2024 VECAT CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED IN CLASSROOM AND ONLINE.  CLASSES ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Classroom courses may be held at the following Virginia CC locations:
Germanna CC ‐ Fredericksburg Center for Advanced Technology (FREDCAT)
1325 Central Park Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA. 22401 (540.891.3012)
Germanna CC ‐ Daniel Technology Center
18121 Technology Dr., Culpeper, VA. 22701 (540.891.3000)

Registration for all VECAT courses must be completed online at www.germanna.edu. Credit card information must be provided at the time of registration.

WONDERING WHICH VECAT PARTNER TO CONTACT?

  • Class size, when held in person, is limited to 20-24 individuals per location, so make sure to register early to ensure a seat.
  • Enrollment of students must be completed by one student at a time (if there are multiple students needing enrollment) so that a unique Germanna ID can be assigned to each student. This ID will be used to access the courses on Germanna’s Canvas system.

If you have additional questions about the course registration process or testing procedures, contact Judith Calvert, Germanna CC at (540) 937-6757. For all other questions, contact Mike Dudley, Virginia Asphalt Association at mdudley@vaasphalt.com or 804‐288‐3169.

VECAT Registration Information

UTILIZING FAST FORWARD PROGRAM (Previously Workforce Credential Grant (WCG) Funds)

The Fast Forward program is a continuation of the Workforce Credential Grant (WCG) that was launched in 2017 to ensure that workforce credentials are accessible and affordable for Virginians seeking the skills they need to obtain good‐paying jobs in high‐demand fields.  In late 2017, the program exhausted all of its funds for training and development, causing a brief hiatus in its availability.  Those funds have now been replenished and will be available beginning July 1, 2018. Virginia residents seeking educational opportunities through the Virginia Community College network will automatically qualify for these grant funds upon registration for a Fast Forward-eligible course.

The grant is applicable to Asphalt Field I & II, Asphalt Plant I & II, Slurry Surfacing and Surface Treatment

Please note: if you are NOT a Virginia resident but still want to sign up for one of VECAT’s Asphalt courses, you will need to contact Germanna to complete a required Opt-Out form.

Any questions about Fast Forward program guidelines can be direct to Germanna Community College at 540-891-3012.

CERTIFICATION EXPIRATION

Beginning in 2018, all VDOT materials certifications will have an Active lifecycle of five (5) years. At the end of this timeframe, the certification will become expired and its holder will be required to complete the same requirements as for a new certification to re-activate the certification. This includes the full course (classroom or online options are open to individual choice and/or availability), written exam, applicable proficiency exams and any prerequisite certifications.

Please note that pre-requisite courses for a higher-level course (i.e. Plant I and II for Mix Design) do not need to be completed prior to that course if those certifications are active. This means that you do not need to take Plant I or II before taking Mix Design if your Mix Design certification is coming due but your Plant I and II certifications are still active.

PROFICIENCY TESTING

Beginning in 2018, all proficiency testing will be managed by Germanna Community College. See below for course locations, dates, and fees. Registration is required for all proficiency testing. Contact Judith Calvert at (540) 937-6757 to schedule a time and location for any proficiency testing that is required.

Proficiency CourseTesting DatesLocationCourse FeeProficiency
Plant I
(1 Hour)
As NeededCompleted virtually
$175
*One re-test available with additional fee
VTM-48: Sampling of Asphalt Concrete at the Plant
AASHTO R47: Reducing Samples of AC to Testing Size
Plant II
(4 Hours)
As Neededcompleted virtually
$350
*One re-test available with additional fee
AASHTO T30: Mechanical Analysis of Extracted Aggregates
AASHTO T166: Bulk Specific Gravity
AASHTO T209: Maximum Specific Gravity
AASHTO T269: Percent Air Voids in Compacted Specimens
VTM 102: Ignition Method (no oven calibration)
AASHTO T312: Gyratory Compaction (pill only using gyro)
Mix Design
(8 Hours)
As Neededcompleted virtually
$650
*One re-test available with additional fee
AASHTO T30: Mechanical Analysis of Extracted Aggregates
AASHTO T166: Bulk Specific Gravity
AASHTO T209: Maximum Specific Gravity (RICE)
AASHTO T269: Percent Air Voids in Compacted Specimens
VTM 102: Ignition Method
AASHTO T312: Gyratory Compaction
AASHTO T283: Tensile Strength Ratio
VTM-120: Test for Measurement of Permeability of Bituminous Paving Mixtures Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter
ASTM D4791: Flat & Elongated
ASTM D5821: Percentage of Fractured Particles - Coarse Agg.
AASHTO T176: Sand Equivalent
AASHTO T19: Unit Weight
AASHTO T304-11: Percent Air Voids in Compacted Specimens
AASHTO T84-13: Specific Gravity & Absorption of Fine Aggegate
AASHTO T85-13: Specific Gravity & Absorption of Coarse Aggregate

