FCICA CIM
Certified Installation Manager (CIM)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Installation Manager (CIM) designation is a professional credential for people who manage commercial flooring projects. It is administered by FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, and is described as setting the industry standard for those involved in the management of commercial flooring projects. The program is built from video training modules led by instructors with years of floor covering experience, paired with assessment tests that confirm what you learned. The stated goal is to strengthen the core skill set, experience, and knowledge base needed to manage commercial flooring work successfully, and the program is endorsed by a long list of manufacturers and suppliers. The ten learning modules follow the life of a job: using the estimate to establish and control installation costs, planning the job, understanding contractual obligations, scheduling and assigning resources, managing on-site conditions, managing materials on the jobsite, handling change orders on site, financial management of budget versus actual, handling claims on the jobsite, and closing out the job. You earn the certification by completing every module and its related assessment test with a score of 80% or better, and you have one year from application processing to finish. Preparation means working through the modules in sequence, since later topics assume earlier ones, and pairing each module with the estimate, schedule, or contract documents from a real project you are running.
What you'll study
About FCICA CIM preparation
What exactly do I have to do to earn the CIM?
Complete all of the video training modules and the assessment test attached to each one, scoring 80% or better on the assessments. The certification is issued once all modules and related assessment tests are successfully completed. There is no separate capstone exam described; the module assessments are the gate.
How long do I have to finish the program?
One year. FCICA states you have one (1) year to complete all of the modules and assessment tests, counted from when your application is processed and you receive registration instructions for the online courses. Plan your module schedule early, because a stalled start eats into that window quickly.
What does the program cost, and is there a member rate?
The complete program, including all modules and assessment tests plus the application fee, is $1,225 for FCICA members and $1,570 for non-members. Joining FCICA before you register is the simplest way to capture the member price. Contact the FCICA office at 630-672-3702 to register.
Can my company enroll several managers at once and save money?
Yes, if the registrations are simultaneous. Discounts are 10% for 5-9 candidates, 15% for 10-14 candidates, and 20% for 15 or more. For in-person 2 Days to CIM events, only the program fee is discounted; the $100 event fee is not included in the percentage discount.
What is the 2 Days to CIM option?
It is an in-person format that compresses the program into two full days, running 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Day 1 and again on Day 2. It carries a $100 event fee on top of the program fee. It suits managers who need the material without spreading it across a year of online sessions.
How is the certification renewed?
Certifications are valid for three years. During that period you must obtain 30 continuing education credits relating to the flooring industry. FCICA conference registration and live webinar attendance post automatically to your transcript; other activities go through the CEU form. Renewal application and fee are handled in your CIM account.
Which module should I take first?
Start with Utilizing the Estimate to Establish and Manage Installation Costs, then Planning the Job. Those two set up the vocabulary of labor cut-offs, jobsite variables, and pre-job review that later modules assume. Contractual Obligations and Scheduling follow naturally; Claims and Close Out make most sense once budget tracking is familiar.
What technical setup do I need for the online modules?
The learning system requires Chrome or Internet Explorer 11 or newer for optimal performance. FCICA provides a system check link. Test your browser before your first assessment rather than minutes before a deadline, since a failed browser session is an avoidable way to lose time in your one-year window.
Where do candidates most often get into trouble?
Two patterns stand out. First, treating the assessments as open-book trivia instead of applying the module content to a live project, which shows up in weak scores on estimate verification and change order protocol. Second, letting the one-year window run down. Schedule each module and its assessment as a calendar commitment.
Does the CIM claim any official regulatory status?
No. It is an industry certification from FCICA, supported and endorsed by commercial flooring manufacturers and suppliers. The program materials are educational and are not legal or accounting advice; for contract interpretation or professional services, consult a competent professional.