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You are here: Home / Lake Superior College / MnDOT Technical Certification / Bituminous Plant
Bituminous Plant
Options include:
  • Bituminous Plant Tester
  • Bituminous Mix Designer
  • Recertification for both
Bituminous Plant Tester:
The Bituminous Plant Tester Certification (BPTC) is required for anyone who performs Quality Control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA), or Independent Assurance (IA) sampling and testing of bituminous (asphalt) mixtures. This includes procedures such as sampling, splitting, producing test specimens, maximum and bulk specific gravities, Tensile Strength Ratio (Lottman), spot checks, density core testing, extractions, and gradations, including FAA testing. (See course objectives for a complete and detailed list of test procedures.)

People who have and use this certification work at/for MnDOT (in QC, QA, and IA roles), local agencies (counties and cities), consultants, contractors (the private businesses who are contracted to do construction work), and producers (bituminous plants that supply the materials).

This 3-day introductory course focuses on fundamental information about bituminous (asphalt) and the key methods used to sample, split samples, conduct test procedures, and document and interpret test results to ensure these materials meet roadway and bridge construction quality requirements.
Instruction includes lecture, demonstration, discussion, practice activities, and hands-on lab experiences with the testing procedures. Quizzes, course resources, and content reviews are included to help participants prepare for the written exam and the performance review (completed in a MnDOT lab within one year of the class exam).  [Note: Depending on participants’ prior knowledge and experience, they may want to do additional practice and review before taking the class and/or the exam.]  

Unlike other Technical Certification performance exams that are completed as part of the class lab session, the Bituminous Plant Tester review is done in a MnDOT lab, scheduled by students with their district lab staff. Individuals must successfully complete the Performance Exam by May 15 of the same training season they took the class. Students who have special situations may arrange for an extension to that deadline, up to June 15, as long as they contact the district staff by May 15.  

If the performance evaluation is not completed by the deadline, they must again attend and successfully complete the course to be eligible to schedule another performance review.

Prerequisites:
  • You must be certified in Aggregate Production Tester (APTC) before this certification will be awarded to you.
  • We highly recommend you take the courses in this order: APTC, BPTC.
Expiration and recertification: This certification expires after five seasons. A recertification must be completed before the end of the fifth season. Once a certification is expired, you must complete the full certification course again to be certified.

Learning mode: in person
Professional development hours (PDHs): 18
Lake Superior College course credits possible: 1 (you must complete an LSC course credit form)

Bituminous Plant Tester Recertification:
This 1-day Bituminous Plant Tester Recertification (BPTR) course reviews core knowledge and skills from the initial certification course and provides information on any recent changes to the relevant specifications and test procedures. Instruction includes lecture and discussion. Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss lessons learned in the field. Quizzes, course resources, and content reviews may be included to help participants prepare for the written exam.

The recertification course is not a complete re-teaching of the content but a review with updates for people who have a solid base of the required knowledge and skills. People who have had little or no experience working with their certification since their prior class will want to either: 1) review the course content before taking the recertification class or 2) consider taking the initial certification course instead.

Prerequisite: Your Bituminous Plant Tester Certification must still be current for you to take the recertification course. If your certification has recently expired and you have relevant work experience, you may apply to regain MnDOT certification through a Recently Expired Certification Exam. Otherwise, you must take the initial certification course again to regain certification.

Expiration and recertification: This certification expires after five seasons. A recertification must be completed before the end of the fifth season. Once a certification is expired, you must complete the full certification course again to be certified.

Learning mode: live virtual via Zoom
Professional development hours (PDHs): 6
Lake Superior College course credits available: 0

Bituminous Mix Designer:
The Bituminous Mix Designer Certification (BMDC) is required for 1) agency/owner personnel who design, adjust, verify and/or approve bituminous mix designs and/or their related calculations, and 2) contractor personnel who are responsible for the design, adjustment, calculations, and submittal of bituminous mix designs and/or who supervise quality control testing. Bituminous Mix Designers are required for projects funded by the federal or Minnesota state governments.

