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You are here: Home / Lake Superior College / MnDOT Technical Certification / Grading and Base
Grading and Base
Grading and Base Course Options:
  • Grading and Base Tester
  • Grading and Base Inspector
  • Grading and Base Tester Recertification 
  • Grading and Base Inspector Recertification 
Grading and Base Tester:
The Grading and Base Tester Certification (GBTC) is required for anyone who performs Quality Control (QC), Quality Assurance (QA), or Independent Assurance (IA) sampling and testing of grading and base (the soil, sand, and rocks used in roadway and bridge construction). This includes procedures such as moisture test for soils and aggregates representative sampling, moisture-density (Proctor), and in-place field density test. (See course objectives for a complete and detailed list of test procedures.)

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

This introductory 2-day course focuses on fundamental information about grading and base materials (the soil, sand, and rocks used in roadway and bridge construction) and the key methods used to sample, conduct test procedures, and document 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 and lab-based performance exams.  Depending on participants’ prior knowledge and experience, they may want to do additional practice and review before taking the class and/or the exam.

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


Grading and Base Inspector:
The Grading and Base Inspector Certification (GBIC) is required for agency/owner personnel acting as an Inspector on grading and base materials, activities, and placements done as part of roadway and bridge projects. People who have and use this certification work as Inspectors at MnDOT and local agencies (counties and cities).It is not always required that a local agency provide a Grading and Base Inspector for each grading and base project, although they may choose to do so. This Inspector may be assigned to several projects at one time in a Lead Inspector capacity.

This advanced 3-day course focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to serve as an Inspector on grading and base projects, working to ensure these materials meet roadway and bridge construction quality requirements. Topics include Inspector roles and responsibilities, subgrade soils and soils identification, excavation and embankment construction, base construction, cold mix asphalt, pavement reclamation, turf establishment, geosynthetic applications, and compliance with labor laws.

Instruction includes lecture, demonstration, discussion, and practice activities.
Quizzes, course resources, and content reviews are included to help participants prepare for the written exam. Depending on participants’ prior knowledge and experience, they may want to do additional practice and review before taking the class and/or the exam.

Prerequisites:
  • You must be certified in Aggregate Production Tester (APTC) and Grading and Base Tester (GBTC) before this certification will be awarded to you.
  • We highly recommend you take the courses in this order: APTC, GBTC.
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: 2 (you must complete an LSC course credit form)


Grading and Base Tester Recertification:
This 1-day  Grading & Base Tester Recertification (GBTR) course reviews sampling and testing knowledge and skills from the initial Grading & Base tester 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 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) Consider taking the initial certification course instead.

Prerequisite: Your Grading and Base 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: 0


Grading and Base Inspector Recertification:
This 1-day Grading and Base Inspector Recertification (GBIR) course reviews inspection knowledge and skills from the initial Grading & Base Inspector 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 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) Consider taking the initial certification course instead.

Prerequisites: Your Grading and Base Inspector 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 modes: in person, 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.