This program is designed to train and certify technicians to properly sample and test common highway construction aggregates.

Program Information

• Basics of Aggregate Certification Guide
• Class Schedule
• Contacts

Requirements​

Recertification

Aggregate Technician Renewal 8: Quality control technicians retain their certifications for three years, but the source laboratories are recertified annually. Recertification requirements vary depending on the type of aggregate source, but for a standard "C" source, a technician must complete 18 hours of approved training in addition to retaking and passing the laboratory proficiency examination. For technicians employed by companies producing aggregate temporarily from material excavated or recycled on a project, the only requirement for certification and recertification is the laboratory proficiency exam. Additionally, Aggregate technicians seeking to obtain their annual recertification credits can do so online through the Georgia Construction Aggregates Association (GCAA) Website. Their recertification modules are listed under Online Training Course Programs. Up to three modules can be taken for a total of six hours credit. There is a nominal fee for this service and a Laboratory examination will still be needed. The address to the GCAA website is: www.gcaa.org

Certification

Aggregate Technician: This process is designed to certify technicians to properly sample and test highway construction aggregates. Quality Control Technicians acquiring this certification work at typical crushed stone quarries ('C' sources on QPL-2), certain temporary sources ('T' sources on QPL-2), or certain vending yards ('V' sources on QPL-2). Usually, more than one technician becomes certified at each aggregate source. The certification process consists of two parts, a written exam and a laboratory proficiency exam. The company employing the technician is responsible for preparing him/her for the exams. When the technician is ready to take the written exam, he or she contacts the Pit and Quarry Branch and requests to take the exam, which is offered on the first Thursday of each month.

Upon passing the written exam, the Aggregate Engineer assigned to the technician's source visits the source to administer the laboratory proficiency part, which involves the Aggregate Engineer observing the technician properly perform the required tests. If the technician is able to perform the tests properly, and if the laboratory meets our requirements, the technician and the lab are certified, and the technician is issued a certification card listing the tests he/she is certified to perform. The tests may vary slightly depending upon the geological characteristics of the rock mined at his/her particular location.

Technicians retain their certifications for three years, but the source laboratories are recertified annually.

Details of the recertification program may be found in the documents below:

• Standard Operating Procedure No. 1 (SOP 1)
• Qualified Products Lists (QPLs) and Certification

NOTE:  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.  

Standard Operating Procedure No. 1 (SOP 1)

Standard Operating Procedure No. 1 (SOP 1) "Monitoring the Quality of Coarse and Fine Aggregates," is the document that governs how Georgia's Aggregate Quality Assurance Program is administered. It clearly defines what constitutes certifiable aggregates and defines the Department's policies for accepting delivered materials. 

View Standard Operating Procedures – 1 (SOP – 1)

Qualified Products Lists (QPLs) and Certification

Qualified Products Lists (QPL) 1 and 2 list all potential sources of aggregate and specify the acceptance criteria for aggregate delivered from them. Based upon internal Quality Control Programs, most sources listed on the QPL are allowed to certify the quality of their aggregates.

Certified aggregates are allowed to be delivered to the project and incorporated directly into the work without any notification to or pre-testing by the Department being required. Acceptance samples of certified aggregates are taken by the Department at a greatly reduced frequency.

The approved status of a source to certify aggregates is contingent upon their meeting the specifications, strict adherence to source specific Quality Control Programs and compliance with the policies of SOP 1. The Quality Control Programs are prepared by the Department and tailored to the specific source depending upon the nature of the deposit and plant capabilities. The sources are visited by Area Aggregate Engineers on a random but routine basis.

The quality of materials is also monitored by the continual review of test results of samples that are submitted on a regular basis to the Central DOT Laboratory by the Area Aggregate Engineer. The quality of the producer's certification data is also monitored by an Aggregate Rating System that statistically determines when a producer's data is too marginal to be accepted for certification.

Aggregates from sources that are not approved to certify their materials are approved on a stockpile basis only.