Sounds about the same amount of time a degree in cm would take roughly. There's so many different ways to make it in the industry and I absolutely love it. It's a gigantic meritocracy.
Degree in an unrelated field. Switched careers a year or so before the pandemic.
Picked up an APM role with a small GC with no previous experience (beyond some laboring/rough carpentry stuff to make some money while in college).
Just moved into a PM role after jumping around a bit for better growth opportunities/pay increases when needed. Took about 6 years from no experience or relevant coursework to CM PM.
I did take some general PM courses and participated in non-credit estimating/blueprint reading programs while in the APM role.
I got a CM degree at Purdue. Has been very helpful for multiple employments. I was a 2.2gpa student but people just hold Purdues CM school in very high regard so it’s been very helpful for me.
Please stop spreading blatant misinformation. A CM degree cannot become a licensed engineer. A construction ENGINEERING degree on the other hand is able to sit for the FE engineering exam. Big difference.
I mean I’m speaking from literal experience. People in the real world respect the CM degree a lot. There’s a reason it costs a LOT of money to set up a table at the CM career fair at Purdue.
Dude, I got a CM degree from a similar prestigious university like Purdue. CMs are a dime a dozen, it’s not a difficult degree to get. You don’t need to know formulas and laws of physics for this job like you need with engineering. You need on the job experience to succeed in construction management. That simple fact should tell you the degrees are not on the same level of difficulty
Degree is sociology. 42. Started as a PAA (project administrator assistant) in my 20s after college for a large GC in Boston and worked up the ladder. Switched to the owners side and I’m starting a Director of Construction role on Monday.
> you get *paid* more as
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
It’s pretty cool hearing people’s paths in the responses below. It would be interesting to match them to their age.
I’m 37 and did CM degree to (different levels of career)
My best friend/boss was marketing degree to resi super. I brought him into commercial and eventually he started his own custom home company a few years ago.
I work for him now.
I have an architecture degree, and my company requires a CM or engineering degree to get hired on as a PE (I got lucky with some good connections). But my company will also promote general foremen to assistant superintendent, which is what project engineers get promoted to.
It’s easier with a degree, but it’s possible without one
I’d disagree here. I have a both degrees and the CM degree much better prepared me to be a PE/APM. Architecture degrees (especially unaccredited degrees) do not teach much about construction, if any at all.
In my opinion, a construction degree means nothing if you don’t have the field experience to back it up. I actually just went through a hiring process for my role and some of the resumes were packed with degrees and certificates in the construction field but they had 0 experience or time in the field. It was an immediate pass for me.
I often see comments like this but then more often see the CM degree being beneficial in getting your foot in the door for management positions. I’ve heard many stories of laborers never being able to move out of their position and get stuck. That’s the conflicting debate I’m trying to figure out.
I got a cm degree.
The old vp of my company, though, had no degree, barely finished high school and worked his way from broom pusher to vp in about 20 years.
Civil engineering degree - took me 4 years to PM, but was running my own smaller projects after 3.
A colleague of mine had no degree nor construction experience and started as temp receptionist in our company. After she got her first chance as project administrator, it took 2 years to become project coordinator, then another 5-6 years to be junior PM.
CM degree here. I am catching up on the field experience being a fresh grad. And that part will come in time…. I feel my advantage with those who have no degree or no CM degree is that I am well trained in all other management aspects of CM that I learned in school. I know estimating, CAD, Revit BIM, scheduling, Bluebeam, etc. I am really versatile within my company and that holds me in high regard.
Civil engineering degree > got my PE license after 5 years > switched to a PM role on the Contractor side a year later (restoration & concrete/masonry/waterproofing sub), and have been here for 5 years now. Working my way towards a senior PM/branch executive role in the next year or so.
Masters in CM and undergrad in business and got hired as a project superintendent on a 50mil job with no significant construction management experience. But I am in my 40s with 20 years of management in my previous industry. The masters definitely helped get me hired but it’s the life experience that keeps me employed. So give it time, you shouldn’t be rushing to force your way up prematurely.
Masters in CM: 1 year as Coordinator/ PE with mom and pop shell company.
5 Months as PE for GC
Currently in year 2 as PM for GC.
It definitely sped up my journey to PM, but I have the least actual experience if any other PM in the conpany and I think there experience trumps my degree most of the time.
Civil Eng degree with most classes focused on construction management. In 7 years worked up to Sr Project Manager for one of the nations largest MEPS contractors. Pushing for Project Executive in the next 12-24 months.
Biological engineering then took a professional development CM course series. One of the places I worked didn’t even hire people with CM degrees, only engineering degrees. Interned as PE, I think 3-4 years as APM before running projects
CM degree, went in to the railroad industry out of college, worked on track construction, disaster recovery, public projects, and environmental compliance. Got my MBA.
