1、Designation: D 5506 98 (Reapproved 2003)Standard Practice forOrganizations Engaged in the Certification of PersonnelTesting and Inspecting Bituminous Paving Materials1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5506; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year ofori
2、ginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice covers a standard for establishing evalua-tion
3、and certification procedures for personnel engaged intesting and inspecting bituminous paving materials in accor-dance with specified test methods and is intended for use byindependent organizations providing certification services.NOTE 1Refer to Specifications D 3666 for information on the mini-mum
4、 requirements for agencies testing and inspecting bituminous pavingmaterials and to Practice D 4561 for information on quality controlsystems for organizations producing and applying bituminous pavingmaterials.1.2 Qualification for certification candidates, qualificationsof those administering the c
5、ertification examinations, methodsof administering the certification tests, and certain certificationorganization operating requirements are given.1.3 Competency determination typically includes a moni-tored written examination and a performance evaluation.1.4 This standard does not purport to addre
6、ss all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 2726 Test Met
7、hod for Bulk Specific Gravity and Densityof Non-Absorptive Compacted Bituminous MixturesD 3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agen-cies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving MaterialsD 4561 Practice for Quality Control Systems for Organiza-tions Producing and Applying Bituminous Paving
8、Materi-als2.2 AASHTO Standard:3AASHTO T-164 Quantitative Extraction of Bitumen fromBituminous Paving Mixtures2.3 Other Documents:Development, Administration, Scoring and Reporting ofCredentialing Examinations: Recommendations forBoard Members, March 1993.4Guidelines for Engineering and Related Speci
9、alty Certifica-tion Programs, June 1991.5Guidelines for Non-Written Examinations, January 1991.6Principles of Fairness: An Examining Guide for Credential-ing Boards, February 1993.7Standards for Accreditation of National Certification Orga-nizations, July 1995.63. Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms
10、 Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 accreditationthe formal recognition that a certifica-tion organization and its program(s) conform to a set ofrequirements established by a nationally recognized accredita-tion body.3.1.2 certificantan individual who has been certified by acertification organization.3
11、.1.3 certificationan action that determines and an-nounces that an individual has fulfilled the pre-establishedrequirements and is certified to perform the designated task(s)associated with a test method.3.1.4 certification organizationan independent body en-gaged in the evaluation and credentialing
12、 of the knowledge,skills, and abilities of individuals who perform specified tasks.3.1.5 examineecertification applicant involved in the ex-amination process.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road andPaving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D0
13、4.95 onLaboratory Evaluation.Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originallyapproved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 5506 98.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For A
14、nnual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from the American Association of State Highway and TransportationOfficials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20001.4Available from the Council on Licensure, Enfor
15、cement and Regulation(CLEAR), 403 Marquis Avenue, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40502.5Available from the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards(CESB), 130 Holiday Court, Suite 100, Annapolis, MD 21401.6Available from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA),1101 Connecticut
16、 Avenue, N.W., Suite 70, Washington, D.C. 20036.7Available from The National Organization for Competency Assurance(NOCA), 1200 19th Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20036-2422.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
17、3.1.6 examinera qualified professional who is responsiblefor administering and evaluating the performance examinationcomponent of the certification process.3.1.7 proctora qualified individual who is responsible foradministering the written examination component of the certi-fication process.3.1.8 qu
18、alified professionala professional engineer orsimilar professional who is recognized by peers and associatesas having expertise in testing and inspecting bituminous pavingmaterials.4. Significance and Use4.1 This practice covers basic criteria for the structure andconduct of a certification organiza
19、tion, the development andoperation of a certification program, and the development anduse of customary mechanisms to evaluate a candidates knowl-edge, skill, and ability. The qualifications of the examiner andlimitations on the relationship between the examiner and theexaminee are given.4.2 The basi
20、c criteria covered by this practice are intendedto be supplemented by more specific criteria serving therequirements of the certification organization.5. Certification Organization5.1 Structure:5.1.1 The certification organization shall be administrativelyindependent in matters pertaining to certifi
