Grading Recognition

 

GRADING RECOGNITION

It is time for civil infrastructure managers to be recognised!

After joining, CIM Members can apply to be Graded. Grading is a way for you to be recognised for the experienced manager you are, and to clearly define your career path.

Grading is based on your work experience, which you enter into your work history in the Member portal. There are no exams or tests involved!

The Grading standards are set by the ICI Board on advice of the Grading Standards Committee, comprising a diverse range of industry participants. They ensure the Grades reflect a realistic pathway for individual career development, and will make the Grade holder desirable to the industry!

Grade Level Post Nominals Typical Grade Level Profile

Practitioner

PCIM
  • Typically 3-8 years of experience in the industry; and,
  • In a supervisory role (must supervise at least 1 or more persons) or junior management role.
  • Must achieve the minimum level in each and all five categories detailed in "Grading Scores".

Advanced

ACIM
  • Typically 9-14 years of experience in the industry; and,
  • In middle management role.
  • Must achieve the minimum level in each and all five categories detailed in "Grading Scores".

Expert

ECIM
  • Typically 15 years of experience or more in the industry; and,
  • In more senior management roles.
  • Must achieve the minimum level in each and all five categories detailed in "Grading Scores". 

Master

MCIM
  • Typically 20 years of experience or more in the industry; and,
  • Strong experience as a senior leader.
  • Must be contributing in a significant way to the Industry.
  • Is required to provide endorsement from referees.
  • Must achieve the minimum level in each and all five categories detailed in "Grading Scores". 

Progression

With one exception, the timing of the Grading decision is up to you. It's your call when you do it, and how far you go through the Grades.

The single exception reflects our Vision to improve the standard of civil management by encouraging the pursuit of continual professional development - we require that all Entrant CIM apply for at least one Grading within three years of joining the ICI.

We have set the system to ensure this is achievable for someone who is working  in the industry for 2-3 years as a graduate or a Leading Hand.

It's very possible you will already have that experience when you apply - if that's the case we welcome you applying for a Grading straight away - there is no need to wait.

I have joined ICI as an Entrant Civil Infrastructure Manager (CIM) – what next?

 

Grading is a simple process

So...how do you do it?

First, enter your civil history via the Member portal. It's easy to do and everyone  should do this  as soon as they join:

1. Tell us your work history 

  • Record your industry work experience
  • You can save it and print it
  • You can update your history as you move through your career and this will assist you to update your CV in the future

2. List your qualifications

  • List your current qualifications
  • Update the qualifications you receive from further education at any time

3.Enter your Core Learning Progress

4. Document your Industry Contribution

  • Enter any contributions you have made from the list of options

Some notes about your history:

  • It's confidential... it does not go anywhere.
  • Your information will be saved. You can return and update it at any time as your career progresses.
  • You can print it out and use it as an element of your CV.
  • You do not have to pay a fee till you actually submit and apply

Second, go and see what Grade you might be eligible for:

  • You can run a free test to preview the Grade/s you are eligible to apply for before you have to apply.
  • You can then apply when you are ready and use the post nominals when your Grade is shown.
  • You do not have to pay a fee till you actually submit and apply
  • The Grading result is instantaneous.. apart from Masters, the result will be given to you online immediately.
  • Masters will need to load up referees, and these will be interviewed before a Grade is awarded.

Please Note:

Once a Grading application is submitted, changes in the saved history are still possible, but will require a review by ICI before being approved. In this way we ensure the integrity of the results.

CIM Members applying for a Master Grade will be asked to have their application endorsed by two referees.You will still be able to run a test to see aif you meet  the Scores required, but as a consequence of the referee requirement, you will not receive an automated Grade result when you submit your application.You will be advised of your Grade when ICI has reviewed your referee endorsement.

What else should I know about the Grading Process?

  • A Grade reflects a career, so it is not ‘lost’ or ‘downgraded’, as long as the Member continues to meet their CPD requirements.
  • Each Grade has clear and transparent criteria measures.
  • An experienced CIM may apply to be Graded immediately after joining.
  • CIM Grades are not sequential – a new Member may join and apply for whatever Grade they are eligible for at any time...and the system will tell you that after you enter your work history.
  • Some Members who apply for Grading may reach a high Grade with first application.
  • A CIM can apply to be re-graded throughout her/his career journey.
  • Should you wish to appeal the Grade, an appeals process exists.

