Certification

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Certification

The Certification Program provides certification for six specialty areas: Embankment and Base Course, Hot Mix Asphalt Paving, Hot Mix Asphalt Plant, Portland Cement Concrete Paving, Portland Cement Concrete Plant, and Structural Concrete. The program also provides six DOTD authorizations: Authorized Aggregate Tester, Authorized Hot Mix Asphalt Plant Technician, Density Tester, District Lab Operations, Authorized Profile Operator, and Portland Cement Concrete Field Tester (Non-Department only). For detailed information about each certification or authorization, please expand the field of interest below to include program requirements and the application process.

Certification PDF downloads (Click link to view)

Certifications

Qualifies inspectors to perform complete inspection and acceptance on Embankment and Base Course projects, excluding base courses constructed of Hot Mix or PCC. Topics and tests include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Construction Layout
  • Traffic Control
  • Sampling Procedures
    • Pulverization
    • Optimum Moisture and Maximum Density
    • Percent Cement
    • Percent Density
    • Gradation
    • Measuring Thickness, Width, Grade, and Cross Slope
  • Clearing and Grubbing
  • Environmental Concerns and Erosion Control
  • Visual Inspection of Soil Cement and Aggregate Base Course
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Troubleshooting
  • Determination of Percent Pay
  • Documentation

HMA Plant

This certification qualifies inspectors to design mixes and perform QC/QA operations at an HMA Plant. Applicants must complete the Aggregate Tester and the HMA Plant Technician Authorizations as pre-requisites to becoming a Certified Asphalt Plant Inspector. This certification is currently based on SuperPave Mix Design. Topics and tests include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Construction Layout
  • Sampling Procedures
    • Mix Design
    • Testing Procedures
    • Determination of Optimum AC
    • Determination of Percent Anti-Strip
    • Gradation
    • Determination of Percent AC
    • Loaded Wheel Tracker (LWT)
    • Semi-Circular Bending (SCB)
  • Plant Inspection
  • Aggregate Handling
  • Stockpile Building and Handling
  • Bin Percentages
  • 0.45 Power Curve
  • Theoretical Yield
  • Determination of Batch Weights
  • Determination of VMA
  • Troubleshooting
  • Mean
  • Standard Deviation
  • QU and QL
  • PWL
  • Documentation

HMA Paving

Qualifies inspectors to perform complete inspection and acceptance on HMA Paving projects. Topics and tests include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Traffic Control
  • Sampling Procedures
  • Testing Procedures
    • Mat Thickness
    • Joint Smoothness
    • Rideability
  • Visual Inspection of Material at Delivery and In-place
  • Yield - Theorectical and Actual
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Troubleshooting
  • Determination of Percent Pay
  • Documentation

PCC Paving

Qualifies inspectors to perform complete inspection and acceptance on PCC paving projects. Topics tested include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Traffic Control
  • Sampling Procedures
  • Testing Procedures
    • Slump
    • Yield
    • Air
    • Temperature of Concrete
    • Tine Finish
  • Inspecting Reinforcing Bars and Load Transfer Devices at Delivery and In-place
  • Checking Elevations and Cross Slopes
  • Joint Placement and Inspection
  • Concrete Placement
  • Rate of Pour
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Concrete Truck Mixed Inspection
  • Concrete Finishing
  • Curing Compound
  • Basic Concrete Plant Inspection
  • Troubleshooting
  • Lot Layout
  • Determination of Percent Pay
  • Documentation

PCC Plant

Qualifies technicians to design mixes and perform QC operations at a PCC Plant. Applicants must be Authorized Aggregate Testers as a pre-requisite to becoming a Certified PCC Plant Technician. Topics and tests include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Sampling Procedures
  • Basic of Mix Design - Absolute Volume Method
  • Basic of Concrete Materials Properties
  • Testing Procedures
    • Slump
    • Yield
    • Air
    • Compressive Strength Cylinders
    • Gradation
    • Moisture Content of Aggregate
    • Unit Weight
  • Aggregate Handling
  • Stockpile Building and Handling
  • Plant Inspection
  • Determination of Batch Weights
  • Adding Water at Job Site
  • Troubleshooting
  • Determination of Percent Pay
  • Documentation

