NCMA CCCM study guide
NCMA CCCM · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CCCM is a concrete masonry and hardscapes credential administered through CMHA Edge: Education & Certification, the education and certification arm of the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association. The association describes itself as uniting the industry to advance excellence, and its certification programs sit alongside in-person courses, online learning, webinars, on-demand content, continuing education, and a course calendar. The credential is aimed at professionals who work with concrete masonry units, manufactured stone veneer, segmental retaining walls, and segmental pavement - the four building-solution areas the association organizes its technical resources around. Candidates typically include producers, contractors, installers, distributors, and design or specification professionals who need to demonstrate working knowledge across both masonry and hardscape scopes. Topics on this exam: Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes. The NCMA CCCM study guide has 2 sections and about 900 words.
01Concrete Masonry
The Concrete Masonry domain tests whether you can link material specifications to field practice: which ASTM standard governs each component, how masonry is measured and coursed, and what construction requirements the masonry code (TMS 402/602, the MSJC documents) imposes on joints, reinforcement, flashing and control joints. Expect questions that mix a material spec with an installation condition. An 8×8×16 unit is nominal; the actual unit is 7-5/8 × 7-5/8 × 15-5/8 in., because the 3/8 in. mortar joint supplies the missing 3/8 in.
451 words, about 2 min02Hardscapes
Hardscapes covers segmental paver systems and segmental retaining walls (SRWs): what happens below the surface. The exam asks you to sequence installation correctly - subgrade, separation, base, bedding, units, restraint, joint sand, and for walls, leveling pad, drainage column, and geogrid. Paver standards: ASTM C936 covers solid interlocking concrete paving units; C902 covers units for pedestrian and light vehicular use; C1272 covers heavy vehicular units. Joint sand is typically ASTM C144 masonry sand.
449 words, about 2 min