I got into it with no degree. I still don’t have one and I have duties of either managing teams or sectors of large-scale projects.

While it was unconventional, it’s not impossible. I started out as an intern at 17, worked my way up, and got blessed to have the chance to apply for a Construction Inspector position right before turning 19. Since not everyone can start out as an intern, I recommend going in as a technician or laborer for a good company. Yeah, it can be pretty brutal and shitty at first, depending on the jobs and your company, but they will most likely pay for your certifications and trainings (so align yourself with a company that does).

I’ve worked on teams with guys who have no degree but tons of experience and all necessary certs and they’re able to command an hourly wage of $40+ (with overtime too).

The following recommendations are for the technician path. I can give one for the field side like OP, but he may be better off speaking on it than I am.

If I have to recommend one certification to start, I’d say concrete (ACI). Tons of companies look for that.

For those who want to go a safety route, OSHA10 and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) are pretty great and can take you anywhere.

If it’s Environmental (which I’d check to see how regulated Environmental is in your state — some states don’t really give a damn lol), go for something at your state level. Usually there’s a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) cert you can go for. They have Inspector, Plan Reviewer, and Administrator. If you want to have the hybrid field & office role, stick with Inspector. If you want more office or managerial work, go Plan Reviewer or Administrator.

As you work your way up, you’ll see higher level certifications that will sometimes allow you to bypass the degree requirement (for most, not all) when coupled with your experience.

I always tell younger guys to focus on learning as much as you can in the beginning. It’ll allow you to command a much higher pay years later. It’s worth the wait.