Concrete Strength Testing Technician

The Concrete Strength Testing Technician course covers the testing of compressive and flexural strength of hardened concrete. This course follows the format of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) certification for Concrete Strength Testing Technician, and also provides the nationally recognized ACI certification.

Course Options

There are two course options, including in-person and test only.

  1. The standard 2 ½ day in-person course is recommended for new technicians.
  2. The Test Only Option requires technicians to view online training modules and successfully complete an online quiz prior to the testing date. The technician will then attend an in-person testing session to complete written and performance exams.

Concrete Strength - Test Only Option

Pre-Requisite Requirements

The Basic Aggregates Testing Technician course is a required pre-requisite for the Concrete Strength Testing Technician course.  CTTP certification in Concrete Strength Testing Technician will only be granted if the Basic Aggregates pre-requisite requirement is met.  If Basic Aggregates is not completed, the technician will only receive the ACI Concrete Strength Testing certification.

This course is not intended to provide basic training, but rather to serve as a refresher and evaluation leading to certification.  Prior to attending the course, participants should have a working knowledge of hardened concrete testing methods, as well as the mathematical calculations associated with those methods.  Experience in physically performing these test methods is strongly recommended.  Online review materials may also be benefecial in preparing for this class.

Concrete Strength Review Materials

Specifications

Specifications and methods included in the Concrete Strength Testing Technician course include:

  • AASHTO T 22 / ASTM C39 Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
  • AASHTO T 22 / ASTM C1231 Use of Unbonded Caps in Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Concrete Cylinders
  • AASHTO T 24 / ASTM C42 Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete 
  • AASHTO T 97 / ASTM C78 Flexural Strength of Concrete 
  • AASHTO T 106 / ASTM C109 Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortar (Using 50-mm or 2-in. Cube Specimens) 
  • AASHTO T 148 / ASTM C174 Measuring Length of Drilled Concrete Cores 
  • AASHTO T 231 / ASTM C617 Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

Supplies and Equipment

All necessary equipment and supplies used in the Concrete Strength 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, participants 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 Concrete Strength Testing course will begin at 1:00 pm on Day 1 unless otherwise stated, with check-in from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.  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 no later than 2:00 pm on Day 3.   More information can be found in the Detailed Course Schedule.  Participants who do not attend the entire class will not be allowed to take the exams.

Exams

The Concrete Strength Testing Technician certification requires each participant to pass both a written and a performance exam published by the American Concrete Institute.  The written exam is closed-book, and subject to a one-hour time limit.  In order to receive certification, a minimum of 70% of all questions must be answered correctly on the entire written portion of the exam, and at least 60% of the questions must be answered correctly within each section of the written exam.

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 Concrete Strength Testing performance exam consists of multiple stations, including:

  • ASTM C617 Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
  • ASTM C39 & C1231 Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens & Unbonded Caps
  • ASTM C78 Flexural Strength of Concrete

Participants who fail either the written or performance exam may re-take the failed exam within one year of the date of the original attempt, as allowed by ACI policies.  If both the written and performance components are not successfully completed within one year of the original attempt, then both the written and performance exams must be repeated.  Note that for this certification, a participant may re-test without attending the full course.  However, pass rates are higher for participants who attend the entire class when re-testing.

Certification

Upon successful completion of both the written and performance exams, participants will receive a five-year certification in Concrete Strength Testing from CTTP, as well as a five-year certification from the American Concrete Institute.  Certified individuals will receive a CTTP certificate and pocket card, and will be added to the CTTP website list of Certified Technicians.  Expiration dates will be determined according to ACI policy.

CTTP will grant reciprocal certification in Concrete Strength Testing if a technician currently holds the Concrete Strength Testing Technician certification from the American Concrete Institute.  However, the Basic Aggregates pre-requisite requirement must also be met.  The CTTP certification will be granted only after the successful completion of the Basic Aggregates course, and proof of ACI certification is provided to CTTP.  No CTTP certification for this course will be granted without successful completion of the Basic Aggregates course.

Recertification in Concrete Strength Testing may be achieved by either:

  1. Successful completion of the standard 2 ½ day Concrete Strength Testing Technician course, or
  2. Successful completion of the Concrete Strength Testing Technician – Test Only Option.

All policies pertaining to each of these options will apply.

Registration

ARDOT employees may register for this course by contacting Dorothy Rhodes at dorothy.rhodes@ardot.gov .  All others should Click Here to Register.  Applicable fees will be assessed.