Soils & Aggregate Lab Technician

The Soils and Aggregate Laboratory Technician Certification Course is designed for those individuals responsible for the laboratory testing of soils and aggregates. Suggested participants would include contractor and supplier laboratory personnel, consultants, testing firms and agency laboratory technicians responsible for the testing of soils and aggregates.

 Certification Process

  1. Meet the prerequisites below for taking the Soils & Aggregate Laboratory Technician Certification Course.
  2. Select a course and register online. 
  3. Attend the Soils & Aggregate Laboratory Technician Certification Course in its entirety.
  4. Successfully pass the written and performance examinations.

Course Prerequisites

  1. High School Diploma, G.E.D. or prior approval from NETTCP
  2. It is strongly recommended that the candidate have at least six (6) months experience working in a laboratory covering the topics that the candidate will be examined on at the course.
  3. The registration form must be signed by a NETTCP certified Soils & Aggregate Laboratory Technician or the candidate’s supervisor that indicates they are aware of the experience recommendations.

Course Outline

AASHTO Process Recommended
Experience		 Test
R 90 Standard Practice for Sampling Aggregates NO W
T 11 Material Finer than 0.75 mm (#200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing YES W,P*
T 21 Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregate for Concrete NO W
T 27 Sieve Analysis for Fine and Coarse Aggregate YES W,P*
T 84 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregates YES W
T 85 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregates YES W
T 88 Particle Size Analysis of Soils NO W

 

T 89		 Determining the Liquid Limit of Soils NO W
T 90 Determining the Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils NO W
T 96 Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine NO W

T 99

T 180

 Moisture Density Relation of Soils YES W,P*
T 104 Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate NO W
T 176 Plastic Fines in Graded Aggregates and Soils by Use of the Sand Equivalent Test NO W
T 224 Correction for Coarse Particles in the Soil Compaction Test NO W
R 76 Reducing Field Samples of Aggregates to Testing Size YES W,P*
T 255 Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying YES W
T 304 Uncompacted Void Content of Fine Aggregate NO W
T 311 Grain-Size Analysis of Granular Soil Materials NO W
ASTM D 2488 Identification of Soils by Visual Procedure NO W,P*
ASTM D 3665 Random Sampling NO W
ASTM D 4791 Test Method for Flat Particles, Elongated Particles or Flat and Elongated Particles in Coarse Aggregate NO W
ASTM D 5821 Test Method for Determining the Percentage of Fractured Particles in Coarse Aggregate NO W

 

Course Exam

  1. Written Examination For New Certification and Re-certification
    • Closed book examination (Approximately 90 questions)
      • Multiple Choice
      • True or False
      • Calculations (Sieve Analysis, Specific Gravity of Coarse Aggregate, Moisture Content, etc...)
    • Written examination must be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) minutes.
  1. Performance Examination for New Certification and Re-Certification
    • Each candidate must perform the following test procedures within the time limits shown:
      • Reducing Sample of Aggregates to Testing Size, 5 min. (AASHTO T 248) 
      • Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates, 15 min. (AASHTO T 27)
      • Moisture Density Relation of Soils, 20 min. (AASHTO T 99)
    • An examiner will utilize a score sheet that will document the candidate’s performance on the various steps within a test procedure.
  1. Passing Grades for New Certification and Re-certification
    • Certification or re-certification will be granted to a candidate who achieves the following:
      • Written Examination - a minimum grade of 70%
      • Performance Examination - a minimum grade of 90% for each test procedure
  1. Re-examination Policies
    • A person failing the written examination but passing the performance examination will be required to retake the written examination only.  Only one (1) re-examination will be allowed.
    • A person failing one (1) performance test and passing the written examination will be required to retake that one (1) performance test only.  Only one (1) re-examination is allowed.
    • A person failing more than one (1) performance test and passing the written examination will be required to retake the entire performance examination.  Only one (1) re-examination is allowed.
    • A person failing one (1) or more of the performance tests and failing the written examination will be required to retake the entire certification course and examinations at full cost.
    • The cost of a re-examination is $100.00 and re-examinations must be completed within six (6) months of the candidate’s initial examination date.

Re-Certification

NETTCP does not offer Re-Certification courses for this Soils & Aggregate Lab Technician.  Please register for a new certification course to maintain your Soil & Aggregate Lab Technician certification. 

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