The perspectives and expertise that researchers and faculty from academic institutions contribute to PDCA are valuable toward its mission to advance the driven pile industry. Equally as important are the experiences and real-world project revealations that public personnel bring to PDCA educational programs and technical initiatives.Through its efforts to grow and enhance its community of like-minded professionals who perform or support driven pile construction, PDCA aggressively promotes participation from the government and academic sectors through its creation of the Academic Employee and Government Employee membership tracks, which qualify approved individuals to the organization's platform and benefits with no annual dues cost.

Government Employee membership is open to professionals who work in deep foundations design and construction in the Federal, state or local governments. PDCA has longstanding relationships with employees from the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), state DOT's, municipal public works personnel, ports, and more. Those involved in education are eligible for Academic Employee membership, but must be on the faculty or staff of a college or university, a vocational institution, a high school that offers STEM or construction curricula, or another approved learning programs. If you are interested in PDCA membership and are employed by a governmental agency or educational enterprise, but are unsure if you qualify for one of these membership tracks, please contact PDCA at (904) 215-4771 to discuss your credentials.

PDCA membership benefits available to Government Employees and Academic Employees include free and reduced-rate professional development programming (which often includes PDH). The memebers also gain unfettered access and participation in PDCA committees, publications, Chapters, networking programs, and more. There is no annual cost required for academics and/or public sector personnel to join PDCA, but both groups have historically contributed key influencers of important organization programming and tangible functionality in driven pile industry advancement.   

IMPORTANT: If you are an Academic Employee or Government Employee member of PDCA who established membership prior to Jan. 1, 2025, you must renew your PDCA account by visiting your individual profile in the PDCA member management system. PDCA membership expires at the end of each year and Academic Employee and Government employee members from 2024 and before then have been voided. If you have questions about your status or need help renewing your account, please contact PDCA immediately at (904) 215-4771. Your participation and support are important to PDCA's success.