necept plant technician proficiency certification · • included standards • (7) ptm 715 -...

NECEPT Plant Technician Proficiency Certification

• NECEPT Bituminous Plant Technician Proficiency Certification requires that all candidates successfully complete both the NECEPT written and performance examinations

• This Proficiency Certification will be required in addition to the current NECEPT Bituminous Level 1 and 2 Plant Technician Certification Program

• NECEPT Bituminous Plant Technician Proficiency Certification provides recognition of your skills to conduct sampling and testing of asphalt mixtures

• Why is this needed?• Asphalt mixtures tested by Certified Technicians improves

the reliability of test results • This aids in assuring that the test results are truly

representing the asphalt mixture being placed. Proper testing therefore assures accurate identification of good quality asphalt mixtures and sub-standard mixes

• Records of these test results by a Certified Technician are essential for payment purposes and any potential disputes

• Proficiency in the required sampling and test methods becomes extremely important as PennDOT Projects migrate towards Local Acceptance (LA) and Hands-on Local Acceptance (HOLA) specifications where acceptance testing is performed at the producer’s lab and not at PennDOT’sLaboratory Testing Section (LTS)


NYSDOT Plant Technician Proficiency Program

• Held at Alfred State College – Alfred, NY• Also (1) at Advance Testing – Campbell Hall, NY

• Class is 1 ½ days • Day 1 – Hands on proficiency / oral exam

• 3 stations in AM• 3 stations in PM

• Day 2 – Written exam (open book)

• 12 students per class• Staff - 1 professor and 2 consultants• 100-200 students per year• No experience required


• Day 1 – AM• Demonstrate proficiency and understanding of

procedures/test methods• Three stations – 20 minutes each

• Sampling and splitting • Sieve analysis• Gmb

• Day 1 – PM• Demonstrate proficiency and understanding of


• Gyratory compaction• Gmm• NYSDOT Forms (calculating sample point and QAF)

• Day 2 – AM• Written exam• Open book• Re-test is possible



• Upon successful completion of both proficiency and written exam

• Certification is good for 5 years• Re-certification is required – two methods

• Successfully complete the entire 1 ½ day course againOR

• IAST tests • Two in the past five years with at least one within 24 months of re-

certification date AND• Successfully pass the written exam

• Cost• Full course - $625 NYCMA members ($925 non-members)• Written exam only - $395• http://www.nymaterials.com/Resources/Documents/CMA%202

015%20Brochure.pdf

http://www.nymaterials.com/Resources/Documents/CMA%202015%20Brochure.pdf

• Put on by WVDOT• IAS engineer• Lab technician

• ½ day• Hands-on proficiency

• Sampling / Splitting • Gradation• Marshall compaction• Gyratory compaction• Gmb / Gmm• Marshall stability / flow• Ignition oven

• Written exam?

WVDOT Plant Technician Proficiency Program

• Currently a one-time requirement• However FHWA pressure going to 5-year renewal• Also developing a proficiency program for those

certified with sample throughout the year (similar to AMRL)

WVDOT Plant Technician Proficiency Program


• Manual - Table of Contents• Purpose and Importance• Overview• Administration• Definitions• Technician Manual• Written Examination• Performance Examination• Re-examination• Appeals• Certification• Recertification• Decertification


• Study Guide - Each section contains:• Brief description of how to conduct the procedure• Reprint of the AASHTO or PennDOT Standard• Performance Checklist

• Attachment• Question/Answer Study Guide (not to be used on the

written examination)


• Included Standards• (1) AASHTO R 47 – Standard Practice for Reducing Samples

of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to Testing Size• (2) PTM 702 - Quantitative Extraction of Bitumen From

Bituminous Paving Mixtures• (3) PTM 739 - Sieve Analysis of Extracted Aggregate (on

written test only)• (4) PTM 757 - Determination of Asphalt Content and

Gradation of Bituminous Mixtures By The Ignition Method• (5) AASHTO T 30 - Standard Method of Test for Mechanical

Analysis of Extracted Aggregate• (6) PTM 703 – Method of Calibration For Volumeter (on

written test only)


• Included Standards• (7) PTM 715 - Determination of Bulk Specific Gravity of

Compacted Bituminous Mixtures• (8) PTM 716 - Determination of Bulk Specific Gravity of

Compacted Bituminous Mixtures That Absorb More Than 3.0 Percent Water By Volume (on written test only)

• (9) AASHTO T 209 - Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity (Gmm) and Density of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)

• (10) AASHTO T 312 - Standard Method of Test for Preparing and Determining the Density of Asphalt Mixture Specimens by Means of the Superpave Gyratory Compactor


• To be held at various locations across the state

• TBD• Class is 1 ½ days

• Day 1 – Hands on proficiency / oral exam

• 3 stations in AM• 3 stations in PM

• Day 2 – Written exam (open book)• 12 students per class ???• Staff - 1 lead examiner and 2

assistant examiners• 100-200 students per year ???• Approved experience required


• Day 1 – AM• Demonstrate proficiency and understanding of


• Reducing HMA to Testing Size (AASHTO R 47)• Determination of Asphalt Content (PTM 702 or 757)• Sieve Analysis (AASHTO T 30)

• Day 1 – PM• Demonstrate proficiency and understanding of


• Gmb Determination (PTM 715)• Gmm and HMA Density Determination (AASHTO T 209)• Gyratory Compaction (AASHTO T 312)

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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9y0ToVowowo/UawtJ0hav3I/AAAAAAAABzw/JXgwciBSJ3s/s1600/1.jpg


• Day 2 – AM• Written exam ???• Open book ???• Re-test is possible ???

What’s Next?

• Completion of manual/class structure• Identification of examiners and locations• Secure equipment / materials• Pilot in 2017• Implementation beginning in 2018????• Phased in approach???

Questions?

Gregory A. Harder, P.E.Asphalt InstituteRegional Engineer5791 Route 80Tully, NY 13159

Ph: [email protected]