Materials Technician Certification Program
The Materials Technician Certification program was created by the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2019 to develop a pool of qualified Materials Technicians consisting of CDOT and consultant staff. Limited knowledge on what is expected of a technician on a CDOT project has led to issues such as communication gaps, lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities, lack of preparation when arriving on projects, and lack of knowledge related to testing and documentation requirements. This program is designed to address those issues.
The Materials Technician Certification Program consists of two separate courses:
- ATSER Instructor-led Training
- Materials Technician Certification e-learning and end-of-course exam
All Materials Technicians—whether from CDOT or a consultant—must demonstrate proficiency by passing the end-of-course exam and earning their certification.
These two courses are free for both CDOT Employees and external partners, but require a separate registration. The ATSER Instructor-led Training must be completed before registering for the Materials Technician Certification e-learning.
ATSER Instructor-led Training
The ATSER Instructor-led Training is hosted virtually using Google Meet every other Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MST. Visit the Data Program & Project Analysis website's Instructor-Led Training Calendar to check for upcoming offerings and complete this Google Form to enroll.
The course allows learners to log on to the ATSER test environment and follow along with the instructor to learn how to successfully navigate the system. They’ll be able to create samples and Certificate of Compliance (COC)/Certified Test Report (CTR) records and are shown how to access job aids and where to gain access to the production environment.
CDOT Materials Technician Certification E-learning
The Materials Technician Certification is a self-paced online e-learning course that is hosted in the State of Colorado (SOC) Learns Training Portal. To receive credit for this course, participants must pass the end-of-course assessment with a score of 70% or higher. Learners who fail the assessment three times will be locked out of the course.
This online certification is designed for materials testers who are new to working with CDOT (both consultants and new CDOT hires). It provides learners with information and simulated situations where they can learn about and practice the CDOT approach to administering testing, documentation, and communication on construction projects. By the end of the course, materials testers will understand their role on a CDOT project and be able to find and use available resources, follow best practices for tasks throughout the project, communicate with team members, enter and verify data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and follow appropriate documentation procedures.
Note: The Materials Technician Certification will be updated during the 2026 fiscal year to reflect CDOT’s transition from SiteManager to ATSER. The course currently references the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) software and will be deactivated when SiteManager is sunsetted on July 1, 2025.
Need a SOC Learns account? Complete the Account Request Form with your company contact information. Accounts are typically approved within two business days.
Questions?
Please contact Cheri Clark & Kyle Brooks with any questions about the ATSER Instructor-led Training. Any questions about the Materials Technician Certification e-learning course or the SOC Learns Training Portal should be directed to the Transportation Engineering Training Program Manager, Allison Wilson.
