Asphalt Certification

Overview

The certification programs for Asphalt employ local testing procedures to ensure consistency with local provincial and municipal test requirements. CCIL’s Asphalt laboratory certification programs have four mandatory components:

• Laboratories must participate in and satisfy CCIL annual inter-laboratory correlation program requirements. This correlation program distributes prepared proficiency test samples to participating laboratories which test the samples and submit the results to CCIL’s for statistical analysis.
• At least once every two years, CCIL conducts laboratory inspections to verify that appropriate equipment and qualified personnel are in place, that the testing equipment is calibrated and properly maintained, and that up-to-date testing procedures are followed.
• Each CCIL certified laboratory must employ at least one certified laboratory technician. Technicians must meet minimum requirements for training and experience, and pass practical and written examinations. As of May 1, 2021 this is required of all certified laboratories across Canada.
• Certified laboratories must have an appropriate quality manual and quality system. CCIL has developed a quality manual template and user guide as an aid for laboratories developing a quality system. This is a requirement of all certified laboratories across Canada.

There are four categories of Asphalt laboratory certification; Type A, Type B, Type E and Type F as indicated below:

• Marshall and/or Superpave Mix Design testing (Type “A” Certification)
• Marshall and/or Superpave Mix Compliance testing (Type “B” Certification)
• Recovered penetration of extracted asphalt (Type “E” Certification), and
• Performance Graded Asphalt Binder Certification (Type F)

Unless a laboratory is dedicated to binder testing only (Type F), all certified labs must, as a minimum, be certified in mix compliance testing (Type B certification).

Asphalt technicians employed by certified laboratories must demonstrate their proficiency in carrying out test procedures, for which the laboratory is certified, through practical tests and written examinations. Technicians passing the written and practical examinations are issued CCIL certification cards valid for a period of 5 years.

Laboratory certificates are issued on annual basis dated May 1st to April 30th the following year. Typically, laboratories apply for certification in the summer, and CCIL sends out proficiency samples in the fall, with testing results required to be reported to CCIL in early January. Analysis of the data, including mini-correlation testing as may be required, is completed over the winter months. All work is completed by spring and laboratory certificates are issued to qualified laboratories effective May 1st to coincide with new construction season.

Applications from new laboratories and from certified laboratories seeking certification upgrade are accepted any time.

Program Details and Tests

CCIL Asphalt laboratory certification programs have developed over the past 25 years and continue to evolve to respond to new responsibilities, challenges, technologies and test procedures in the quality control/quality assurance testing industry. The following document provides the terms of reference for the Asphalt Certification Program

• LC-101 CCIL Asphalt and Aggregate Laboratory and Technician Certification Program
• CCIL Procedure for Suspension Withdrawal Appeals and Disputes of Certification
• CCIL Procedure for Handling Complaints

Asphalt Test Requirements

A list of Asphalt Test requirements in the various CCIL Asphalt certification programs are provided in the following documents:

• AB YT Asphalt Laboratory Certification Tests
• BC MB NB NL NS, PE and SK Asphalt Laboratory Certification Tests
• ON Asphalt Laboratory Certification Tests

Working Documents

The Checklists for the various CCIL Asphalt certification programs are provided in the following documents:

• AB YT Asphalt Laboratory Checklist
• BC MB NB NL NS, PE and SK Asphalt Laboratory Checklist
• ON Asphalt Laboratory Checklist

Technician Training

CCIL does not provide any technician training. This can be attained in the laboratory or by attending training courses offered by private consulting firms. CCIL is concerned with the certification of trained technicians. The following document provides the requirements for the certification of Asphalt technicians. The certification of trained technicians can be requested on the CCIL portal, see link below.

• CCIL Requirements for HMA Technician Certification
• https://portal.ccil.com

Information for New Applicants (How to Become Certified)

Information for new applicants is provided in the following documents:

• Information for New Asphalt Lab Certification Applicants (All Provinces)
• https://portal.ccil.com/

Completed applications should be submitted online to the CCIL Certification Office. If you have any questions or require any assistance, please contact Gigi Kermath at (289) 337-8888 or via email at gkermath@ccil.com. If clarification is needed, the applicant will be contacted by CCIL to review the application and answer any questions relating to the certification process. Information on fees is available from the CCIL Certification Office.