Whether you’re beginning your construction career or are a seasoned pro, there are many reasons you should join a construction trade association if you haven’t already. Although you may think you’re too busy to add to your schedule, being an association member offers many benefits.
Education and Knowledge: Associations offer online courses, seminars, and education materials to help you keep up to date on industry trends, regulatory issues, changing building codes, and advanced technologies that could impact your business.
Industry News: Some associations offer podcasts and webinars with topics ranging from safety best practices to compliance. For example, you’ll have access to information about the Department of Labor’s overtime rule and how it may affect your business.
Network Opportunities: You’ll interact with your peers, share challenges, and establish new relationships at association events, meetings, and conferences. On a local level, if you are a journeyman or an apprentice working to fulfill your educational requirements, joining a trade association can be an invaluable resource for establishing partnerships and finding more work.
Advocacy: Associations represent your best interests in state and federal policies and regulations that benefit the construction industry. In California, for example, having representation for the trade in Sacramento is critical and can help shape policy.
Discounts on Products and Services: Trade associations endorse or establish partnerships with companies to offer their members discounts on products and services such as equipment, car rentals, supplies, hotels, and cell phone plans. Some associations provide members with healthcare solutions and retirement plans.
National and Local Trade Associations
You can join several national and local construction trade associations. On the national level, the Preferred Contractors Association (PCA) provides members with a library of best practices, safety information, industry-specific knowledge and training, human resources hotline, and discounted services.
National trade associations also include the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), with local chapters throughout the country, including in California; the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC); the American Institute of Contractors (AIC); and the American Subcontractors Association (ASA); among others.
There are also specialty organizations, including the American Concrete Institute (ACI), American Welding Society (AWS), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), and others.
On a local level, in addition to the California ABC chapters, other state construction associations include the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) and the California Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association (CPMCA), to name a couple.
Determine which associations make sense to join to help advance your career; assess the membership fees and what you can afford; and take advantage of what membership offers.