Overview
一级建造师 (the First-Class Constructor Qualification Exam) qualifies candidates to act as the registered project manager (项目负责人) on large construction projects in China. It is jointly run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and administered through the China Personnel Examination Center. Unlike the Second-Class Constructor (二级建造师) qualification, which only allows practice within one province, a First-Class Constructor can practise nationwide.
Who can apply
Candidates generally need a university degree or above in an engineering or engineering-economics related major, plus a set number of years working in construction project management — the exact years required scale down as the candidate's degree level rises (for example, fewer years are required for a master's degree holder than for a bachelor's degree holder). Candidates should confirm the current year-of-experience table on the official registration notice, since it is set per cycle.
Exam pattern
| Paper | Type |
|---|---|
| Construction Engineering Economics (建设工程经济) | General paper |
| Construction Project Management (建设工程项目管理) | General paper |
| Construction Law and Related Knowledge (建设工程法规及相关知识) | General paper |
| Professional Engineering Management and Practice (专业工程管理与实务) | Practice paper, chosen specialty |
The three general papers are common to all candidates. For the practice paper, candidates choose one specialty from categories that include building engineering, highway engineering, railway engineering, civil aviation airport engineering, port and waterway engineering, water resources and hydropower engineering, municipal engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, and communications and broadcasting engineering.
Marking and results
All four papers must be passed. Passes in the three general papers are valid for a rolling multi-year period set by the examination authority, so candidates who do not pass all papers in one sitting can usually carry forward earlier passes within that window.
Important dates
The exam is held once a year, usually in the autumn; exact registration and exam dates are announced annually by the provincial personnel examination authorities.
How to apply
Registration is online through the China Personnel Examination Center's registration system, within the window announced for each province.
Preparation tips
Plan to spread the three general papers and the practice paper across sittings if needed, since general-paper passes carry forward within the rolling validity window.
Choose your practice-paper specialty based on the type of construction work you actually do, since it is a case-based practical paper.
FAQs
What's the difference between First-Class and Second-Class Constructor?
A First-Class Constructor (一级建造师) can practise nationwide and manage larger projects; a Second-Class Constructor (二级建造师) can only practise within the province where they are registered.
Do I have to pass all four papers in the same year?
No. Passes in the three general papers are valid for a rolling multi-year window, so you can spread attempts across more than one sitting.