Materials and Tests Inspection Schools and Certification Classes instruct technicians on the proper methods and procedures used to ensure the quality of materials used on NCDOT projects conform to the required specifications. The schools include classes for Asphalt, Concrete, Geomaterials, Bridge Coatings and Field Welding. Click
here to view available classes.
QMS ASPHALT TRAINING SCHOOLS
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers on the appropriate methods and procedures used to monitor all roadway paving operations and all quality control processes and activities.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers on appropriate testing methods and procedures to be performed at the asphalt plant during the production of asphalt material.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers on appropriate methods and procedures used to make process control adjustments and for solving mix problems.
This course is an in-depth class designed to instruct asphalt laboratory personnel in the design of asphalt mixes to achieve desired volumetric properties with current available materials. It also helps technicians understand methods to adjust material gradations and binder content in order to achieve desired volumetric properties during production.
CONCRETE CERTIFICATION SCHOOLS
This entry-level training allows the student to become ACI and NCDOT certified. This course will include a fundamental understanding of NCDOT specifications, basic concepts and components of concrete, and how to correctly complete NCDOT forms relating to concrete sampling. In addition, the student will be trained and tested on all field performance tests which include; calibration of “Type B” air pressure meter, measurement of air content in concrete using the “Type B” air pressure meter, temperature specifications, sampling specifications, making and curing of test specimens, air content using the volumetric method (roll-o-meter), unit weight, Chace Indicator, and slump test. To be certified, each student must pass all field performance tests, the NCDOT written exam, and the ACI written exam. ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ALL THREE PARTS-NO EXCEPTIONS.
This class option administers the written and performance tests required for NCDOT Concrete Field Technician Certification. The student registers for a regular class choosing Self Study. The student is issued the study materials ahead of time for preparation of the exam. 3 Students are notified in confirmation memo to show up last day of class for testing only. The exams include the ACI Written Test, the ACI Performance Test, and the NCDOT Written Test. The Chace Indicator Test is conducted during the ACI Performance Test.
Individuals who are currently ACI Concrete Field Testing –Grade 1 certified and seek NCDOT certification only will participate in this class option and be exempted from the ACI written exam and the field performance tests portions (except for the Chace Indicator Test). Students are notified after registering for class by confirmation memo to show up the first day of class for review of NCDOT and testing.
Individuals failing the NCDOT written exam are allowed to retake the exam within one year of the original school. NCDOT Written Retest is selected as the option for class-after registering for class a confirmation memo instructs student to show up last day of class for testing only.
This class option is selected for those that have failed the ACI Written Test but have passed the NCDOT part. After registering for class, a confirmation memo will be sent instructing student to show up on last day of class for retest only.
This class option is selected for those that have failed the ACI Performance Test but have passed the NCDOT part and ACI Written test. A confirmation memo will be sent to those instructing student to show up on last day of class for testing only.
This two-day school is for the individual whose job responsibilities pertain to activity at a concrete batch plant. Subjects covered include: NCDOT specifications, plant operations, admixtures used in concrete and their characteristics, moisture determinations, and batch weight adjustments. This school will provide a NCDOT Batch certification only after a separate on-site evaluation is successfully completed. The evaluation will be administered to the students that successfully complete the classroom portion. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure the student’s ability to actually batch concrete according to the NCDOT specifications. Students who have never been NCDOT Certified Batch Technicians have a prerequisite of being a Certified Concrete Field Technician. Training is conducted in a classroom setting where a basic understanding of batching operations is needed and mathematical formulas and calculations are used routinely. This certification is required of all technicians batching concrete for NCDOT or a NCDOT- related project.
This three day advanced school instructs an in-depth, step-by-step procedure to produce the following: ACI concrete mix designs, design variations, weight – volume relationships, and aggregate gradation. Additional subjects include: admixtures and their uses in concrete, use of Portland cement, use of fly ash in concrete, and placing and curing of concrete. Training is conducted entirely in a classroom setting where mathematical formulas and calculations are used extensively. Prerequisite for the school is a Concrete Batch Certification.