TESTING ELIGIBILITY

Students will be allowed a total of 2 attempts within a calendar year (2 attempts at written exam, 2 attempts at proficiency test if applicable) to successfully pass the requirements to obtain the desired certification. If the student is not successful within these two attempts, he/she is no longer eligible for that certification within that calendar year and must wait until the next calendar year to be eligible to try again.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

A valid Photo ID must be presented to take all examinations. These certification courses are not introductory programs. It is advised that applicants have some knowledge of road construction practices. Applicants must have basic reading comprehension skills as well as knowledge of basic math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records, grades may only be released to the attendee of the certification course regardless of the payer. Additionally, a release form must be signed by the attendee giving Germanna CC permission to release the grades to VDOT for display in the VDOTU system.

CLASS CANCELLATION POLICY

Class will be held at its scheduled location unless fewer than fifteen (15) students have registered. If this is the case, Germanna will notify affected students and class will be moved to one of Germanna’s home campuses ( either DTC/Culpeper Campus or FredCAT/Fredericksburg). Germanna maintains the right to cancel a class if registration numbers do not support holding the class.

VECAT MCS Course Descriptions

ASPHALT FIELD ‐ LEVEL I ($390)

Course topics: Introduction to Hot Mix Asphalt placement, compaction, and joints. Intended audience IS field personnel that have an impact on quality of asphalt mix placement. The class is suggested for Roller Operators, Paver Operators, Crew Foremen, Superintendents, Density Technicians, Construction Inspectors, Senior Construction Inspectors, Consultant Construction Inspectors, Senior Consultant Construction Inspectors and Materials IA & QA personnel and Permit Inspectors. Exam required for certification. No proficiency required.

THIS COURSE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR ASPHALT FIELD LEVEL II, FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION, COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING (FIELD) AND COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING (PLANT) AND MAY BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE ASPHALT FIELD LEVEL II CLASS.”

ASPHALT FIELD – LEVEL II ($390)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Field Level 1 course
Course topics: Specifications and QC/QA testing. The intended audience is field personnel directly responsible for control, placement and testing of asphalt as well as Construction Inspectors, Senior Construction Inspectors, Consultant Construction Inspectors, Senior Consultant Construction Inspectors, Materials IA & QA personnel and Permit Inspectors. CALCULATOR REQUIRED. Exam required for certification. No proficiency required.

COURSE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION, COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING (FIELD) AND COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING (PLANT) AND MAY BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE ASPHALT FIELD LEVEL I CLASS.”

ASPHALT PLANT – LEVEL I ($390)

Course topics: Introduction to components of asphalt, plant operations, sampling, aggregate proportioning, and job mix formulas. The intended audience is plant personnel that have an impact on quality of asphalt mix produced and Materials QA personnel. The class is suggested for loader operators, plant operators, and ground crew. The class is mandatory for any plant person that will perform sampling. Exam and proficiency required for certification.

THIS COURSE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR ASPHALT PLANT LEVEL II AND MAY BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE ASPHALT PLANT LEVEL II CLASS.

