The Queen’s Medical Center (QMC), Hawai‘i (Hawaii) Pacific Health and other Hawai‘i health care institutions are expanding their facilities and services in 2026. As Hawai‘i’s health care construction sector grows, carpenters and contractors must obtain specialized certification to work safely in hospitals and medical facilities.
While these projects can offer long-term employment, they require that carpenters and other construction personnel be trained and certified for work in hospitals and medical facilities, which prohibit many common jobsite practices and enforce strict infection control.
“In health care construction, safeguarding workers and patients is paramount,” says Edmond Aczon, Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund (HCATF) executive director.
Merrill Naira
HCATF’s Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Certification Course is designed so Hawai‘i’s apprentices, journeymen and contractors can meet the challenges of the state’s increasingly complex health care projects.
Industry Partners
HCATF’s ICRA training program is supported by Hawai‘i general contractors and health care institutions like QMC.
Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company Inc. has “coordinated and partnered directly with HCATF to get our salary and lead-hourly personnel trained and certified on ICRA,” says Merrill Naira, Hawaiian Dredging project director.
“We currently have a total of 35 (both salary and lead-hourly) personnel that have completed the HCATF ICRA training in 2025.”
Whether Hawaiian Dredging will provide ICRA training in 2026 is still undecided.
“It will depend on if we secure more health care projects and if additional staff is needed beyond the staff we currently have ICRA-certified,” Naira says.
3-Day ICRA Certification
“Our comprehensive three-day course combines the flexibility of online learning with the impact of hands-on experience. During the first two days, you’ll participate in virtual sessions through distance learning,” Aczon explains. “On the third day, you’ll complete in-person training at HCATF’s state-of-the-art Kapolei Training Center.”
Upon successful completion, attendees receive an official HCATF ICRA badge and certificate to document their new qualifications and professional commitment. HCATF ICRA certification is valid for four years.
For more information, go to hicarpenterstraining.com/icra.