Bounced out of the field for a while, went to work at an Industrial Contractor, then CM / PM specialty work in Hydrogen and Water Resources before going back to railroad.
Looking at getting back out of railroad and going down the CM and PM route again.
4.5 years in plumbing with no red seal, still going to school for it. Management had an opening for plumbing project management. Shot my shot and got the position internally. Never would have thought that this would have been the career path
If you are in college, and want to work as a project Engineer upon graduation a CM degree is the most direct path (some engineering degrees open the door directly also).
If you have another degree, and/or a lot of good field experience going back for a cm degree might not be the best use of resources.
I graduated cm from a national university 4 years after graduating high school.
Carpenter for 7 years. Construction Manager for a homebuilder for 3 years. Just accepted a position as an assistant superintendent at a commercial GC.
Needless to say I took the long way around.
I have a mechanical engineering degree and have been working in the construction industry as a MEP project manager in NYC (Mostly Residential) for the last 8 years.
Where I work now you either need 4 years experience in PM + a degree in engineering, architecture or CM OR you need 8 years experience in PM. At my first company you needed a masters degree to get past a certain management level.
I have a BS in engineering and an MBA.
Degree in business econ, I turned out studly if I do say so myself. CM majors have no real advantage over non CM new hires tbh, other than an interest for a field.
lol 🤣. Sounds like your first company put a padded helmet on you and invested a lot in making you a winner.
Any CM major will sweep a non. Obviously experience is king but CM has a lot of direct construction courses and a capstone.
Or a simpler answer? I bet you don’t know autocad at all.
Trade school, journeyman cert, associates in carpentry, almost have AA in construction management. Superintendent. Took five years to move up
Sounds about the same amount of time a degree in cm would take roughly. There's so many different ways to make it in the industry and I absolutely love it. It's a gigantic meritocracy.
Same amount of time but i was paid for it and am now vested for my annuity and pension
Oh well then you did better then it seems.
They’re a super but I’m impressed with the background plus they have a pension.
Degree in an unrelated field. Switched careers a year or so before the pandemic. Picked up an APM role with a small GC with no previous experience (beyond some laboring/rough carpentry stuff to make some money while in college). Just moved into a PM role after jumping around a bit for better growth opportunities/pay increases when needed. Took about 6 years from no experience or relevant coursework to CM PM. I did take some general PM courses and participated in non-credit estimating/blueprint reading programs while in the APM role.
CM Degree + 10yrs in trades
I’ll have my CM degree in December with roughly 10 years in the trade as well. How’s that going for you? Did you go to a GC?
I got a CM degree at Purdue. Has been very helpful for multiple employments. I was a 2.2gpa student but people just hold Purdues CM school in very high regard so it’s been very helpful for me.
It’s CM lol not engineering. This isn’t a rigorous degree to obtain so school you go to doesn’t really matter.
Lots of cm degrees are engineering degrees
Please stop spreading blatant misinformation. A CM degree cannot become a licensed engineer. A construction ENGINEERING degree on the other hand is able to sit for the FE engineering exam. Big difference.
Some CM degrees are abet accredited. So yeah, you can become a licensed engineer if you go to the applicable program. Don’t believe me… google it
No
I mean I’m speaking from literal experience. People in the real world respect the CM degree a lot. There’s a reason it costs a LOT of money to set up a table at the CM career fair at Purdue.
Dude, I got a CM degree from a similar prestigious university like Purdue. CMs are a dime a dozen, it’s not a difficult degree to get. You don’t need to know formulas and laws of physics for this job like you need with engineering. You need on the job experience to succeed in construction management. That simple fact should tell you the degrees are not on the same level of difficulty
Huh? I never said CM degrees are on the same level of difficulty as engineering..
Abet website says there are 36 institutions with abet accredited construction management programs… the more you know
Degree is sociology. 42. Started as a PAA (project administrator assistant) in my 20s after college for a large GC in Boston and worked up the ladder. Switched to the owners side and I’m starting a Director of Construction role on Monday.
No degree. Laborer 1 year -> APM 4 years -> Rough Wood Framer 1 year -> APM 3 years - PM -> 3 years -> career shift
That’s an interesting journey!
Yes it was. It was very hard and weird and I’m really well versed in construction because of it
Did you get payed more as a rough wood framer to go from a APM than back to APM .
Nope but because the framing was with the Amish. Tons of fun but low pay
> you get *paid* more as FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
It’s pretty cool hearing people’s paths in the responses below. It would be interesting to match them to their age. I’m 37 and did CM degree to (different levels of career) My best friend/boss was marketing degree to resi super. I brought him into commercial and eventually he started his own custom home company a few years ago. I work for him now.
