AWCI Launches Online Stucco Training Program

Bilingual, self-paced course targets ASTM compliance, moisture control and risk reduction for exterior cladding contractors.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 2:15am

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The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI) has rolled out a new online, self-paced training program called "Stucco—Doing It Right" to help exterior cladding contractors enhance their skills and stay up-to-date with evolving industry standards and building code requirements. The course is available in both English and Spanish, aiming to reach a wider audience of field crews, foremen, and project managers.

Why it matters

As energy codes and performance expectations continue to influence façade design, stucco contractors are being asked to execute more complex wall assemblies that demand tighter coordination with other trades. This new online training program from AWCI is designed to help contractors strengthen installation quality, documentation practices, and risk management in order to reduce callbacks and liability exposure.

The details

The "Stucco—Doing It Right" curriculum is anchored in ASTM International standards and covers key topics such as substrate preparation, lath attachment, moisture management, integration with continuous insulation, and proper sequencing of weather-resistive barriers, drainage planes, and flashings. The training also emphasizes documentation and risk management, encouraging contractors to record substrate conditions, pre-installation meetings, and inspection checkpoints.

  • AWCI originally developed the program in 2007 amid widespread stucco-related failures.
  • The program was launched in 2008 and has since served as a benchmark for companies seeking to strengthen installation quality and documentation practices.

The players

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI)

A trade association that developed the "Stucco—Doing It Right" training program to help exterior cladding contractors enhance their skills and stay compliant with industry standards and building codes.

ASTM International

A standards organization whose specifications, including ASTM C926 and ASTM C1063, form the technical foundation for the AWCI stucco training curriculum.

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What’s next

By moving its flagship stucco curriculum online, AWCI is positioning firms to upskill crews, reinforce ASTM compliance and strengthen quality control, without pulling key personnel off active projects.

The takeaway

This new online training program from AWCI provides exterior cladding contractors with a standardized, code-based curriculum to help reduce installation variability, limit rework, and protect margins in a market where stucco-related failures can carry significant cost exposure.