RESTON, Va. — Civil Engineering Certification Inc. (CEC), a subsidiary of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), has signed two separate agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the United States Section of the Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC).

The agreements express support for the value of certification in civil engineering and will advance collaboration between CEC and the two organizations.

“The agreements between CEC and these two organizations show the value of board certifications for professional engineers,” said James N. Marino, P.E., BC.CE, M.ASCE, CEC President. “The skills engineers develop with CEC certifications can help them advance in their careers, and employers know a board-certified engineer has a level of expertise that sets them apart from other candidates.”

The global cooperative agreement between CEC and the USACE applies to all CEC board certifications. It aims to establish a shared commitment to technical excellence and allows the two organizations to collaborate in promoting knowledge, education, practice, and policy between these groups and the public. Additionally, the agreement aims to advance workforce development by recognizing 5,000 new board-certified engineers over the next 20 years to help address the urgent need for experts to maintain America’s infrastructure.

USACE will also support the cost of certification fees for its engineers to emphasize the value of board certification. CEC and USACE intend to explore new ways to cooperate with each other and other organizations with similar objectives to develop new products and services, along with educational opportunities like conferences or seminars.

“USACE is proud to formalize this partnership with CEC,” said Pete G. Perez, P.E., SES, USACE Chief of Engineering and Construction. “Together, we will empower our engineering workforce and strengthen our commitment to excellence.”

The cooperation agreement between CEC and the United States Section of PIANC applies to all Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) board certifications in coastal, navigation, ocean, and port engineering. The agreement encourages board certification and collaboration between the two organizations. CEC and PIANC will also work together in the areas of education, practice, and policy.

Additionally, both organizations will promote each other’s programs and activities in publications and communications to encourage participation. CEC and PIANC also plan to explore ways to cooperate in planning conferences and seminars or developing new products and services.

“Water transport infrastructure like ports and inland waterways are an important part of the American and global economies,” said Joe D. Manous, Jr, P.E., Ph.D., BC.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, who is past-President of CEC and current Secretary of the US Section of PIANC. “The engineers who design, build, maintain, and improve these systems have an important role in delivering agricultural products, raw materials and manufactured goods to homes and businesses around the world. Advanced knowledge about these systems, demonstrated through board certification, benefits not just engineers and mariners, but everyone who relies on these systems to keep commerce moving.”

CEC offers civil engineering board certification in seven specialty areas: coastal engineering, geotechnical engineering, navigation engineering, ocean engineering, pipeline engineering-water, port engineering, and water resources engineering.

About the American Society of Civil Engineers

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 160,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.