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Technician Certification Program



This is part of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s effort to ensure quality control and quality assurance for the construction of transportation facilities.

People in a classroom

This program is designed to develop and maintain a pool of well-trained technicians to perform material field tests for both quality assurance and quality control purposes.

All technician certification programs must be approved by the Certification Advisory Committee.

ODOT’s Quality Assurance Program requires all personnel and laboratories performing materials testing to be certified. This requirement applies to project personnel working as a technician for the state, contractors or consultants on such projects.

Certification Database

ODOT is a member of the Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction. WAQTC consists of 11 western states committed our transportation system's quality.

WAQTC has developed a technician training program. The instructional and student modules are used to train material field-tested procedures processes. ODOT has adopted the training packages material testing certifications, except for ODOT-specific certifications or requirements, and those controlled by entities other than WAQTC such as:

  • Certified Asphalt Technician
  • Concrete Control Technician
  • Concrete Mix Design Technician
  • Quality Control Technician

For more information on the Technician Certification Program or test procedures used in Oregon, refer to the Manual of Field Test Procedures.

Technicians must pass a written and/or a practical test to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in performing specific tests required for certification. All tests are administered and assessed by evaluators approved by the Certification Advisory Committee Chair, or their designated representative.

Attend a Training

You may register for an approved training class. Links to register are listed at the bottom of this page under Technician Certifications. The exam will be administered as part of the class. Or, you may submit an application to challenge the exam.

If you fail an exam from the training class, you will be allowed to retake the exam as outlined in the Manual of Field Test Procedures. If you do not pass the second time, you must retake training before you will be allowed to retake the exam.

Challenge Exams

Applications to challenge an exam will be submitted through the approved training program to facilitate scheduling. See Technician Certifications at the bottom of this page with the training program for specific certifications.

Appropriate fees will be charged for the challenge exams to cover scheduling, overhead and facility use. Applicants will be scheduled for examination through a cooperative effort between ODOT and the appropriate training program service provider.

If you do not pass a challenge exam, you must take training before you will be allowed to take another exam.

As a technician, you must recertify prior to the expiration date of an existing certification in order to maintain your credential. Recertification is obtained by passing the written and/or practical test required for a given certification.

You are responsible for scheduling your own recertification exam.

Should you fail to successfully complete a certification renewal in a specialty area, you will be considered disqualified in that area until the requirements for certification renewal have been successfully met.

All certifications shall be contingent upon the technicians signing a rights and responsibilities agreement.

This agreement details the expectations for technician conduct along with the consequences of the abuse and or neglect of these responsibilities. Signed agreements are due at the time a technician takes the certification exam.

Example Agreement

This document affirms that ____________________, hereinafter the Technician, desires to be certified by the Oregon Department of Transportation as a ____________________.

This certification carries inherent rights and responsibilities. These rights include being exclusively sanctioned along with others so certified by ODOT to perform sampling, testing, and reporting of test results for quality control and quality assurance programs. These responsibilities include performing and reporting tests with the accuracy and precision expected of the Technician in accordance with the required test procedures.

Abuse of these rights and responsibilities shall be penalized upon recommendation by the Certification Advisory Committee Chair. Penalties, as prescribed herein, may be assessed for abuse of the rights and prerogatives conferred upon the Technician by this certification. Abuse is defined as intentional deviations from approved procedures. A finding of abuse shall result in a one year suspension of certification. Any subsequent instance of abuse shall result in permanent revocation of certification. Permanent revocation of certification shall result in that person being ineligible for any ODOT certification at any level.

I, ____________________, have read, understand and agree to abide by the rights, responsibilities and penalties and affirm that this warrant expires no later than ____ (_) years from the date of execution.

(Date) _____________ (Signature) ____________________

Upon the successful completion of an examination, the technician will be added to the official registry of certified technicians for the appropriate certification. The official registry is maintained by ODOT.

It is anticipated that many technicians will hold multiple certifications. Each certified technician will receive a laminated wallet-size identification card, indicating all areas of certification, and official letter(s) indicating certification(s) held.

Contact the Construction Section

800 Airport Road SE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: 503-986-4336

Program Contacts

For general program questions:
Phone: 503-986-6631
Cell: 503-710-2562
 
For certification database questions:
Cell: 503-437-4523
 

Technician Certifications

IMPORTANT - FOR ODOT EMPLOYEES: Please review REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS before enrolling in a training course.