This two day school is for the individual whose job responsibilities include concrete paving placement, sampling and testing. Subjects covered include: NCDOT specifications, MIT SCAN, maturity and joint scoring. Prerequisite for the school is completion of the requirements for Certified Concrete Field Technician. Batchers of pavement concrete must also be Certified Concrete Batch Technicians. Once the classroom portion of the Concrete Pavement Technician School is successfully completed, all personnel involved in the testing and acceptance of concrete pavement must complete field tests conducted by the Materials and Tests representative at an approved concrete laboratory site. All personnel in the operation, recording, or interpretation of data relating to the Rainhart Profilograph (Model No. 860) must demonstrate operation and data interpretation on an approved jobsite in the presence of designated personnel.
GEOMATERIALS LABORATORY TRAINING SCHOOLS
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in the proper sampling procedures for obtaining and submitting base course roadway acceptance samples for the Materials and Tests Unit. The ABC Sampling manual can be found
here.
This Program will instruct and certify Materials Technicians in the proper testing procedures for performing acceptance tests on aggregate materials for the Materials and Tests Unit. The Aggregate Assessment Certification Program page can be found
here.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in the proper sampling procedures for obtaining and submitting soil samples from a proposed borrow pit for the
Materials and Tests Unit. The Borrow Pit Sampling manual can be found
here.
This Program will instruct and certify Materials Technicians in the proper procedures for performing conventional density assessments for the Materials and Tests Unit. The page for the Conventional Density Assessment Program can be found
here.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in the proper test procedures for performing various density acceptance tests on soil materials - embankment, subgrade, base course, and chemically treated subgrade for Materials and Tests Unit. The Conventional Density manual can be found
here.
This Program will instruct and certify Materials Technicians in the proper procedures for performing density acceptance tests on hot and warm mix asphalt using density gauges for the Materials and Tests Unit. The Denisty Gauge Assessment Certification Program page can be found
here.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in performing nuclear density acceptance testing for base (i.e. ABC or CTBC), select or FDR materials. Nuclear Density Base Select Materials can be found
here.
This course is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in the issues concerned with radioactive and hazardous materials for the Materials and Tests Unit. Nuclear Safety and Hazardous Schools page can be found
here.
These courses are designed to instruct technicians and engineers in procedures for obtaining aggregate samples and for testing aggregate samples for the Materials and Tests Unit. The QC/QA Aggregate Sampling and Testing Class page can be found
here.
This course is part of the QMS program for asphalt and is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in performing nuclear density and non nuclear density acceptance testing for asphalt mixes for the Materials and Tests Unit. QMS Density Gauge manuals can be found
here.
This is the online self study which is part of the QMS program for asphalt and is designed to instruct technicians and engineers in performing nuclear density acceptance testing for asphalt mixes for the Materials and Tests Unit. The QMS Density Gauge Class Online Self Study Page can be found
here.
BRIDGE COATINGS INSPECTION LEVEL 1 SCHOOLS
The purpose of this class is to prepare Project Engineers and Inspectors for field coatings inspection projects on North Carolina Bridges. This course is designed to highlight and emphasize the requirements of the NCDOT Standards Specifications [< add link] and or Project Special Provisions. These classes are scheduled on an “As Needed” basis, please call Aaron Dacey at (919) 329-4102 for information about future classes.
FIELD WELDING INSPECTION SCHOOL AND WELDER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
This class is for construction inspectors (NCDOT & Non-NCDOT) & NCDOT Bridge Maintenance personnel who may benefit from training including welding contractors/supervisors of welding contractors who are responsible for weld quality on state projects. The purpose of this class is to familiarize project personnel with NCDOT and American Welding Society (AWS) specifications that pertain to field welding on bridges and other structures and assemblies.
This class certifies both contract welders and NCDOT employee welders to perform welding on NCDOT Bridge Projects. This course is designed to ensure that qualified personnel are performing the welding operations on NCDOT projects.
TECHNICAL TRAINERS
Materials and Tests technical trainers provide field support on construction projects including technician training and assessment and material investigations.
The Field Services Technicians Google Map provides office location and contact information for Area Material Engineers, Section Material Specialists, Pavement Specialists, and Technical Trainers.
