Basic Aggregates Testing Technician

The Basic Aggregates Testing Technician course is a mandatory pre-requisite course to each of the following technician training/certification courses:  Concrete Field Testing Technician, Hot Mix Asphalt Testing Technician, Soils Testing Technician, and Concrete Strength Testing Technician.  Those seeking certification in more than one area may take Basic Aggregates immediately prior to another course.

This course covers sampling and testing of aggregates used in gradework, base courses, portland cement concrete and hot-mix asphalt, with particular emphasis on gradation and specific gravity determinations.

Pre-Requisite Requirements

This course is not intended to provide basic training, but rather to serve as a refresher and evaluation.  Prior to attending the course, participants should have a working knowledge of the testing of aggregates in the laboratory and field, and the mathematical calculations associated with those methods.  Experience in laboratory testing methods is strongly recommended.

There are no pre-requisite courses for the Basic Aggregates Testing Technician course.

Basic Aggregates Review Materials

Specifications

The procedures covered in this course are those prescribed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Standard Specifications for Highway Construction and related specifications, including:

  • AASHTO R 76 Reducing Field Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
  • AASHTO R 90 Sampling of Aggregates
  • AASHTO T 11 Materials Finer that 75-mm (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing
  • AASHTO T 21 Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregate for Concrete
  • AASHTO T 27 Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
  • AASHTO T 84 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
  • AASHTO T 85 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
  • AASHTO T 255 Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying
  • ARDOT 35 Method of Sampling Stone, Gravel and Sand for use as Highway Materials
  • ARDOT 302 Deleterious Matter in Aggregate
  • ARDOT 304 Crushed Particles in Aggregate
  • ARDOT 348 Moisture Content of Soils or Aggregates
  • ARDOT 465 Procedure for Sampling by Random Number Table 

ACI Certification

The ACI Aggregate Testing Technician Certification is also available in conjunction with (or in lieu of) the Basic Aggregates course.  Those interested in obtaining this nationally-recognized certification must notify CTTP at least two weeks prior to the Basic Aggregates course date to allow for shipment of testing materials.  Based on availability and shipping times, requests received on short notice may be denied.  Please note that holding the ACI Aggregate Testing Technician Certification does not result in automatic or reciprocal CTTP certification in Basic Aggregates.

Two CTTP classes, Concrete Field Testing Technician and Concrete Strength Testing Technician, are tested with exams furnished by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).  Students may take either of the courses without the Basic Aggregates pre-requisite and will receive the ACI certification. No CTTP certification for these courses will be received until completion of the Basic Aggregates course.

Supplies and Equipment

All necessary equipment and supplies used in the Basic Aggregates Testing Technician course will be furnished by CTTP. A course notebook and pencil is provided to each participant.  Calculators may be borrowed from CTTP; however, students are often more comfortable bringing a calculator with which they are familiar, and routinely use.  Other items that may be useful include a straightedge or ruler, pen, pencil, and highlighter.

CTTP course participants are required to wear applicable personal protective equipment in the laboratory, including long pants, closed-toe shoes, and safety glasses.  Safety glasses, gloves, and other personal protective equipment may be borrowed from CTTP during the class.

Course Schedule

Each Basic Aggregates course will begin at 8:30 am on Day 1 unless otherwise stated, with check-in and registration from 8:00 am to 8:30 am.  Classroom and laboratory instruction will be provided on Day 1 and Day 2.  Written and performance exams will be given on Day 3, with the course concluding at approximately noon on Day 3.  More information can be found in the Detailed Course Schedule.

Exams

The Basic Aggregates certification requires a passing score on both a written and a performance exam.  The written exam is closed-book, and covers the material presented in class.  There is a two-hour time limit for the written exam, and a minimum score of 70% is required to pass.  Performance exams must be performed individually, and are graded on a “pass/fail” basis.  Participants must perform all methods correctly in order to pass the performance portion of the course.  Two attempts are allowed at each station.The Basic Aggregates performance exam consists of six stations, including:

  • AASHTO R 76: Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
  • AASHTO T 11: Materials Finer that 75-mm (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing
  • AASHTO T 21: Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
  • AASHTO T 27: Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
  • AAHSTO T 84: Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
  • AASHTO T 85: Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate

Participants who do not pass the Basic Aggregates Testing Technician course by failure of either the written or performance exam will be required to repeat the entire course.

Certification

Upon successful completion of both the written and performance exams, participants will receive a five-year CTTP certification in Basic Aggregates.  Certified individuals will receive a CTTP certificate and pocket card, and will be added to the CTTP website list of  Certified Technicians.  Expiration dates occur on a semi-annual basis, and will be either June 30 or December 31 after the five-year certification period.

Technicians are only required to successfully complete the standard 2 ½ day course once.  Recertification in Basic Aggregates may be performed online.  For online recertification, a series of review modules must be completed, followed by a Final Quiz.  A minimum score of 80% must be achieved on the Final Quiz.  The online recertification process requires each technician have a unique email address, username, and password, and technicians must be logged in to successfully complete the recertification process.  The online recertification may be accessed from the Basic Aggregates Certification Renewal Page.