ABC's Accredited Quality Contractor credential recognizes construction companies that demonstrate excellence as contractors and as employers.
Becoming an Accredited Quality Contractor, or AQC, helps your company stand out to construction project owners, employees, the construction industry and the public by documenting that you foster a culture that embraces workplace excellence, proven leadership in developing talent and commitment to your community. The application serves as a strategic planning tool, helping contractors identify priority areas and drive continuous improvement across their organizations.
One Credential. Two Competitive Advantages.
AQC provides you the framework to become a top performing contractor and achieve two of your most important business goals:
The strongest contractors need both. You need clients who want your company building their projects and talented people who want to build their careers with you. AQC helps you demonstrate that your company has built the culture, people and business practices required to do both.
When owners ask why they should choose your company, AQC gives you another powerful answer.
Be the Best. Build With the Best.
Achieving the AQC credential sets you up to gain recognition as an ABC Top Performer.
AQC contractors also gain broader visibility within ABC and the construction industry, including eligibility for ABC's Top Performers recognition. The listings, presented by Construction Executive, highlight contractors that have earned ABC's Accredited Quality Contractor credential as well as those that won national Excellence in Construction® and Health and Safety Excellence awards.
Locate AQC members nearest to you!
An Accredited Quality Contractor is an ABC contractor member that has demonstrated a commitment to excellence across the practices that define a high-performing construction company. AQC recognizes contractors for excellence in five areas of corporate responsibility. Together, these areas demonstrate your company's ability to deliver exceptional work while building an exceptional workplace.
Owners select a team they can trust to safely, ethically and successfully deliver their project. The AQC credential helps distinguish your company by providing industrywide recognition of the qualities owners value in a construction partner.
AQC Recognizes Contractors as:
“This was a very enriching experience. We certainly set out to become an AQC to obtain a highly valuable designation, but going through the process was eye-opening. We were confident about the quality of our work, but collecting all the information made us realize we had a lot to be proud of that we never took the time to stop and fully appreciate. It also made us realize there were opportunities that we had overlooked and could easily pursue to further strengthen the quality of our operation. AQC is a powerful and unique thing ABC does for the construction industry that does not exist elsewhere.”
—Roger Pombrol Emerald Standard Electrical Contractors & EngineersPasadena, Texas AQC since 2024
“The information you submit for the AQC application is information you are going to use for other business procurement opportunities. What ABC National asks for in the application is also required when bidding on certain projects. The first time I submitted the application, it took a day, and the renewal process took only a half a day to submit. The questions might vary a little each year, and everything you are asked for you are going to need for other purposes during the year for your business anyway. I recommend applying for AQC.”
—Roger ThimmWondra ConstructionIron Ridge, WisconsinAQC since 2009
“ISC is honored to have been an Accredited Quality Contractor for over two decades. The AQC designation validates to the owner community that we are a quality service provider that meets or exceeds their performance expectations in the instrumentation, electrical and controls industry.”
—Rod RemondetISC Constructors Baton Rouge, Louisiana AQC since 1993
“GROUP Industries’ AQC accreditation has allowed us to find quality employees and demonstrate to our clients the value that we place on safety and training. It also helps us communicate our commitment to the communities we are proud to be a part of.”
—David ArrighiGROUP Industries LLC Baton Rouge, LouisianaAQC since 1999
“AQC helps set Haley-Greer Inc. apart from competitors that don’t have the same commitment to quality, safety, employee training and benefits and community involvement. We proudly use our AQC accreditation in all our proposals and marketing efforts.”
—Letitia Haley BarkerHaley-Greer Inc.DallasAQC since 2007
“CURT is very pleased to recognize AQC as a constructive and valuable program designed to identify construction firms that have achieved a level of excellence in their organizational structure and business operations.”
—Greg SizemoreConstruction Users Roundtable
Put your AQC credential to work and showcase your recognition in:
Your reputation as an employer matters. AQC gives your company a recognized credential you can incorporate into:
Frequently Asked Questions About AQC
Accreditation by Associated Builders and Contractors is not an endorsement or promotion of any of the services an accredited contractor provides, nor does it represent a guarantee by ABC that any particular level of work will be provided. It is a reflection of ABC's evaluation and determination that the contractor as a whole meets a standard of business practices that have been adopted for accreditation purposes by an independent committee comprised solely of ABC members.
Accreditations are based on findings from member companies at particular points in time, therefore the quality of services offered by an accredited contractor could change without ABC's knowledge between annual reaccreditations. The information on this website should be used as a guide in making choices about which contractor will best meet the client's needs and not as ABC's recommendation to utilize any particular contractor's services. Owners and others who recognize this accreditation are responsible for obtaining the additional information necessary to make informed decisions about their choice of contractors. ABC therefore expressly does not assume any liability for the quality of services provided by an accredited contractor to any client.