AIC AO study guide
AIC AO · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Associate Constructor (AC) credential, administered by the American Institute of Constructors (AIC), is an entry-level certification for people preparing to work as construction professionals - typically students in accredited construction programs, recent graduates, and early-career site or project staff. It signals that a candidate has grasped the foundational body of knowledge expected of a constructor before they take on independent project responsibility, and it is often treated as a stepping stone toward the Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) designation, which requires documented professional experience. The AIC AO study guide has 9 sections and about 2,658 words.
01Communication Skills
Communication Skills on the AIC Associate Constructor exam tests how project information is created, transmitted, confirmed, and stored. Questions focus on RFIs, submittals, transmittals, meeting minutes, daily reports, contract notices, and conflict resolution.
327 words, about 2 min02Engineering Concepts
Engineering Concepts tests applied statics, mechanics of materials, load paths, structural systems, soil behavior, and basic mechanical and electrical principles. The exam expects conceptual safety checks, not detailed design.
323 words, about 2 min03Management Concepts
Management Concepts tests project delivery, organizational behavior, leadership, contract risk allocation, quality management, and ethics. Questions ask you to choose the management approach that best fits the owner's priorities and the project's constraints.
319 words, about 2 min04Materials, Methods, and Project Modeling and Design
Materials, Methods, and Project Modeling and Design tests material properties, construction methods, specification interpretation, and model-based coordination. Expect concrete, steel, masonry, wood, asphalt, soils, building envelope, and BIM questions.
308 words, about 2 min05Bidding and Estimating
Bidding and Estimating tests how contractors read bid documents, perform quantity takeoffs, price work, account for risk, and submit responsive bids. Expect bonds, addenda, contract types, markups, and bid strategy.
268 words, about 1 min06Budgeting, Costs, and Cost Control
Budgeting, Costs, and Cost Control tests how the project budget is built, tracked, and forecast. Expect cost codes, commitments, actual costs, earned value, variances, productivity, cash flow, and change control.
274 words, about 1 min07Planning, Scheduling, and Schedule Control
Planning, Scheduling, and Schedule Control tests work breakdown, activity sequencing, critical path method, float, resource management, and delay analysis. Expect network logic and schedule-update questions.
298 words, about 1 min08Construction Safety
Construction Safety tests OSHA construction standards, hazard recognition, hierarchy of controls, safety programs, and incident response. Expect fall protection, excavations, scaffolds, electrical, cranes, confined spaces, and recordkeeping.
271 words, about 1 min09Project Administration
Project Administration tests contract administration from award through closeout: submittals, RFIs, changes, payment, documentation, claims, and completion. The exam rewards procedures that protect both schedule and legal position.
270 words, about 1 min