Technician Training and Certification
Inspection Services Branch Technician Certification
The Inspection Services Branch conducts a variety of certifications for external customers as part of OMR's technician certification program. Certificates are not awarded as part of our program except in the case of welder certifications.
Field Welder Certification
The Inspection Services Branch provides welder qualification testing for all field welders in accordance with the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Welding Code of D1.5 Welding Code. Field welders are defined as those who perform welding operations outdoors on project sites. Examples of the types of field welding performed are as follows:
- Structural steel beam and girder splicing
- Steel diaphragm and cross-frame connections.
- H-pile splicing
- Pipe pile splicing
- Jack and bore pipe splicing
- Rebar splicing
- Metal deck form welding
Welder qualification tests are tailored to suit the specific type of weld joint and weld position to be encountered in the field. Tests are conducted at OMR every Wednesday at the test station located at the north side of the building between Dock A and the machine shop overhead door. Welders are required to bring their own welding equipment, electrodes, and test plates. Test plates are evaluated for visual requirements first. Test plants meeting visual requirements are submitted to the Physical Lab for destructive testing. Welders whose test plates meet visual and destructive testing are issued certification cards valid for one year from their test date.
Concrete Pipe/Precast Technician (CPT)
The Inspection Services Branch provides certification of quality control technicians at GDOT approved concrete pipe and precast facilities. These facilities are listed on OMR's QPL 4. These technicians must successfully pass written and practical examinations in order to become certified to inspect and approve products for use on GDOT construction projects. Successful technicians are issued a "CPT" stencil with their own unique certification number which is valid indefinitely. Manufactured products that meet GDOT specification requirements are stenciled with this number prior to shipment to GDOT construction projects.
This program is designed to train and certify technicians to properly sample and test common highway construction materials. It is important for employers and industry personnel to understand that these certifications are on a very basic level and do not imply that a technician is qualified to do anything more than sample and/or test materials. That is to say, they are certified to provide data to industry experts who interpret the data and make decisions based on their level of expertise.
Notice: This page is for informational purposes only at this time. This certification program is still under development and information will be posted as it becomes available.