• CICS for CCM was developed in 2019 arising from the need definite the competencies of Certified Construction Managers (CCM) from competent Certified Project Managers (CPM) for the Malaysian construction industry.  Prior to 2019 competencies of managers managing construction projects were all grouped as “Project Managers”.

• This was to support the implantation of CICB act 520 Part VII, Section 3(1)A “which require all construction personnel to be accredited and certified” and Section 4 – “to register, accredit and certify construction personnel and to revoke, suspend or reinstate the registration, accreditation, and certification of such construction personnel”.

• The certification of CPM was first introduced by CIDB through their Certified Construction Project Management (CCPM) programme in 2006. This was against the backdrop where project management was variously practiced, and problems of poor project delivery of construction was alarming. there was no recognized structure for construction project management education, training, or certification.

• In this absence, the design, delivery of project management education, training and certification was left to the interpretation of the parties offering the programmes. Some of the programmes are awarded with certificates, diplomas, degrees, or competency certificates, but many have questioned the validity of these credentials. 

• There was also no formal control over the use the job title of ‘project manager’ and anyone managing a construction project can claim to be a project manager, regardless of his/her experience or qualifications. This contrasts with the architectural, engineering and surveying professionals when their professional associations allow only their qualified professionals to practice.

• Before 2019, the competencies of construction personnel were established by the National Competency Standard (NCS).  The competency benchmark was based on vocational competencies identified as Malaysian National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS).

•    The National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) outlines the minimum competency standards required by a skilled worker in a particular area or trade, and the different levels of an occupation.
•    NOSS also describes the pathways to achieve the competencies and is used in the implementation of the Malaysian Skills Certification System (MSCS) where performance of sector workers and trainees are assessed for the award of Malaysian Skills Certificate. 
•    NOSS is also adopted by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) for mapping to the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) and in providing credit equivalency and transfer between the TVET programmes provided by technical colleges and higher academic education offered by polytechnics and universities. 

•    The CICS CCM was introduced in recognition of the need to certify more Competent Construction Managers (CCM) needed by the industry. 
•    The industry acknowledge that the construction manager’s job is among the most arduous, demanding, and responsible single function in the building construction process. 
•    They play central roles to plan, organize, recruit, monitor and control the construction activities to achieve the project targets while operating in very demanding time scales in harsh working environment. Most often they are the ones who shoulder the responsibility when things go wrong.

•    CICS for CCM was developed in 2019 arising from the need definite the competencies of Certified Construction Managers (CCM) from competent Certified Project Managers (CPM).  
•    Prior to 2019 competencies of managers managing construction projects were all grouped as “Project Managers”. The was too challenging for construction project managers from firms that specialized in a specific technology and firms that manage the projects that operate on traditional procurement only.  While their knowledge is mostly limited to general contracting and the technology, the CCPM programme was designed train for competency in managing project development and Design and Build (D&B) projects. 

•    CIDB Act 520, Part VII, Section 3(1)A and Section 4 was planned to be mandated because response to the call to certify construction project managers was poor. This is exacerbated by the continuing issue of poor delivery of construction projects which call for construction projects to be managed by trained, and qualified competent managers. 
•    CIDB plans to mandate beginning from 2023 with construction projects with a minimum value of RM50 million augments the CCPM programme.