Why take PIC?
Constructing high-quality asphalt pavement is the goal of the asphalt paving industry. Often overlooked is the importance of effective inspection during paving in achieving that goal. Effective inspection at every stage of the operation, by both the owner and contractor employees, can be the difference between a poor or excellent performing pavement.
Asphalt Institute’s Paving Inspector Certification (PIC) is an ideal orientation course for all new personnel. By implementing PIC as introductory training, owners can be confident that new employees understand the basics of asphalt construction and typical inspector duties. Passing the test for each module and earning the Asphalt Institute Paving Inspector Certification indicates that the new inspector understands the 16 hours of instruction and is equipped with the fundamental knowledge to effectively perform their critical role.
Experienced personnel will find information that will augment their current knowledge of construction processes. While the PIC course content begins with the basics, it also includes a substantial amount of information that will benefit highly experienced inspectors. Those earning certification will have tangible evidence of their knowledge level for all aspects of asphalt materials and paving. This also assures owners that their asphalt inspection staff has a level of competence necessary to be truly effective.For the on-demand option, the course includes eight modules, each varying in length from 60 to 135 minutes. The estimated time to complete the eight modules (not including time to write the exams) is 14 hours. The estimated time including exams is 16 hours. The actual times will depend to a great extent on the individual’s experience level.
Students will have 12 months from enrollment to complete all 8 modules and obtain their certification.
For the in-person offering, students will complete the entire course during the two-day class and obtain their certification upon passing the exam.
Asphalt Institute’s Paving Inspector Certification (PIC) course covers the fundamental information that all asphalt paving personnel should know. It covers information essential for inspection and project management personnel to ensure asphalt pavements reach their intended service life. The web-based version of the certification course allows users to progress at their own pace and includes the new Asphalt Institute MS-22: Construction of Quality Asphalt Pavements manual for those who register for the full, 8-module certification course. The in-person option will cover the same content over a two-day period.
The PIC program will satisfy many of the personnel qualification requirements identified in ASTM D3666, Standard Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials. Because there are thousands of roadway and airfield agencies across the globe with differing policies and requirements, it is up to each registrant to determine whether or not their local agency accepts Asphalt Institute’s pavement inspection certification.
Taught from a National Perspective
Pavement owners and agencies typically have detailed processes and procedures to which a local inspector must adhere. This course is taught from a national perspective to give the students a thorough understanding of why all these processes and procedures are important to assure a quality project. Each student is encouraged to review and understand the local requirements for the owner/agency on each individual project.
Applicable to Airfield Paving
While the course modules often discuss their respective topics in the context of highway paving, the concepts and methods also apply to airfield paving. Project specifications and requirements will always differ among owner agencies, whether it be for a roadway or an airfield. Yet the fundamental knowledge required of an effective inspector to ensure a quality asphalt paving project remains constant and is the basis of the PIC course.
A certification course named Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector Certification (AA-PIC) is being developed by Asphalt Institute for inspectors of military airfield projects. The AA-PIC course will cover details of Unified Facility Guide Specifications (UFGS) Section 32 12 15.13 that an inspector needs to understand. The AA-PIC course falls under the Airfield Asphalt Certification Program (AACP). Click here to learn more about AACP and the AA-PIC course.
Exams
Each module in the PIC course includes an exam that students must successfully complete to receive the certification. After completing all module exams, the student will be certified as an Asphalt Institute Paving Inspector.
Exam Requirements:
- Open-book and open-notes exam.
- 80% minimum score to pass a module.
- Students cannot advance to the next module until successfully completing the current presentation and passing the exam.
- If a student fails an exam, they will be able to retake the exam after 2 hours, without seeing which questions they answered correctly/incorrectly.
- If a student fails an exam, they will be required to complete the presentation before unlocking the test again.
- If a student fails an exam 3 times, they will be contacted by an Asphalt Institute representative to assist.
- When a student passes the exam, they will receive answers to all the questions in the exam.