes you think.
Every fabricator and erector should have some type of QMS, but AISC Certification ensures that yours is successful and adhered to. A good QMS will identify errors early and address them in a way that benefits your bottom line by eliminating their recurrence.

Audit Resources and Tools

Looking for a handy tool to help streamline your quality management system? Our Certification Resources webpage contains a range of resources to help you do just that. From a non-conformance worksheet to an entire guide of required, normative and beneficial, informative references, these tools will simplify your daily tasks and improve your overall quality. Check it out here!

LOOKING FOR HELP WITH YOUR INTERNAL AUDIT OR MANAGEMENT REVIEW?

If you're looking for resources for either your Internal Audit or Management View Meeting, you have come to the right place. Below are some helpful sample forms to get you started; plus, we have two NASCC sessions about each topic to answer even more of your questions. 

Don't forget that you need to complete your Internal Audit first since it is a discussion topic at your Management Review Meeting. Good Luck!

Mock Exercises

Fee Schedules and Payment

Current Fee Schedules, Effective October 2, 2023 per Bulletin 2023-04

Domestic Erectors
Domestic Fabricators
International Fabricators

Special Agency Audit Program (NYC) Fee Schedule, effective February 14, 2024

Submit Program Application Documents: 

application@aisc.org 

Submit Payments: 
American Institute of Steel Construction
PO Box 8761
Carol Stream, IL 60197-8761

Credit Card Payments:
Please visit our online credit card payment portal.

Overnight Payments:
Associated Bank, Attn: Lockbox Operations
PO Box 978761
2012 Corporate Lane, Suite 108
Naperville, IL 60563

Wire Transfers:
Please contact AISC for instructions.

Withholding Taxes:
The fee amounts shown in the AISC Certification Fee Schedule represent the net amounts due and do not include any applicable taxes or withholdings levied by jurisdictions inside or outside of the United States of America. Applicants and Participants are required to remit the full fee amount and are responsible for any applicable taxes or withholdings.

Bulletins

Certification Bulletins help to communicate program changes that may affect you. Their purpose is to explain the change and why it is occurring, plus they provide clarity and program transparency.

All of our bulletins can be found on our Bulletins page.

If you have any questions about these, please contact us at certification@aisc.org or 312.670.7520.

Remote Assessments

As always, we hope you, your family, and your employees stay safe in the weeks and months to come.

U.S. PARTICIPANTS

Starting August 30, 2021, we will begin phasing in in-person audits for our U.S. participants. See Bulletin 2021-06 for more information.

U.S. APPLICANTS

Starting July 1, 2021, we will begin performing in-person audits for our U.S. applicants.  See Bulletin 2021-04 for more information.

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

Audits for our participants and applicants located outside of the U.S. will continue to be performed as remote assessments. See Bulletins 2021-05 and 2020-07.

If you have any questions or concerns about this new solution, please contact AISC Certification directly at either certification@aisc.org or 312.670.7520.

For more information, see our Remote Assessments page.

What is the difference between conditional and full certification?

The difference between "Conditional Certification" and full certification is that the physical portion or direct observation of the shop operations or field processes has not been assessed. But, the quality management system, including its procedures, manual, and records, have been reviewed and assessed. For more information, please refer to Section 7.1.2 of the GRs.

Waivers

AISC Certification’s “No More Waivers!” program is designed to ensure the competitive advantage of AISC Certified firms during the bidding process, when some contractors and owners seek to waive quality requirements to allow bids from non-certified fabricators and/or erectors. 

You have an important role to play: We can’t help you unless you ask for assistance. We rely on AISC Certified firms and specifiers to reach out to AISC when they need help countering a waiver. If you find yourself in a situation where a waiver might factor into a project bid, AISC Certification will have your back. Just let us know what’s going on by completing the “No More Waivers!” form online - an online and PDF version are below. 

As part of our constant effort to reduce quality waivers, AISC Certification is partnering with Dodge SpecShare to reach specifiers before the bidding process even starts. We’ll send you more details soon. For now, we can tell you that, this new strategy will have an impact on roughly 30% to 40% of job specifications in the U.S. 

How to reach out to AISC Certification for help:

Click here to complete the online form.
Click here to download a PDF version.

We need as much information as possible to help you act quickly. Please be sure to give us all the details, especially the information marked “required” on the form.

Additional Resources:

AISC Certification is always looking for new ways to promote the advantages of working with a Certified firm. 

Certified fabricators, erectors and specifiers are leading the charge to protect AISC Certification requirements. AISC has a variety of tools available to help you successfully make your case to project decision-makers, including:

NASCC Erector Sessions

NASCC: The Steel Conference is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry, bringing together steel fabricators, erectors, structural engineers, and detailers from across the country. The Steel Conference offers more than 130 sessions, plus it offers a Quality Track aimed at fabricators and erectors. Topics range from management-buy to solutions for corrective-actions to AISC Certification updates. Below is a list of highlights, and there is a current list of past Quality Track sessions, too.

Pre-Assessment and Gap Analysis

Do you wonder how your Quality Management System (QMS) compares?  Did you know that we offer assessments to assist with the implementation, effectiveness and sustainability of your QMS?

QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (QMS)

Governing Requirements and Standards

The Governing Requirements for Certification Programs have been updated and take effect on June 1, 2023, for all participants and applicants. Please see our Certification Updates webpage for information.

Renewal Audit Documents

Scope Change Application Document Submittals