TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers

Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) is an industry-recognized program that certifies the skills and expertise of installers in 9 key areas. The program helps assure tile installers are equipped to create high-quality, long-lasting projects that comply with the latest industry codes and standards.

BENEFITS

For Building Owners and Design Professionals
  • Improve quality assurance with vetted installers who have the expertise to perform complex projects and create high quality installations.
  • Ensure your project meets ANSI specifications and TCNA guidelines.

For BAC Craftworkers and Contractors
  • Increase your work opportunities with a recognized credential included in project specifications.
  • Establish your expertise as a reputable tile contractor and installer by learning principles and techniques from renowned practitioners.

Certification Areas

Installers can pursue ACT certification in 1 or more of the following areas:

Installers demonstrate knowledge and hands-on skills to
successfully mix, apply, tool, and detail various types of
grouting materials and expansion joints per ANSI standards
and the TCNA Handbook.

 

Installers demonstrate understanding of the standards and methods of substrate preparation and stability, floor flatness, tile layouts, coverage, lippage, and finish detail.

Tile layers show knowledge and competence of the specifications and installation of liquid applied and sheet applied as well as single component crack isolation and waterproof membranes.

Installers show proficiency in the appropriate skills to properly float floors so that substrates are ready to receive a tile installation. 

Installers show proficiency in the appropriate skills to properly float walls so that substrates are ready to receive a tile installation. 

Tile layers demonstrate knowledge and expertise in properly preparing a shower receptor free of leaks and moisture issues by using the most current shower methods for commercial, curbless, and residential applications, as well as the most current waterproofing products.

Installers demonstrate the proficiency and skills gauged porcelain tiles/panels require per the specifications and installation standard set forth in A108.19 Gauged Porcelain Tile and Gauged Porcelain Tile/Panels/Slabs using the thin bed method with modified dry set mortar.

Specify ACT for trained craftworkers

If you want to be sure the craftworkers on your project are certified under ACT to perform complex installations, use our sample specification language.

Section 093000 – Tiling 1.8 Quality Assurance (AVITRU MasterSpec©)

B. Installer Qualifications

Consider retaining 1 or more of 3 subparagraphs below. Qualifications in subparagraphs are not equivalent; investigate them and consider retaining those that can help assure that Installer is qualified for Project.

1. Installer employs at least one installer for Project that has completed the Advanced Certification for Tile Installers (ACT) certification for installation of:
[mud floors]
[mud walls]
[membranes]
[shower receptors]
[gauged porcelain tile/gauged porcelain tile panels and slabs]
[grouts]
[large format tile]

How to Obtain ACT Certification

To become ACT certified, installers must: 

  • Be a BAC journeyworker or advanced apprentice.
  • Successfully complete a 25-question exam to prove knowledge on ANSI and TCNA standards, with a score 84% or higher.
  • Successfully complete a hands-on assessment to prove practical skills, with a score 85% or higher.

All BAC journeyworkers interested in pursuing ACT certification will be given an ACT study guide, Instructions to Installer packet, along with copies of the American National Standard Specifications (ANSI) for the Installation of Ceramic Tile and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook  for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation. 

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

ACT is offered at The BAC/IMI John J. Flynn International Training Center outside Washington, DC and regional BAC training centers.

Design professionals and project owners can contact IMI for more information about the program or to access a list of qualified contractors in your area. BAC signatory contractors can also contact IMI for additional background or to inquire about employee certification. 

BAC craftworkers should contact their local training center or coordinator to inquire about program availability. BAC Local Officers and Training Coordinators can contact IMTEF to enroll members or to get additional information about program availability at the International Training Center. To find out about upcoming classes at the BAC/IMI International Training Center, see the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation’s training calendar.

ACT Affiliates

The ACT program was created through the combined efforts of 6 leading tile industry organizations: IMI, BAC, TCAA, TCNA, NTCA and CTEF.

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