ASPHALT PLANT – LEVEL II ($390)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Plant Level 1 course
Course topics: Specifications and QC/QA testing. The intended audience is plant personnel that have an impact on quality of asphalt mix produced and will be performing sampling and testing for acceptance, as well as Materials QA and Materials Lab testing personnel. The class is mandatory for any plant person that will perform Laboratory testing. The class is a combination of classroom and lab instruction. CALCULATOR, SAFETY GLASSES, AND SAFETY SHOES REQUIRED. Exam and proficiency required for certification. This certification will be required for contractor personnel performing sampling and testing for acceptance.

COURSE MAY BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE ASPHALT PLANT LEVEL I CLASS AND IS A PREREQUISITE FOR ASPHALT PLANT MIX DESIGN.

SLURRY SURFACING ($300)

Course topics: Introduction to equipment, materials, placement procedures, and specifications.  The intended audience is field personnel that have an impact on the quality of slurry surface application.  The class is suggested for Roller Operators, Paver Operators, Crew Foremen, Superintendents, Density Technicians, Construction Inspectors, Senior Construction Inspectors, Consultant Construction Inspectors, Senior Consultant Construction Inspectors and Materials IA & QA personnel and Permit Inspectors.  Exam required for certification. No proficiency required.

SURFACE TREATMENT ($300)

Course topics: Introduction to equipment, materials, construction, placement procedures, specifications, and calculations. The intended audience is field personnel that have an impact on the quality of surface treatment application. The class is suggested for Roller Operators, Paver Operators, Crew Foremen, Superintendents, Density Technicians, Construction Inspectors, Senior Construction Inspectors, Consultant Construction Inspectors, Senior Consultant Construction Inspectors and Materials IA & QA personnel and Permit Inspectors. CALCULATOR REQUIRED. Exam required for certification. No proficiency required.

ASPHALT PLANT MIX DESIGN ($650)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Plant Level II course
Course topics: SuperPave and Stone Matrix Asphalt mix design, materials selection, test methods and specifications. This class is a combination of classroom and lab instruction. The intended audience is plant lab personnel responsible for the control of asphalt plant mix and laboratory testing at the plant. The class is suggested for experienced plant person (several years of experience). This person will be responsible for asphalt mixture, testing, sampling and certifying lab results to VDOT. This person will also sign off on technicians with Level II certification. VDOT materials QA personnel, Materials Asphalt Lab Supervisor and Materials person responsible for mix design approval should attend. CALCULATOR, SAFETY GLASSES, AND SAFETY SHOES REQUIRED. Exam and proficiency required for certification.

VDOT recommends holding a Plant Level II certification for at least 12 months prior to taking Mix Design.

FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION (FDR) ($300)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Field Levels I and II courses
Course topics: This course covers project communication and safety, basics of FDR, mix design and construction techniques. The class will also cover test methods and specifications, and inspection and quality assurance. The intended audience is contractor personnel directly responsible for construction and testing of FDR materials, as well as Project Inspectors, Construction Managers, Area Construction Engineers, and VDOT Materials personnel. Passing a final exam is required for successful completion of the class.

COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING – FIELD ($300)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Field School ‐ Levels I and II. This course also includes a math section, therefore students attending the class must have a basic understanding of math calculations.

The intended audience is contractor personnel directly responsible for paving and testing of CIR or CCPR materials, as well as Project Inspectors, Construction Managers, Area Construction Engineers, and VDOT Materials personnel.

Course topics: Project communication and safety, Cold In-Place Recycling equipment, Central cold pavement recycling (CCPR) asphalt paving equipment and construction techniques, Inspection and quality assurance, Density testing, and acceptance

Passing a final exam is required for successful completion of the class.

COLD ASPHALT RECYCLING – PLANT ($300)

Prerequisite: Asphalt Plant School ‐ Levels I and II. This course also includes a math section, therefore students attending the class must have a basic understanding of math calculations.

The intended audience is contractor personnel directly responsible for paving and testing of CIR or CCPR materials, as well as Project Inspectors, Construction Managers, Area Construction Engineers, and VDOT Materials personnel.

Course topics: Project communication and safety, Cold In-Place Recycling equipment, Central cold pavement recycling (CCPR) asphalt paving equipment and construction techniques, Inspection and quality assurance, Density testing, and acceptance

Passing a final exam is required for successful completion of class.

