CSI CCCA study guide
CSI CCCA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CCCA® (Certified Construction Contract Administrator) is a professional credential offered by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). According to CSI, the certification "validates you have a high level of knowledge for preparing and executing construction contracts." It is aimed at AECO professionals whose work centers on administering the contract during construction - reviewing submittals, observing work, processing payment applications, and keeping project documentation defensible. The CSI CCCA study guide has 6 sections and about 2,488 words.
01Quality Assurance / Quality Control
This domain tests whether you can separate quality assurance from quality control and apply the Division 01 quality requirements during construction. The CCCA exam expects you to know who plans quality, who verifies it, and what the contract administrator does when work fails a test.
418 words, about 2 min02Bidding and Negotiating Procedures
This domain covers how the project is priced and awarded, and how changes are negotiated after award. The exam tests the difference between competitive bidding and negotiation, the legal effect of addenda, how bid mistakes are handled, and what a contract administrator may and may not negotiate.
438 words, about 2 min03Observation and Inspection
This domain tests the contract administrator's site role. The central distinction is observation by the architect or contract administrator versus inspection by the contractor, testing agency, or code official.
417 words, about 2 min04Division 01
Division 01 General Requirements is the project-specific administrative rulebook. The CCCA exam tests how Division 01 procedures interact with the general conditions: submittals, substitutions, payment, quality, temporary facilities, and closeout.
403 words, about 2 min05General and Supplemental Conditions
This domain tests the risk allocation in the general conditions and how supplemental conditions change it. The exam expects you to know the standard topics, the notice and claims rules, and the order of precedence between documents.
422 words, about 2 min06Agreements and Project Documents
This domain covers contract formation and the documents that make up the contract. The exam tests the owner-contractor agreement, the owner-architect agreement, the document hierarchy, payment and time terms, and how conflicts are resolved.
390 words, about 2 min