Construction Inspection Certification Program (CICP)

1. Construction Inspection Certification Program (CICP) Devin Townsend, P.E.

2. Overview of the CICP • Goal: • Develop a strategic plan for implementing a Construction Inspector Certification Program • Objective: • Determine inspection disciplines • Develop the minimum certification requirements for inspectors • Compile a manual describing the inspection categories, cert requirements, and a program implementation plan.

3. Overview of the CICP • Why? • Establish standard training minimum for Construction Inspection Personnel • Develop knowledge base for employees • Improve consistency in training across the state • Prepare NDOR for possible future certification requirements • Administered through NDOR’s Learning Management System

4. Involvement in CICP • The CICP Team • 3 District Construction Engineers • HR Workforce Development Manager, • Highway Project Manager • Materials & Research • Sponsors: • Deputy Director of Operations • Construction Engineer & Materials Engineer • 3 District Engineers • Program Management Engineer • Stakeholders: • Deputy Director-Engineering, DE’s, DH, DCE’s, PM’s, FHWA.

5. CICP Research & Planning • Other State DOT’s training programs • Analysis for easy correlation with NDOR business practices • Which training resources? • Existing • No cost • Establish a link to other NDOR reference materials.

6. Manual • Identified Key Disciplines • Based on Construction Manual Sections • Identify Skills and Proficiencies within each discipline • Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

7. Curriculum & Matrix Highlights • Identifies courses that provide the proficiency skills in each discipline • Required and Optional • Most employees will have the majority of required training already • Intended to be a “living” curriculum.

8. Curriculum & Matrix Highlights • Construction Project Personnel • Construction Technician I & II (CT I & II) • Entry level inspectors • Engineer I & II (E I & II) • Engineering grads w/ FE • Construction Technician III (CT III) • Lead inspector • Construction Technician IV (CT IV) • Survey Party Chief • Runs smaller projects • Highway Project Manager

9. Curriculum & Matrix Highlights • Existing requirements for CTI to CTII • Math, Plan Reading, Bridge Plan Reading. • Required CTII Content • Basic Certification Classes + Web-based training • Sampling/Testing: ACI, Earthwork, etc. • WBT classes: FHWA Ethics, Office, PPE classes, etc.

10. Curriculum & Matrix Highlights • Required CTIII/E I & II Content • Traffic, MS Office classes, HR “Soft” skills • Required CTIV/PM Content • Critical Path Schedules, PM Conference, NDOR Supervisor’s Class.

11. Implementation • Preliminary Phase • Planning (Complete) • Phase 1: Roll Out • Now – Oct 1st, 2015 • 18 months to complete “required” classes • Phase 2: Full Implementation • All Employees will be “certified” at their level • New employees: 6 months to complete reqs • Existing employees who advance: 1 year to complete reqs

12. Continuing Maintenance Requirements (CMRs) • Beginning Oct 1st, 2016 • Continued development • 2 classes per year • “Optional” classes in the matrix • CMR classes cannot be repeated for credit for 5 years

13. Training Histories • Compilation of multiple training tracking systems • Courses taken over the last 5 years will count towards the requirement • History will be in the EDC • Something Missing? • Each employee is asked to review their training histories

14. CICP Challenges • Change in Culture • First, Non-professional, certification requirement • Ease of Administration • Gathering Training Histories • Different tracking systems • Communication • 450+ employees affected • Employee Buy In

15. Questions?

16. Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TC3)

17. TC3 Overview • Partnership • State DOT’s, AASHTO, FHWA/NHI, and Industry • Provide national guidance and facilitate coordination of the development of training products • Construction, Maintenance, and Materials technical focus • Standardize technical training materials • Develop a national core curriculum for use by any agency

18. Recent Changes • After 12 years working in close partnership with FHWA • AASHTO Technical Service Program • Approved by AASHTO Board of Directors at the 2013 spring meeting • Trade Mark Rebranding

19. AASHTO Partnership • Opportunity for a broader and more influential reach • Goals and mission are aligned • Both are state-run organizations with state-serving interests • No federal restrictions • Ability to move toward a self-sustaining program, as opposed to operating year-to-year

20. Course Development • Process: • “Call for Course” requests are sent out and the responses summarized. • An analysis is conducted to make sure there isn’t already web based courses available. • Courses are prioritized for consideration • Courses are checked against the competency matrices to make sure course goals are aligned • The course requests that meet the criteria are then prioritized. • Courses are included in a new development contract • Development Goal: • 20 hours of web based training developed per year

21. TC3 Benefits • Provide quality, relevant course materials developed by subject mater experts from around the nation. • Helps State DOTs, FHWA, and others leverage resources and save money

22. Recent Updates • TC3 Mobile App Release – January 2014 • New Council Members - February 2014 • New Committee Structure – February 2014 • A look into the Future • Recruit More State Support • Self-Sustaining Program • Expand Curriculum • Outreach to new Industry Partners • AASHTO TC3 Training Platform

23. Questions?