VECAT Training Course Descriptions

ASPHALT MIX DESIGN TECHNICIAN TRAINING

Prerequisite: Asphalt Plant Level I & II material certification credentials

Course Description: Asphalt Mix Design Technicians hold the highest-level credential in VDOT’s asphalt plant program.  By specification, these technicians are required to submit or approve any mix designs used on VDOT funded projects.  Likewise, technicians working for a contractor are the only person allowed to modify the mixes and make plant adjustments during asphalt production.  This class will educate and train individuals on the fundamentals of SUPERPAVE mix design and Balanced Mix Design.  Successful completion of this class will result in a VECAT certificate.  Additionally, students will be provided the opportunity to take the VDOT MCS written exam for Asphalt Mix Design technician.

Goal: To educate and train technicians in the proper approach to design asphalt mixes using SUPERPAVE and Balanced Mix Design methodologies

Class Logistics:

  • Five-Week Course starting 2nd Monday in January.  Course will be held each Monday and Tuesday, starting at 10:00am on Monday and ending at 3:00pm on Tuesday for five weeks.
  • Class size 6 to 15 students
  • Class held at FredCAT
  • Last day of class is VDOT Mix Design credentialing exam. Exam day will likely run past 3:00pm (Exam and proficiency required for certification).

REQUIRED: BRING TO CLASS CALCULATOR, SAFETY GLASSES, AND SAFETY SHOES 

 

ASPHALT PLANT TECHNICIAN TRAINING

Prerequisite: None

Course Description: Asphalt Plant Technicians (Level I & II) hold necessary credentials in VDOT’s asphalt plant program.  By specification, the Plant Level I technicians must be able to properly obtain and split asphalt samples for further testing in the contractor’s and VDOT’s labs.  Plant Level II technicians representing the contractor must be able to run the required acceptance and quality control tests.  For VDOT, technicians must be able to run the verification and independent assurance test.  This class will educate and train individuals on the fundamentals of sampling, quartering and testing mixes based on the SUPERPAVE and Blanaced Mix Design methodologies.  Successful completion of this class will result in a VECAT certificate.  Additionaly, students will be provided the opportunity to take the VDOT MCS written exam for Asphalt Plant Level I and Asphalt Plant Level II technicians.

Goal: To educate and train technicians in the proper approach to sample, quarter, prepare and test asphalt sample following SUPERPAVE and Balanced Mix Design protocols.

Class Logistics:

  • Three-Week Course starting late February. Course will be held each Monday and Tuesday, starting at 10:00am on Monday and ending at 3:00pm on Tuesday for five weeks.
  • Class size 6 to 15 students
  • Class held at FredCAT.  In-person attendance only
  • Midpoint of class is VDOT Asphalt Plant Level I credentialing exam. Last Day of the class is VDOT Plant Level II credentialing exam. Class testing day will likely run past 3:00pm (Exam and proficiency required for Plant II certification).

REQUIRED: BRING TO CLASS CALCULATOR, SAFETY GLASSES, AND SAFETY SHOES 

ASPHALT PLANT DIAGNOSTICS & TROUBLE SHOOTING VIDEO SERIES

Asphalt Plant Diagnostics & Trouble Shooting Video Series

This course is a series of ten videos that can be purchased at 3-month intervals (January – March, April – June, July – September, October – December).  Each interval is $750 and can be accessed repeatedly during that time frame.  These courses are not downloadable.

This video series by asphalt plant expert TJ Young of T2ASCO will lead students through troubleshooting procedures, best practices, and overall management principles. Each video is approximately 30 minutes in length.

  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective Producers
  • RAP Management
  • Troubleshooting Gradation
  • Troubleshooting Asphalt Content
  • Troubleshooting Segregation
  • Gradation Control in Drum Mix Type Production Facilities
  • AC Content Control in Drum Mix Type Production Facilities
  • Drying & Heating Control in Hot Mix Production Facilities
  • Dust Collection & Dust Return in Hot Mix Production Facilities
  • Silo Management in Hot Mix Production FacilitiesRegistration