AACE CFCC Certified Forensic Claims Consultant study plan

Define the role and scope of a forensic claims consultant and distinguish it from expert witness and advocate roles

Map the lifecycle of a construction claim from entitlement through quantification and presentation

Identify the standard-of-care and ethical obligations that govern forensic analysis

Build a personal glossary of core forensic claims terminology with working definitions

Explain how contract types, risk allocation, and notice provisions create or defeat entitlement

Trace the causation chain from an event to cost and time impact

Differentiate delay, disruption, acceleration, and productivity-loss claims

Practice identifying the contractual basis for a claim in short fact patterns

Compare schedule-analysis methods (as-planned vs. as-built, impacted as-planned, time impact, window, collapsed as-built) and state when each is defensible

Compute critical-path and float effects from a small activity network by hand

Detect common schedule-manipulation techniques used to inflate or hide delay

Assess which delay-analysis method fits a given fact pattern

Build a cost-quantification model that separates direct, indirect, and home-office costs

Distinguish measured, estimated, and total-cost approaches and their admissibility limits

Apply productivity-loss and disruption quantification techniques to a scenario

Identify documentation gaps that weaken a quantum claim

Draft the structure of a forensic claim report (executive summary, basis, methodology, findings, appendices)

Assemble an evidence file with a chain-of-custody and document-control log

Apply privilege and confidentiality considerations to claim documentation

Prepare a short expert-style narrative linking entitlement, causation, and quantum

Compare negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation on process, cost, and control

Explain how dispute-review boards and step negotiations fit into contract dispute clauses

Map the procedural stages of arbitration from demand to award

Identify which resolution forum fits a given dispute profile

Apply the rules of evidence and expert-testimony standards to forensic findings

Anticipate cross-examination attacks on methodology, assumptions, and data quality

Practice rebutting opposing delay and quantum analyses in written form

Draft a witness-preparation outline covering likely challenge lines

Synthesize all domains into an integrated end-to-end claim and dispute scenario

Complete timed practice questions across both domains and log error patterns

Close remaining knowledge gaps identified in the error log

Finalize a one-page exam-day strategy covering pacing and question triage