AGMT Program Certifies 1000th Glazier – IUPAT Member

In August, the Architectural Glass & Metal Technician (AGMT) program – North America’s only ANSI-accredited, third-party assessment of an experienced glazier’s knowledge and abilities – certified its 1000th glazier since the program began in 2019. 

Mike Marye, an Indianapolis glazier, and member of IUPAT District Council 91 in Indiana, successfully completed both a Knowledge-Based Test (KBT) and Hands-On Performance-Based Test (PBT), the two assessments required to earn certification. Marye works for Hoosier Glass Company, Inc. of Indianapolis.

“I wanted to make sure I’m installing up to a high standard, and it was reassuring passing the tests,” said Marye. A glazier since 2005, Marye felt his experience adequately prepared him for both the written and hands-on assessments. He also credited IUPAT Glazing Instructor Rodney Miller for providing training courses in advance to refresh candidates’ familiarity with systems they may not install frequently. In total, six glaziers from Indianapolis earned AGMT certification on the same day.

AGMT assessments verify the knowledge, skills, and abilities of experienced glaziers who have completed a prerequisite 7500 glazing work hours. Candidates must properly install glazing systems and components, including storefront and entrance doors, curtain wall, structural sealing, and weather sealing, and must also demonstrate ability to interpret construction documents, knowledge of quality control and failure prevention, and site- and glazing-specific safety principles. To facilitate hands-on installations, standardized test rigs are transported to testing locations across North America, where a professional team of examiners grades candidates under an ANSI-accredited process that adheres to the ISO/IEC 17024 standards.

AGMT Field Operations Manager Jason Simonette administered the tests, while AGMT Examiner John Dzierzynski facilitated the hands-on assessment. Both bring extensive construction backgrounds to their roles and agree that certification offers confidence to glaziers, employers, architects, and builders because it reinforces competency and quality installations. “I believe AGMT is the most comprehensive glazing certification program in North America,” said Dzierzynski, who has been in the glazing industry since the 1980s. “Along with NACC [North American Contractor Certification], these two programs will produce the most highly qualified glazing contractors and technicians.” Simonette, who emphasized the safety aspects of AGMT, added, “In a high-risk, precise industry such as glazing, an important part of the AGMT test is making sure people properly use PPE so they go home safely every day.”

“Certification is intended to provide assurance to building owners, general contractors, and other construction project stakeholders that the glazier can perform work in a manner that minimizes defects and failures and conforms to customer requirements,” explained AGMT Program Administrator Jeff Dalaba. “AGMT emphasizes mitigating defects in glazing systems, which can be costly and difficult to repair after installation, supporting a stronger construction industry and better project outcomes.”