Qualifies inspectors to perform complete inspection and acceptance on structural projects using concrete as the prime building material. Topics tested include:

  • Specifications
  • Department Policies and Procedures
  • Traffic Control
  • Box Culvert Construction
  • Pile Driving
  • Subsurface Soil Strata with Reference to Pile Driving
  • Erosion Control
  • Lot Establishment
  • Sampling Procedures
  • Testing Procedures
    • Slump
    • Air
    • Compressive Strength Cylinders
    • Temperature of Concrete
    • Tine Finish
  • Inspecting Reinforcing at Delivery and In-place
  • Inspecting Concrete Piles at Delivery and In-place
  • Checking Elevations and Camber
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Concrete Truck Mixer Inspection
  • Pumping Concrete
  • Tremie Use
  • Rate of Pour
  • Concrete Finishing
  • Curing Compound
  • Basic Concrete Plant Inspection
  • Troubleshooting
  • Basics of Mix Design (Absolute Volume Method)
  • Basics of Concrete Materials Properties
  • Determination of Percent Pay
  • Documentation

This authorization is specifically designed for LADOTD District Laboratory Technicians. Applicants must be an Authorized Aggregate Tester as a pre-requisite to becoming a Authorized District Lab Operation Technician. This authorization is aimed at laboratory technicians who function as lead workers or unit supervisors. Certified Lab Technicians will demonstrate the ability to perform all laboratory tests. Topics and tests include:

  • Interpreting Test Results
  • Interpreting Test Reports
  • Identifying Errors
  • Troubleshooting
  • Communication
  • Documentation

Authorizations

This authorization is specifically designed for LADOTD District Laboratory Technicians. Applicants must be an Authorized Aggregate Tester as a pre-requisite to becoming a Authorized District Lab Operation Technician. This authorization is aimed at laboratory technicians who function as lead workers or unit supervisors. Certified Lab Technicians will demonstrate the ability to perform all laboratory tests. Topics and tests include:

  • Interpreting Test Results
  • Interpreting Test Reports
  • Identifying Errors
  • Troubleshooting
  • Communication
  • Documentation

Qualifies technicians to perform QC testing for PCC materials. Is considered the equivalent to ACI – Level 1. Topics and tests include:

  • Sampling Plastic Concrete
  • Testing Procedures
    • Slump
    • Air
    • Compressive Strength Cylinders
    • Temperature of Concrete
  • Adding Water at Job Site
  • Documentation

This authorization is the first step toward obtaining an HMA Plant Inspector, or District Lab Authorization. A knowledgeable Authorized Aggregate Tester will have the ability to perform basic field and laboratory procedures for aggregates, accurately documenting and reporting the results. The Authorized Aggregate Tester will be allowed to perform the following tests for record on LADOTD projects under the supervision of the certified inspector.

  • DOTD Sampling Procedure S101 – Aggregates and Aggregate Mixtures
  • DOTD TR 106 – Determining Total Moisture and Free Moisture in Aggregate
  • DOTD TR 108 – Splitting and Quartering Samples
  • DOTD TR 112 – Amount of Material Finer than No. 200 Sieve in Aggregate
  • DOTD TR 113 – Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregate
  • AASHTO T19 – Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in Aggregate

This authorization is the second step toward obtaining an Asphalt Plant Inspector Certification. Dividing the certification process into obtainable tiers allows employees to contribute by performing tests for record. Employees may remain authorized testers or continue toward full certification.

An Authorized HMA Plant Technician can perform the following tests for record under the supervision of a LADOTD Certified HMA Plant Inspector.

