As Canadian municipalities, utilities, and infrastructure organizations face increasing pressure to manage aging assets, climate risks, and growing service expectations, the need for skilled asset management professionals continues to rise.
To help address this growing demand, the Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM), in partnership with NewPath Education, is launching the Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management (PIAM), a new training opportunity designed to provide professionals with a strong foundation in asset management principles and practices.
The program offers an accessible pathway for individuals looking to start a career in asset management, transition into an asset management role, or build a more comprehensive understanding of how infrastructure assets are planned, managed, and renewed.
Canada's infrastructure owners are facing increasingly complex challenges, from aging assets and climate resilience to workforce succession and evolving service expectations," said Cassandra Pacey, Chair of the Canadian Network of Asset Managers. "The Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management will help build the next generation of asset management professionals by providing a strong foundation in the knowledge and practices needed to make informed, sustainable infrastructure decisions. We're proud to offer this program in partnership with NewPath Education to support both individual career development and organizational capacity building across Canada.
A Growing Profession with Expanding Opportunities
Asset management has become a critical function across municipalities, transportation agencies, utilities, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and private infrastructure owners.
As organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making and long-term planning, there is a growing need for professionals who understand how to balance service levels, risk, lifecycle costs, and infrastructure performance.
The Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management was developed to help learners build these essential competencies through a structured curriculum that combines industry-leading practices with practical application.
Participants will gain knowledge in key areas including:
Asset management fundamentals
Asset inventories and data management
Levels of service
Risk assessment and management
Lifecycle planning
Asset management planning
Strategic decision-making and investment prioritization
The program is suitable for early-career professionals, municipal staff, engineers, planners, operators, finance professionals, and others who want to develop a solid understanding of asset management and infrastructure stewardship.
Creating Clearer Pathways into Asset Management
One of the challenges facing the profession is that many individuals enter asset management from adjacent disciplines without formal training in the field.
The Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management helps bridge that gap by providing a clear educational pathway for those seeking to enter or advance within the profession.
By equipping participants with practical knowledge and industry-recognized training, the program supports workforce development efforts while helping organizations build internal asset management capacity.
As infrastructure owners continue to strengthen their asset management programs, professionals with formal training and recognized credentials will be increasingly well-positioned to contribute and grow within the sector.
Building Your Asset Management Learning Journey
The Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management is part of CNAM’s growing suite of professional development opportunities designed to support asset management professionals at every stage of their careers.
For those looking to build on their technical foundation and strengthen their leadership capabilities, CNAM also offers the Leadership in Asset Management Certificate Program, which focuses on leading organizational change, building asset management culture, engaging stakeholders, and advancing asset management maturity within organizations.
Professionals can also explore specialized training opportunities such as the newly launched Leveraging Your Asset Data course, which provides practical guidance on transforming asset data into actionable insights that support better decision-making and improved asset outcomes.
Together, these programs reflect CNAM’s commitment to building asset management knowledge, leadership, and capacity across Canada while creating clear learning pathways for both emerging and experienced professionals.
To learn more about the Advanced Certificate in Physical & Infrastructure Asset Management (PIAM), the Leadership in Asset Management Certificate Program, and other training opportunities available through CNAM, visit the Training section of the CNAM website.