The Oklahoma Highway Construction Materials Technician

Training & Certification Program

Administered by

Oklahoma State University

College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology

in cooperation with

The Oklahoma Department of Tansportation

The mission of the Oklahoma Highway Construction Materials Technician Training & Certification Program is to ensure that every technician, sampling or testing Oklahoma highway construction materials for the purpose of quality control/quality assurance, has demonstrated the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform at a level of competence commensurate with the highest standards of the industry.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please read this brochure carefully before applying for certification.

This program was designed to train and certify technicians to properly sample and test common highway construction materials. It is important for employers and industry personnel to understand that these certifications are on a very basic level and do not imply that a technician is qualified to do anything more than sample and/or test materials. That is to say, they are certified to provide hard data to industry experts who interpret the data and make decisions based on their own levels of expertise. While the Board has certified many technicians who have a great deal of knowledge and experience in their fields, the certifications awarded do not endorse any extended application of that knowledge beyond the technician's qualification to follow those AASHTO and OHDL procedures specifically demonstrated during the certification process.

TRAINING vs. CERTIFICATION

The program provides two basic services - training and certification. Training modules include hands-on instruction and are designed to prepare the student for certification. Certification modules are designed solely to provide the applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in the required procedures. For certification modules, the applicant is expected to be proficient in the procedures and need no instruction or demonstration. It is highly recommended that applicants attend the appropriate training module before attempting certification. The program director will review all applications and may recommend an effective training and certification plan for each applicant.

Fees

Fees for training and certification modules were originally set by the Oklahoma Highway Construction Materials Technician Certification Board with the approval of the Oklahoma Legislature. In 2023 the Oklahoma DOT assumed responsibility for establishing fees.

SYNOPSES OF TRAINING MODULES

Successful completion requires a passing score of 70% or greater on an open-book written examination.

Aggregates - Aggregate types, sources in Oklahoma, production, processing, handling, and properties are discussed. Hands-on training in AASHTO sampling and testing procedures.

Important Note: It is strongly recommeded that new technicians attend this course before attending the Asphalt training module. Understanding some of the basic concepts regarding aggregates is crucial to the timely comprehension of QC/QA procedures regarding asphalt production and construction.

Asphalt Materials - Discussion of production and testing as well as methods for combining aggregates to meet specifications. All pertinent QC/QA AASHTO and ODOT test procedures are covered. New students should successfully complete the Aggregates module before enrolling.

Asphalt Mix Design - These modules combine training and certification. Level 1 prepares lab technicians to run the tests listed in the table below. Level 2 is for experienced mix designers who will be submitting their designs to ODOT and includes some training in proper design procedures but is mostly focused on proper documentation and submission to the ODOT Materials Division. Enrollees in these modules should not expect to learn the skills needed to be qualified mix designers.

Concrete Materials - Topics include production, transportation, placing, curing, and testing of Portland Cement Concrete for both paving and structural projects. Discusses mix design, admixtures, fineness, batch proportions, and trial mix adjustments. Thoroughly covers AASHTO procedures for sampling and testing.

Construction Inspection Modules- Training for construction inspectors in the various phases of a project. Students will learn proper inspection techniques and practices. The training is specific to the ODOT Standard Specifications and Construction Manual. Modules include a written examination. These modules are for training only. The program does not currently offer a certification for construction inspection.

Soil Mechanics - Introduces common soils tests used in earthwork construction quality control programs. Compaction quality control procedures and soil modification methods are discussed in detail. Test procedures include Atterberg Limits, compaction, relative density, and in-place methods.

Materials Sampling & Testing Training - Designed for construction inspectors. Prepares the student for Materials Sampling & Testing certification. Covers all tests listed in Concrete Materials plus Random Sampling, AASHTO procedures R 90, R 67, R 97, and T 310 as well as OHD tests L 5 and L 14, Method II.

Profilograph Operator Training

A two day class instructing students in the proper assembly, operation, and maintenance of contemporary smoothnes testing equipment. Covers specifications, ODOT special provisions, and interpretation of test results.

CERTIFICATION MODULE PROCEDURES

Before enrolling, applicants should be proficient in the tests and procedures to be evaluated for certification.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate performance of the listed procedures without the aid of references (excluding those charts and forms provided by the Training Center as common reference materials) or evaluator assistance. On the open-book written examination, applicants must score a minimum of 70% on each procedure and an overall minimum score of 80% .