  • DOTD TR304 Specific Gravity and Density of Compressed Asphalt Mixtures
  • DOTD TR309 Mechanical Analysis of Extracted Aggregate
  • DOTD TR319 Determination of the Moisture Content of HMA
  • DOTD TR323 Determining Asphalt Content of Asphalt Mixtures by Ignition Method
  • DOTD TR327 Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity of HMA Mixtures
  • AASHTO T312 Preparing and Determining the Density of Hot-Mix Asphalt Specimens by Means of the Superpave Gyratory Compactor
  • DOTD TR120 Sand Equivalent of Soils and Fine Aggregate
  • DOTD TR121 Fine Aggregate Angularity
  • DOTD TR306 Coarse Aggregate Angularity, % Crushed
  • AASHTO T84 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
  • AASHTO T85 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
  • ASTM D4791 Flat and Elongated Particles
  • AASHTO T324 Test for Hamburg Wheel-Track Testing of Compacted Hot Mix Asphalt

Requirements

  • Six-months experience (or approved equivalent) on DOTD certifications
  • Prerequisite Courses
  • Written Exam and Performance Evaluation
  • Recommendation of Supervisor
  • There are no experience requirements for the PCC Field Tester and Aggregate Tester Authorizations.
  • Recertification is required after 5 years.

Certification Committee

  • Chairman, Materials Engineer Administrator
  • Representatives from Construction, Materials, Training & Districts
  • Sets Policies and Procedures
  • Resolves Non-routine Issues
  • Sets Qualifications and Approves District Training Personnel for Program Administration

How to Apply

Fees: Payable by check or money order made out to LADOTD

  • Certifications: $800
  • City or Parish Employees: $100
  • Authorizations
    • PCC Field Tester: $120
    • Density Tester: $200
    • Aggregate Tester: $800
    • HMA Plant Technician: $800

Attach Non-Departmental Initial Certification form (available from DOTD District Training Offices or download below). All forms must be reviewed and verified by the Distrct Training Office before being sent to LTRC.

Click here to download Non-Departmental Initial Certification form

Mail to:
Construction and Materials Training Program Manager
LA Transportation Research Center
4101 Gourrier Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 767-9137
Fax: (225) 767-9174

When receipt received, report to training office in requested test district to receive study materials and begin program.

District Name Training Coordinator Phone Email
DISTRICT 02-BRIDGE CITY Thomas Warren 504-437-3180 thomas.warren@la.gov
DISTRICT 02-BRIDGE CITY Christopher Hotard 504-437-3182 christo-pher.hotard@la.gov
DISTRICT 03-LAFAYETTE Cody Estilette 337-262-6176 cody.estilette@la.gov
DISTRICT 03-LAFAYETTE Bryon Guidry 337-262-6181 bryon.guidry@la.gov
DISTRICT 04-BOSSIER CITY Dustin Hickman 318-549-8380 dustin.hickman@la.gov
DISTRICT 04-BOSSIER CITY Vacant
DISTRICT 05-MONROE John Soares 318-342-0181 john.soares@la.gov
DISTRICT 05-MONROE David McVay 318-342-0179 david.mcvay@la.gov
DISTRICT 08-ALEXANDRIA Jon Wiggins 318-561-5180 jon.wiggins@la.gov
DISTRICT 08-ALEXANDRIA Mark Ponthier 318-561-5182 mark.ponthier@la.gov
DISTRICT 58-CHASE Steve Parks 318-412-3180 steve.parks@la.gov
DISTRICT 61-BATON ROUGE Mike Merrow 225-231-4180 michael.merrow@la.gov
DISTRICT 61-BATON ROUGE Kenneth (Bud) Cage 225-231-4171 bud.cage@la.gov
DISTRICT 62-HAMMOND Vinny Stewart 985-375-0182 vincent.stewart@la.gov
DISTRICT 62-HAMMOND Vacant