 

 

Who can apply for a Grade?

The Entrant CIM is a non-graded membership, until the CIM applies for a Grade.

Experienced Entrant CIM Members

If you have some or a lot of experience as a manager or leader, you can join and then apply immediately for a Grading assessment.

Early career Entrant CIM Members
If you are a new or a recent graduate, or a newly appointed supervisor or manager - you have up to three years after joining to engage in continuing professional development and gain more industry experience before you must apply for a Grading.

Affiliate Members are not able to apply for a Grade.
Suppliers, partners, friends of the industry can attend ICI events but they do not get CPD points and cannot apply for a Grade.

Student Members are not able to apply for a Grade.
When a Student graduates – they are able to transition to membership as a CIM and commence the journey toward being Graded.
 

 Grading Eligibility Criteria

The Entrant CIM Member is a non-graded membership and allows the Entrant up to three years to apply for a Grade.

Entrant CIM Members who are already experienced as a supervisor, manager or leader, can join and then apply immediately thereafter for a Grading assessment. Your original membership anniversary date does not change, but your Annual Membership Fees increase with the higher Grade - in the year you get Graded, you only pay the difference.

Upon successful Grading assessment, Members will be able to use the ICI Post Nominals. The ICI Post Nominals reflect your civil-specific knowledge, skills and experience as recognised against the industry standards.

What are the Grading Score Requirements?

For each Grade, the ICI has set minimum standards for each of the 5 categories.

As a person moves through their career, the management experience they gain changes. As a reflection of this, the minimum levels ICI has set for each Grade changes.

The Grading categories specify different stages. In one's early career the focus is on Technical Management, before moving to People Management, then Business and Operations, and finally Industry Contribution. Industry Experience reflects the time and diversity of roles undertaken.

 

Grade Level Post Nominals Technical People Business & Operations Industry Experience Industry Contribution

Entrant

N/A

 0 0 0 0 0

Practitioner

PCIM

 5 1 0 2 0

Advanced

ACIM

 7 4 3 5 0

Expert

ECIM

 8 7 7 7 0

Master

MCIM

 9 9 9 9 2

To achieve a particular Grading, the person must achieve each of the Minimum Category Scores. Higher scores can be achieved by doing more qualifications, undertaking the Core ICI CPD Learning Program (ICI Core Advantage), by undertaking more senior roles, and by time in the industry.

The Entrant CIM Member is a non-graded membership entry point and allows the Entrant up to three years to gain experience and apply for a Grade. We have designed it to be achievable, but if there are issues... talk to us.

Entrant CIM Members who are already experienced as a manager or leader can join and then apply for a Grading Assessment. Upon entering details of their career history, Members are able to see a free preview of the Grade they are eligible to apply for. When the Member is ready, they apply. 

 

 What are the five categories and how will they be measured?

The Industry standards are set by the ICI Board on advice of the Grading Standards Committee comprising a diverse range of industry participants.
The Committee ensures the Grades reflect the needs of  the industry and the individual.

ICI Grading Categories

Technical (Civil) Management
  • Technical complexity of civil work experience comprising the nature and number of years in roles
  • Formal qualifications and their amount of relevance to the technical civil aspect of the roles, of the qualifications
People Management
  •  The number of staff (includes wage and salary but not contractors, labour hire or GTO personnel) an individual is responsible for – this includes direct reports and staff reporting reporting through direct reports to you
  •  If the role is a ‘pinnacle leadership’ role, i.e. either a CEO or Managing Director role
  •  Formal qualifications and their amount of relevance to managing people
Business & Operational Skills
  •  The complexity of the business and operations work experience comprising the nature of each role and the number of  years in the role
  •  Formal qualifications and their amount of relevance to the business and operations aspect of the qualifications
Industry Experience

This is the snapshot of your career in the industry
  •  The nature of role/s and the size of the business*
  •  The number of years working in the industry in a given role
  • * Size of the business is classified as per government standards as:
     Micro 1-4 people
     Small 5-19 
     Medium 20-199
     Large 200 +
Industry Contribution

This is your service to the industry
  •  The type of service to the industry outside of your own company
  •  The nature of contribution must be for the good of the industry