People who have and use this certification typically work at MnDOT and local agencies (counties and cities), consultants, contractors (the private businesses who are contracted to do construction work), and producers (bituminous plants that supply the materials).

This advanced 5-day course focuses on why and how to create bituminous mix designs to ensure the materials meet roadway construction quality requirements. These include instructions focused on attaining the proper AC content, gradation, compaction, crushed particles, air voids, density, and durability.

Instruction includes lecture, demonstration, videos, discussion, and practice activities. Quizzes, course resources, and content reviews are included to help participants prepare for the written exam and performance.

Depending on participants’ prior knowledge and experience, they may want to do additional practice and review before taking the class and/or the exam.

Upon successful completion of the course and written examination, the student must develop a bituminous mix design (2360) and submit it with all required documentation and related mixture materials to the MnDOT Maplewood Lab for verification. Submittals must be delivered to the MnDOT Maplewood Lab no later than one year from the date of the last day of class. If the mix design is not submitted and verified within that one year, the individual will be required to re-attend and successfully complete the class again, including verification of a submitted mix design, to be eligible for certification in this area.

Prerequisites:
  • You must be certified in Aggregate Production Tester (APTC) and Bituminous Plant Tester (BPTC) before this certification will be awarded to you.
  • We highly recommend you take the courses in this order: APTC, BPTC, BMDC.
  • Strong math skills are also required.
     
Expiration and recertification: This certification expires after five seasons. A recertification must be completed before the end of the fifth season. Once a certification is expired, you must complete the full initial certification course again to be certified.

Learning mode: in person
Professional development hours (PDHs): 30
Lake Superior College course credits possible: 2 (you must complete an LSC course credit form)

Bituminous Mix Designer Recertification:
This 1-day Bituminous Mix Designer Recertification (BMDR) course reviews core knowledge and skills from the initial certification course and provides information on any recent changes to the relevant specifications and test procedures.
Instruction includes lecture, demonstration, discussion, and practice activities. Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss lessons learned in the field. Quizzes, course resources, and content reviews are included to help participants prepare for the written exam.

The recertification course is not a complete re-teaching of the content but a review with updates for people who have a solid base of the required knowledge and skills. People who have had little or no experience working with their certification since their prior class will want to either 1) review the course content before taking the recertification class or 2) take the initial certification course instead.

Prerequisites:  Your Bituminous Mix Designer Certification must still be current for you to take the recertification course. If your certification has recently expired and you have relevant work experience, you may apply to regain MnDOT certification through a Recently Expired Certification Exam. Otherwise, you must take the initial certification course again to regain certification.

Expiration and recertification: This certification expires after five seasons. A recertification must be completed before the end of the fifth season. Once a certification is expired, you must complete the full certification course again to be certified.

Learning mode: live virtual via Zoom
Professional development hours (PDHs): 6
Lake Superior College course credits: 0
 
If a date shows (Waiting List) that means the class is full. You can put yourself on the waiting list and if there is a cancellation, we'll let you know! We may also open a new section of the class if there are enough people on the waiting lists. If we do, we'll notify everyone on the waiting lists.
Registration Confirmation:
Once registered, you should receive an immediate email confirmation (please check your spam folder). If you do not receive an email confirmation or need additional assistance, please contact Iris Hiemenz at iris.hiemenz@lsc.edu or call 218-733-7680.

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Cancellations: The college reserves the right to cancel classes with insufficient enrollment; payment is then automatically refunded. If we have to cancel your class, you can request a full refund of your tuition or transfer to another course of your choice, space permitting.
To Register: Click on a program category above and select your class, or use the "search" feature at top of page.
Refund Policy: (Also applies to purchase orders) Full refunds will be given to any student/company canceling within the required timeframe set for each class. For specific timeframe please check the class description and/or your registration confirmation email. Student and/or companies will incur all charges with no refund if student does not drop the course within the required timeframe.