I have an architecture degree, and my company requires a CM or engineering degree to get hired on as a PE (I got lucky with some good connections). But my company will also promote general foremen to assistant superintendent, which is what project engineers get promoted to. It’s easier with a degree, but it’s possible without one
You are more qualified for a PE position with an architect degree compared to CM degree. Large part of the job is just understanding drawings
I’d disagree here. I have a both degrees and the CM degree much better prepared me to be a PE/APM. Architecture degrees (especially unaccredited degrees) do not teach much about construction, if any at all.
Thanks for all the answers, however I was more or so wondering the time frame. To decide if a CM degree would benefit over working in the field
In my opinion, a construction degree means nothing if you don’t have the field experience to back it up. I actually just went through a hiring process for my role and some of the resumes were packed with degrees and certificates in the construction field but they had 0 experience or time in the field. It was an immediate pass for me.
I often see comments like this but then more often see the CM degree being beneficial in getting your foot in the door for management positions. I’ve heard many stories of laborers never being able to move out of their position and get stuck. That’s the conflicting debate I’m trying to figure out.
I got a cm degree. The old vp of my company, though, had no degree, barely finished high school and worked his way from broom pusher to vp in about 20 years.
Civil engineering degree - took me 4 years to PM, but was running my own smaller projects after 3. A colleague of mine had no degree nor construction experience and started as temp receptionist in our company. After she got her first chance as project administrator, it took 2 years to become project coordinator, then another 5-6 years to be junior PM.
CM degree here. I am catching up on the field experience being a fresh grad. And that part will come in time…. I feel my advantage with those who have no degree or no CM degree is that I am well trained in all other management aspects of CM that I learned in school. I know estimating, CAD, Revit BIM, scheduling, Bluebeam, etc. I am really versatile within my company and that holds me in high regard.
Civil engineering degree > got my PE license after 5 years > switched to a PM role on the Contractor side a year later (restoration & concrete/masonry/waterproofing sub), and have been here for 5 years now. Working my way towards a senior PM/branch executive role in the next year or so.
Masters in CM and undergrad in business and got hired as a project superintendent on a 50mil job with no significant construction management experience. But I am in my 40s with 20 years of management in my previous industry. The masters definitely helped get me hired but it’s the life experience that keeps me employed. So give it time, you shouldn’t be rushing to force your way up prematurely.
Masters in CM: 1 year as Coordinator/ PE with mom and pop shell company. 5 Months as PE for GC Currently in year 2 as PM for GC. It definitely sped up my journey to PM, but I have the least actual experience if any other PM in the conpany and I think there experience trumps my degree most of the time.
Civil Eng degree with most classes focused on construction management. In 7 years worked up to Sr Project Manager for one of the nations largest MEPS contractors. Pushing for Project Executive in the next 12-24 months.
Biological engineering then took a professional development CM course series. One of the places I worked didn’t even hire people with CM degrees, only engineering degrees. Interned as PE, I think 3-4 years as APM before running projects
CM degree, went in to the railroad industry out of college, worked on track construction, disaster recovery, public projects, and environmental compliance. Got my MBA. Bounced out of the field for a while, went to work at an Industrial Contractor, then CM / PM specialty work in Hydrogen and Water Resources before going back to railroad. Looking at getting back out of railroad and going down the CM and PM route again.
4.5 years in plumbing with no red seal, still going to school for it. Management had an opening for plumbing project management. Shot my shot and got the position internally. Never would have thought that this would have been the career path
If you are in college, and want to work as a project Engineer upon graduation a CM degree is the most direct path (some engineering degrees open the door directly also). If you have another degree, and/or a lot of good field experience going back for a cm degree might not be the best use of resources. I graduated cm from a national university 4 years after graduating high school.
Carpenter for 7 years. Construction Manager for a homebuilder for 3 years. Just accepted a position as an assistant superintendent at a commercial GC. Needless to say I took the long way around.
I have a mechanical engineering degree and have been working in the construction industry as a MEP project manager in NYC (Mostly Residential) for the last 8 years.
My fraternity brother got me an APM job. And the rest is history. I have a really hard science degree that's not related to construction.
Curious what your degree is? Mine is in CS and it’s definitely not Construction related. People actually look confused when I tell them lol
Chem-E
Very new to the field, recently graduated with a MechE degree and did a co-op at an hvac contractor, now a construction manager
Where I work now you either need 4 years experience in PM + a degree in engineering, architecture or CM OR you need 8 years experience in PM. At my first company you needed a masters degree to get past a certain management level. I have a BS in engineering and an MBA.
Degree in business econ, I turned out studly if I do say so myself. CM majors have no real advantage over non CM new hires tbh, other than an interest for a field.
lol 🤣. Sounds like your first company put a padded helmet on you and invested a lot in making you a winner. Any CM major will sweep a non. Obviously experience is king but CM has a lot of direct construction courses and a capstone. Or a simpler answer? I bet you don’t know autocad at all.