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Highway - Construction Section

Inspector Certification Program
Introduction
Quality Assurance Logo
 
The Oregon Department of Transportation has developed an Inspection Quality Assurance Program. The purpose of the program is to provide adequate training and resources for Construction Inspectors and to insure consistent administration of highway construction contracts. 
 
As part of the overall Inspector QA program, ODOT has implemented a Training and Certification Program for Inspectors. The Inspection Certification Program document outlines the Certification Program elements and intent.

Inspectors are required to pass the current applicable Certification examination in order to obtain Inspector Certification(s). Training will be available for each of the Inspector Certifications; however, the Inspector may choose to challenge the exam process by studying the material on their own and passing the exam to become Certified. Training courses usually take place between December 1 and April 30. A form is available to submit your name to be placed on a wait list. Class schedules and registration information are provided below.
 
The intent of the program is that all Inspectors will be required to possess the General Inspector Certification, at a minimum, and discipline specific Inspector Certifications as applicable. However, the program is set up to allow the Project Manager to make the best use of resources. For example, if an individual Inspector will be working on an asphalt paving project, he/she would not be required to obtain the Certification for Bridge Inspection until such a time that he/she is expected to inspect bridge work.

 

 
Contacts
 
Liz Hunt, P.E.
Inspection QA Program Coordinator 
(for overall Program questions/issues)
800 Airport Road SE
Salem, OR 97301
503.986.6629
503.986.3096 (fax)
Lori Butler, Construction Program Analyst
(for cards or Certification database questions/issues)
503.986.3007
503.986.3096 (fax)
 

 
Jason Cieslak   
Inspection QA Specialist
800 Airport Road SE  
Salem, OR  97301
503.986.6630
503.986.3096 (fax)
Greg Stellmach, P.E.
Quality Assurance Engineer
800 Airport Road SE
Salem, OR  97301
503.986.3061
503.986.3096 (fax)

 
How to Become Certified

Information
 
To apply for the Certification, the applicant may either register for one of the approved training courses, where the exam will be administered as part of the course, or submit an application to challenge the exam. The challenge applications will be processed through the Construction Section to facilitate scheduling. There are no fees for taking the challenge exam, however appropriate fees will be charged for hard copies of the training manuals. Copies of the training manuals are available electronically through the Publications page on the web, or individuals may identify on their challenge application to receive a copy of the training manual on a CD. 
 
Inspector Certifications will be valid for a 3 to 5 year period, depending on the certification, after which the Inspector must pass a re-Certification exam to extend their Certification for an additional 3 to 5 years.

 

Register for a Class

Registration for the 2012-13 Inspector Certification training season has begun! Classes are offered from December through March. To register, please click on the link that works best for you.
 
For the current year schedule, click here.
If you work at ODOT, you can register for class at ODOT’s HR Training Website. 
If you do not work at ODOT, use this link to register for classes.
 
For more information regarding inspector certification classes, send an e-mail to Lori Butler.

 

Challenge Exams 
 
An individual may choose to challenge any inspector exam (except for the Traffic Control Supervisor). Individuals may choose to challenge an exam in lieu of taking a class. If an individual fails a challenge exam, the individual must take the training course before being allowed to take another exam.

In addition, an individual may take a challenge exam after he/she has failed the exam following the training course. Then, the individual will be allowed to take a second exam by challenging the exam.
 
If an individual fails an exam twice, there are options to take the exam a third time. For detailed information regarding the testing process refer to the Inspection and Certification Program document.
 
To challenge an exam, the individual is responsible for supplying all the materials except for the Plans and Special Provisions for the General exam which will be provided at the testing location. The materials required are listed on each certification's information page. Links to those pages are provided below.
 
To register to challenge an exam, please go to the Challenge Exam Registration Form. The form includes the challenge exam schedule.
 
General Inspector (CGI)
 
The General Inspector Certification is intended to be a prerequisite, or foundation, for the other discipline specific Certifications. The training course will focus on the General Provisions, Contract Administration, Roles and Responsibilities, etc. Problem Set Questions similar to the types of questions on the General Inspector exam have been assembled. You can access those questions on the General Inspector manual page.
 
The certification is valid for five (5) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
General Inspectors Information
 
If you are new to construction, it is recommended that you at least step through the first module of the National Highway Institute's TCCC Plan Reading Series prior to the Certified General Inspector Training to become familiar with plan reading basics. Also, if it has been a while since your last math class, NHI's TCCC Math Module is useful as background for all of the certification classes. A link to the NHI website is available below in the Other Training Resources section. As an alternate, a Basic Highway Math document is available at this link.
 

 
Bridge Inspector (CBCI)
 
Bridge Inspection training will build on the General Inspector Certification by informing the Inspector of the various types and methods of bridge construction and proper Inspection practice. 
 
The certification is valid for five (5) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
Bridge Inspectors Information 
 
 
Drilled Shaft (CDSI)
 
The goal of this course is to build on the General Inspector Certification by providing Drilled Shaft Foundation Inspectors with the practical knowledge and Standard-of-the-Industry practices for the inspection of drilled shaft foundation construction.
 
The certification is valid for five (5) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
Drilled Shaft Inspectors Information 
 
 
Environmental/Erosion (CECI)

 
The purpose of this class is to build on the General Inspector Certification by training Inspectors to evaluate and document general environmental, erosion and sediment control issues on highway projects as well as to inform Inspectors of permit requirements and Best Management Practices. 

If you have not been ODOT certified as a Certified Environmental Construction Inspector, or have not attended some other erosion control training, it is strongly recommended that you also consider enrolling in the Erosion Control Fundamentals class. The Fundamentals class provides the basic knowledge for understanding what causes erosion and provides information on the erosion control BMPs to prevent and/or control erosion on construction projects.

 
The certification is valid for five (5) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
Environmental/Erosion Control Inspectors Information 
 
 
Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete-HMAC
 
The purpose of the HMAC Inspector class is to build on the General Inspector Certification by providing each participant with information and tools to be an effective HMAC Inspector. Attention is focused on items that can be inspected that are critical to the performance of HMAC and necessary for fulfilling contract documentation requirements.
 
This certification is valid for five (5) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
HMAC Inspectors Information 
 
 
Traffic Signal (CTSI)
 
Traffic Signal Inspection training is designed to build on the General Inspector Certification by providing the training and resources necessary to properly inspect Traffic Signal and Electrical Installations on State Highways. The training focuses on Traffic Signals, but applies to all Electrical Installations. 
 
The certification is valid for three (3) years.
 
How to Become Certified 
Traffic Signal Inspectors Information 
 

 

 

 
 
ODOT Inspector Online Training

 

Inspector Certification Program Overview 
Provides individuals new to the Inspector Certification Program information regarding how to navigate through the program.
          Non-ODOT Employees

          ODOT Employees

 
 
Other Training Resources
 
National Highway Institute (NHI) (No charge web-based NHI Training available for Inspectors)
If you are new to construction, it is recommended that you step through the first module of the TCCC Plan Reading Series prior to the Certified General Inspector Training to become familiar with the plan reading basics. Also, if it has been a while since your last math class, the TCCC Math Module is useful as background for all of the certification classes. As an alternate, a Basic Highway Math document is also available by clicking this link.
 
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and select Training from Subject Index. 
 
Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS)