No experience required. We provide the study guide, pay your official certification exam fee (up to $1,500+), and place you in a W2 position with a CMT firm that offers full benefits, a company vehicle, and per diem when you travel.
✓ $27 fully refunded when hired ✓ No experience required ✓ Must be 18+ and willing to travel
Whether you're starting from zero or already certified and underpaid — we have a track for you.
No construction background required. We give you everything you need to pass the ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I exam — the foundation cert for every CMT career — and pay for the test.
You have ACI — now earn what you're worth. Choose your next certification. We provide the study materials, pay your exam fee (up to $1,500+), and upgrade your W2 placement to a higher-paying role.
Five steps. Four to eight weeks. A career that pays six figures.
Pay $27, get your study guide and practice exam emailed immediately.
Complete your certification study guide at your own pace. Most ready in 12–16 weeks.
Score 70%+ on our practice exam. We then schedule your official certification test.
We pay your official certification exam fee — up to $1,500+ depending on cert type.
Pass the exam, start your W2 job, get your $27 refunded on your first check.
Comprehensive study materials covering every ASTM test method on your chosen exam. Written for people with no construction background — plain language, step-by-step, with tips from inspectors who have taken the real test.
A complete practice exam mirroring the real certification test. Unlimited retakes. Score 70%+ and we move you forward to the official exam. Students who complete the practice exam consistently pass the real one.
After passing the practice exam, we pay your official certification registration fee. ACI exams run $100–$200. NICET runs $160–$240. AWS CWI runs $650. API 510/570 runs $775. We cover all of it — you pay nothing additional.
Pass your exam and we connect you with our partner CMT firms that are actively hiring. These are direct W2 positions — not temp work, not 1099. Full employment with all the benefits listed below.
ACI Grade I is just the beginning. Partner firms sponsor your next certification after 90 days — NICET, ICC, ASNT, AWS CWI — so your earning potential keeps growing throughout your career.
Your enrollment fee is not a cost — it's a commitment filter that ensures we only work with serious candidates. When you get hired through our program, we refund the full $27. Net cost to get certified: zero.
Every CMT firm we place graduates with offers full W2 employment with real benefits. Here is exactly what that includes.
Partner firms provide a company crew cab 4x4 truck for project work. No personal vehicle wear, no mileage tracking. Worth $25,000+/year in personal vehicle savings.
When you travel for work, per diem is paid in advance — up to 7 days before you leave. You never go out of town without money already in your pocket. Rates typically run $150–$425/day depending on location.
W2 employment includes full health insurance coverage from day one. Worth $8,000+/year compared to paying your own as a 1099 contractor.
Partner firms match your 401k contributions between 4% and 6%. At a $140K salary that is $5,600–$8,400/year in free retirement money added on top of your earnings.
Project work means overtime. Partner firms pay 1.5x your base rate for every hour over 40 per week. On a 55-hour week at $30/hr that adds over $35,000 to your annual income.
Partner firms arrange and pay for travel to project sites. Flights, hotels, rental cars — all covered. Your home location is not a barrier. Projects are nationwide and they bring the work to you.
W2 base rates for traveling construction inspectors. All certifications below are sponsored by partner firms after you are hired and working.
| Certification | Hourly Rate | Annual Base | With OT + Per Diem | Exam Cost | Study Time | We Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACI Field Testing Start Here Grade I — Entry Level |
$20–$28/hr | $41K–$58K | $95K–$128K | $1,500+ | 12–16 wks | ✓ We Pay |
ACI Field Testing Grade II |
$26–$35/hr | $54K–$73K | $115K–$155K | $1,500–$3,000 | 14–18 wks | ✓ We Pay |
NICET CMT Level I |
$22–$30/hr | $46K–$62K | $100K–$135K | $1,500–$3,000 | 14–18 wks | ✓ We Pay |
NICET CMT Level II |
$28–$40/hr | $58K–$83K | $120K–$170K | $2,000–$4,000 | 18–26 wks | ✓ We Pay |
NICET CMT Level III |
$38–$52/hr | $79K–$108K | $155K–$210K | $3,000–$5,000 | 24–36 wks | ✓ We Pay |
ICC Special Inspector Reinforced Concrete |
$30–$45/hr | $62K–$94K | $128K–$185K | $2,000–$4,000 | 16–24 wks | ✓ We Pay |
ICC Special Inspector Structural Steel & Bolting |
$32–$48/hr | $67K–$100K | $135K–$195K | $2,000–$4,000 | 16–24 wks | ✓ We Pay |
ICC Special Inspector Masonry |
$28–$42/hr | $58K–$87K | $120K–$175K | $2,000–$4,000 | 16–22 wks | ✓ We Pay |
ASNT Level II — NDT Inspector |
$30–$48/hr | $62K–$100K | $128K–$195K | $3,000–$6,000 | 18–26 wks | ✓ We Pay |
AWS CWI Certified Welding Inspector |
$35–$55/hr | $73K–$114K | $148K–$220K | $5,000–$8,000 | 20–28 wks | ✓ We Pay |
API 510 / 570 Pressure Vessel & Piping Inspector |
$40–$60/hr | $83K–$125K | $162K–$238K | $7,000–$10,000 | 20–30 wks | ✓ We Pay |
Annual base = hourly × 40 hrs × 52 wks. With OT assumes 55 hrs/wk at 1.5x + $180/day per diem × 20 days/month. Excludes health insurance, 401k match, and company vehicle value which add $25,000–$40,000/yr to total compensation.
