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WV Transportation

WV Department of Transportation

Aggregate Technician Certificate Training Requirements


Overview:
The Aggregate Technician Training program will be a self-driven, online-based learning experience. The in-person classes will be taught as refresher courses and the students will be expected to have completed all of the online material prior to attending. All resources required to obtain an Aggregate Technician Certificate or an Aggregate Technician Re-Certification will be available to the public on this web page below.​

These resources include the Aggregate Technician Instruction Manual, Aggregate Technician Workshop Exercises, and an Aggregate Technician Handout packet. 
 
The Aggregate Technician Instruction Manual:

The Aggregate Technician Instruction Manual includes a comprehensive walkthrough of procedures performed by West Virginia certified Aggregate Technicians. A study guide for the Practical Exam is included in the beginning of this manual to aid in preparing for performing the physical tests in a laboratory setting. Examples of worksheets used in the calculations needed to complete the laboratory procedures are presented throughout each chapter. Study questions are listed at the end of each chapter to provide examples of knowledge required to pass the written/online portion of the certification class.

Aggregate Technician Manual

Aggregate Technician Manual Appendix

Aggregate Technician Workshop Exercises:

The workshop exercises are examples of the types of questions that are included on both the online/written exam and the practical exam. The answers to each workshop exercise are included at the end of the Workshop Exercise packet and are organized by chapter.

 Aggregate Technician Workshop Exercises​

Aggregate Technician Handouts:
The Aggregate Technician Handouts packet includes supplemental information such as specification references and a few calculations not covered in the manual. Also included in this handout packet are detailed visual instructions on how to properly complete a T-300 aggregates gradation form for fine, coarse and combination gradations.

 Aggregate Technician Handouts​

Testing
The online/written exam will include 80 questions pertaining to the information presented in the manual, handouts, and the latest version of the West Virginia 

Standard Specifications of Roads and Bridges. These specifications can be found at the following link:
https://stg-transportation.wv.gov/highways/contractadmin/specifications/2017StandSpec/Documents/2017_Standard.pdf

**If the link directly to the .pdf does not work, use the following link directly to the WVDOT page for Specifications and Documents and follow the links to the current version of the Standard Specifications:
https://stg-transportation.wv.gov/highways/contractadmin/specifications/Pages/default.aspx​

All digital versions of the WV Standard Specifications, Construction Manual and Supplemental Specifications can be found on this website.

A score of 70% on the online/written exam will be considered a “passing” score and the Technician will then schedule a time With the Instructors for a Practical Exam.

The Practical Exam will be a physical test of the Technician’s knowledge of the procedures covered in the manual. It will be necessary for the Aggregate Technician to have the skills to complete the workshop exercises and physical procedures properly to pass the practical exam. There are eight (8) procedures in the manual which the Technicians are required to have the ability to proficiently perform. 

Expectations of Knowledge and Skills

Participants will be required to complete the self-guided learning course, complete all the workshop  exercises and be comfortable  completing the laboratory forms for all aggregate procedures before the beginning of the Aggregate Technician Training School. This will ensure the knowledge and skills for obtaining the Aggregate Technician Certification are gained before the class begins, allowing for an accelerated review of the material.
Thorough knowledge of the seven AASHTO procedures and one Materials Procedure (MP) in the appendix of the Manual will be required to perform the practical exam. 

The Aggregate Technician class will be focused on the procedures in the practical exam and will answer any last-minute questions about the Aggregate Technician Instruction Manual’s content. The class will be a review of the material, rather than an introduction to the material. This will allow the class to maintain a smaller size while continuing to provide a meaningful training experience for everyone.

Communication

During the Technician’s process of self-guiding through the Aggregate Technician Instruction Manual, if any questions or concerns arise from the material provided, the Technician may contact the Aggregate Instructors via the email address provided below:
dohmcsntaggregate@wv.gov.

The Aggregates Group at MCS&T will respond to the emails either by email, or for more involved responses, via telephone. Be sure to include your contact information (email address and phone number) in any communications regarding the class material for the Instructors reference.

Instructional Videos for the Aggregate Technician Practical
The following links provide videos of WVDOH Aggregate Section Employees performing the requisit aggregate tests:

Coarse Aggregate Specific Gravity
Fine Aggregate Specific Gravity
Aggregate Gradation
Liquid and Plastic Limits
T-11 Wash Test
Unit Weight​

ACI Aggregate Testing Technician
If an individual holds a current ACI Aggregate Testing Technician - Grade I Certification, they may become a West Virginia Department of Highways Certified Aggregate Technician by submitting the proper ACI documentation and passing a West Virginia Division of Highways online certification exam.
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