The leading voice for the crushed stone, ready mixed concrete, sand and gravel, and cement industries' community.
PELA is a 10-month hybrid program with online and in-person educational sessions and networking opportunities.
Careers in the Aggregates, Concrete & Cement Industries
The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) is the industry’s unified voice, representing more than 200 member companies across the state.
Creating a unified and strong voice for our industry.
PACA monitors and analyzes local, state and federal regulations and advocates for a balanced approach by the regulators.
PACA builds a bridge between our members and our partners at PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission along with Pennsylvania’s construction industry to further the use of our materials to the benefit of the commonwealth.
One of the most effective tools in government relations for an industry is a robust advocacy/grassroots strategy.
In the last legislative session, we contributed over $275,000 to our political champions.
April 23-24, 2025 in State College, PA (Members only event).
PACA offers comprehensive concrete certification programs for ACI, NRMCA, and PennDOT in the central Pennsylvania area.
Membership has its privileges - most of PACA's events are open to PACA members only.
PACA conducts numerous education and training events during the year.
Choose concrete for your next parking lot project.
Streets built with concrete are built to last, consider concrete for your next project.
Concrete's strong, resilient and the choice for your next building or bridge.
PACA works with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) to convert your parking lot or building project to concrete without hurting your bottom line.
PACA drives a member-approved strategic plan to increase market share and engages specifiers and owners on the value of concrete in their projects.
This program provides free continuing education to the design and specifying communities. There are currently four courses available, ranging from 30-60 minutes focused on the cement, aggregates and concrete industries. You'll receive a certificate of completion once you pass a quiz. The bookmarking feature allows you to leave the course and resume where you left off when you return.
To date, more than half-a-million concrete pros have successfully completed certification programs administered by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and its local Sponsoring Groups. The value of ACI certifications increases as more and more decision makers require them.
In Pennsylvania, virtually any commercial or PennDOT project will require appropriate certifications from the American Concrete Institute. ACI establishes industry standards recognized worldwide, and its certifications are a gold standard in the industry.
Through its local Sponsoring Groups, ACI offers more than 20 certification programs in the inspection, testing, construction and specialist areas.
ACI inspection programs cover concrete construction inspection and concrete quality management as well as specialties in concrete flatwork and finishing, Other certification programs cover adhesive anchor installation, concrete foundations, shotcrete construction and tilt-up construction. In the testing category, you'll find programs for testing regarding cement, aggregates, laboratory concrete, field concrete and masonry.
As an example, ACI's Craftsman Certification Committee (C640) has established three levels of certification to satisfy various finishing requirements:
Finally, online training opportunities are expanding, and they are now available for a number of the certification tests, including Grade 1 concrete field testing, concrete strength testing and adhesive anchor installer.
You can get answers to frequently asked questions about ACI certification here.
Those who take the time to get certified make a strong statement about their commitment to quality. Everyone from prospective employers to project decision makers value the professionalism and expertise that certification signifies.
Industry pros, including contractors, producers and technicians, benefit from certification programs for important reasons.
Individuals committed to advancing their careers in the concrete industry will find that ACI certification helps them stand out when multiple applicants are competing for the job.
Testimonials on the ACI website further attest to the benefits of certification. Zachary S. states, "Having ACI field testing technician and PCI level 2 certifications qualified me for my current position," while Allen M. asserts that, "Everyone knows I am ACI certified and never questions my results."
Finally, Jessica H. suggests that "ACI is one of the only organizations I know of that can certify personnel in specific test methods. This is very valuable in maintaining nationally-recognized accreditations that are required to work on various projects, especially public works projects."
Having the opportunity to include an ACI certification on your resume instills pride and increases confidence.
PACA is an ACI Sponsoring Group authorized per terms approved by the ACI Board of Directors in 1991 and revised in 2011. PACA currently offers these classes:
Every certification program imparts valuable knowledge. For example, the Flatwork Finisher certification program helps industry pros to better understand how:
The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) offers certification opportunities that advance careers and help contractors qualify for major projects. To learn more, please contact us.
February 22, 2024
Proficient carbon calculations are increasingly important as “Buy Clean” legislation proliferates. New York and Colorado are among the states that now require carbon calcs for public projects. An estimated 40% of emissions are from the built environment. According to one estimate, the planet’s total building floor area will double by 2060. This makes the concrete industry a key player in the quest for net-zero emissions products and projects.
February 15, 2024
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) notes that cement production is “so carbon intensive that even though cement makes up less than 15% of concrete by weight, it accounts for 90% of concrete’s carbon footprint.” The use of fossil fuels to fire cement kilns is a key source of these carbon emissions.
February 08, 2024
In the quest for reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, everyone has a role to play. In the concrete industry, this includes everyone from manufacturers to contractors, and from trade associations to governments. Here is a review of some of the major initiatives impacting concrete’s sustainability.
February 01, 2024
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) requires high-temperature calcination of limestone. It is possible to use various emissions-reducing pozzolans in concrete. Fly ash comes from coal-fired power plants. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) comes from steel mills. Another SCM is metakaolin derived from kaolin.
This program provides free continuing education to the design and specifying communities. There are currently four courses available, ranging from 30-60 minutes focused on the cement, aggregates and concrete industries. You'll receive a certificate of completion once you pass a quiz. The bookmarking feature allows you to leave the course and resume where you left off when you return