Drag the sliders to match your rate and hours. See your full annual package update in real time.
Fully refunded when placed. We pay your exam. You keep everything else.
Your ACI study guide is on its way to your email right now. A member of our team will reach out within 24 hours to walk you through the next steps.
Study hard. We'll be paying for your exam soon.
"I had no construction background at all. Studied the guide for five weeks, passed the ACI exam, got placed in a W2 job in Texas with a company truck and per diem. Made $107,000 my first year. The $27 came back on my first check."
"I was ACI certified but stuck at $22/hr working 1099 with a staffing company. CMT Academy helped me get NICET Level II and placed me W2 at $38/hr with overtime, per diem, and a company truck. First full year I made $162,000."
"Doing manual labor at $18/hr. A buddy told me about CMT. Six weeks later I had my ACI cert and was on a data center project in Arizona. The per diem alone was more than I used to make in a week. Life-changing is not an exaggeration."
Construction Materials Testing (CMT) is an engineering discipline involving field and laboratory testing of soils, concrete, asphalt, and aggregate on construction projects. CMT Technicians verify that all materials meet project specifications and codes including ASTM, ACI, and AASHTO standards. CMT is required on virtually every commercial, industrial, and infrastructure project in the United States — making certified technicians consistently in demand nationwide.
You do not need prior construction experience to get ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I certified. The ACI exam tests knowledge of specific ASTM test procedures — slump, air content, unit weight, temperature, and concrete cylinder making. CMT Academy provides a complete study guide covering every test method, a full-length practice exam, and pays your official ACI exam fee after you score 70%+ on our practice test. Most students with no background are exam-ready in 12–16 weeks.
CMT Academy enrollment costs $27. That $27 is fully refunded when you are placed in a W2 job through our program. We also pay your official certification exam fee — ranging from $100 for ACI to over $775 for API certifications. Your total out-of-pocket cost for certification is zero as long as you complete the program and accept a W2 placement.
CMT Academy partner firms offer full W2 employment including full health insurance, 401k matching between 4% and 6%, company crew cab trucks for field work, daily per diem paid in advance for out-of-town projects (typically $150–$425/day), overtime at 1.5x after 40 hours per week, and covered travel expenses to project sites. These are direct hire W2 positions — not 1099 contracts or temp work.
ACI certifications focus on concrete testing — the most common entry point. ACI Field Testing Grade I is required on virtually every concrete construction project. NICET covers broader construction materials testing including soils, asphalt, and aggregate — required on state DOT and federal projects. ICC Special Inspector certifications are required by the International Building Code for structural inspections of reinforced concrete, structural steel, masonry, and high-strength bolting on commercial and industrial projects.
The program takes 12–16 weeks from enrollment to certification. ACI Field Testing Grade I typically takes 8–10 weeks of focused study. NICET Level I and ICC certifications take 12–16 weeks. AWS CWI and API certifications take 8–14 weeks. After passing your official exam, W2 job placement typically takes an additional 1–2 weeks.
No degree required. ACI, NICET Level I and II, and most ICC certifications are competency-based — you demonstrate knowledge of specific procedures, not academic credentials. Many of the highest-earning CMT inspectors in the country have no college degree. What matters is your certification and your field performance.
CMT Technicians placed through the Academy work on major infrastructure projects including data centers, power generation facilities, LNG terminals, semiconductor manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, and federal USACE projects. These are large-scale, long-duration projects — typically 2–5 years — providing steady, consistent work rather than short-term assignments.
The US construction industry faces a shortage of 500,000+ workers by 2027. Certified CMT Technicians and Special Inspectors are among the most in-demand and least available. That shortage is your opportunity.
Over $200 billion in data center construction is projected through 2028. Every project requires certified CMT Technicians for concrete testing and special inspections. ACI and ICC certified inspectors are being hired months before groundbreaking.
Gulf Coast LNG export terminal construction is creating sustained demand for NDT inspectors and CMT technicians with ASNT, AWS CWI, and API certifications. These projects run 3–5 years with pay rates 20–35% above standard commercial work.
The CHIPS and Science Act is funding major semiconductor manufacturing facilities across the US. These mega-projects require large teams of NICET Level II+ and ICC certified inspectors for multi-year assignments.
New power generation facility construction demands qualified CMT Technicians and Special Inspectors with experience in large-scale concrete placements and structural steel inspections nationwide.
US Army Corps of Engineers projects require NICET-certified inspectors and pay 10–20% premiums above private sector rates, with long project durations and consistent work availability.
Most staffing agencies place inspectors as 1099 contractors. CMT Academy graduates are placed exclusively in W2 positions with full health insurance, 401k matching, company vehicles, and workers compensation coverage.
Ask us anything about the certification program, study materials, or job placement. We respond within 24 hours.
We pay your certification. We place you W2. We refund your $27 when you start.