21、cation in order toavoid any possibility of a conflict of interest. Administrativelyindependent means that all policy decisions relating to certifi-cation matters are the sole decision of the certification organi-zation. They are not subject to approval by any other body.5.1.1.1 A certification organ
22、ization that is not a legal entityin and of itself shall provide proof that the organizationsgoverning body is administratively independent in certificationmatters from the organization of which it is part.5.1.2 The certification organization shall disclose, throughthe publication of a publicly avai
23、lable document, rules andprocedures that describe how the certificant, employer, andspecifying entity have input into the policies and decisions ofthe certification organization.5.2 Resources:5.2.1 The certification organization shall show that theorganization has the financial resources to conduct
24、the certifi-cation activities properly.5.2.2 The certification organization shall disclose, throughpublication of a publicly available document, evidence that itsstaff possesses the knowledge and skill necessary to conductthe certification activities or has available, and makes use of,non-staff cons
25、ultants and professionals to supplement staffknowledge and skill sufficiently.5.3 Responsibilities:5.3.1 The certification organization is responsible for ensur-ing fair and objective evaluation mechanisms.5.3.2 At least annually, the certification organization shallpublish a summary of certificatio
26、n activities to include thenumber tested, number passing the examinations, numbercertified, and, when applicable, number recertified.5.3.3 The certification organization shall provide a mecha-nism for responding to inquiries from individuals and organi-zations wanting to verify that a particular ind
27、ividual has aspecific certification.5.4 Records:5.4.1 The files of the certification organization should con-tain at least the following:5.4.1.1 Examination identity and date administered,5.4.1.2 Examination question source,5.4.1.3 Identity and qualifications of the examiner, and5.4.1.4 Examination
28、question performance statistics.5.5 Evidence of Certification:5.5.1 Evidence of certification shall be issued by the orga-nization to the candidate upon successful completion of theexaminations. Certification shall include the date of certifica-tion; period of certification; and ASTM, AASHTO, or oth
29、er testmethod or methods for which the examinee is qualified.5.5.2 The test method shall be listed by the test methoddesignation and year of the version used for certification, forexample, Test Method D 2726 93a or AASHTO T-164-93.5.6 AccreditationA certification organization and its pro-gram that a
30、re already accredited by the National Council forCertifying Agencies (NCCA) or by the Council of Engineeringand Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) shall be considered ashaving met the full intent of this practice.6. Examiner6.1 The examiner shall be a qualified individual, preferablya professional e
31、ngineer, with proof of at least five years ofexperience in performing or supervising the performance of avariety of ASTM or AASHTO test methods, particularly thosein the examination.6.1.1 The examiner is responsible for providing as objectiveand consistent an evaluation environment as possible for a
32、llexaminees.6.1.2 The examiner shall not be a relative, supervisor, orassociate (co-worker) of the examinee.6.1.2.1 When there is a possibility of conflict of interest,documentation shall be attached to the examinees file certify-ing that there is sufficient separation in the organizationsstructure
33、between the examiner and examinee, and that it is notin the examiners interest whether the examinee is certified.7. Examinee7.1 The examinee must be able to read, understand, andanswer questions of the written examination and must becapable of performing required calculations, to place necessarydata
34、 in forms or unformatted data tables, and personallyperform the test method.8. Certification and Recertification8.1 The specific requirements for certification shall beestablished by the certification organization to reflect the needsof the represented industry and the job/practice analysis of theca
35、ndidate pool.8.2 The period of certification shall be established by thecertification organization to reflect the rate of change intechnology and common practices within the representedD 5506 98 (2003)2industry. Certification shall be valid for a period not exceedingsix years without recertification
36、.8.3 Recertification shall be achieved by examination, con-tinued relevant work experience, continued relevant profes-sional development, or by a combination thereof.NOTE 2An appropriate written examination should be given if suffi-cient changes to the test method have occurred that cannot be covere
37、dproperly by the performance exam.8.4 Discipline of certificants, including revocation of certi-fication, shall occur only after due process is provided to allindividuals involved.9. Written Examination9.1 The written examination shall be prepared by qualifiedpersons thoroughly familiar with the tes
38、t method(s). Theexamination may be in paper and pencil form or computerbased. The examination shall be comprehensive and changeperiodically. All measures required to prevent compromise ofthe examination shall be taken.9.1.1 When reasonable suspicion of compromise of anexamination exists, that examin
39、ation shall not be used.9.2 The examination shall stress the essentials of the testmethod(s), as well as the details. In particular, common sourcesof error in performing the test should be the basis for a numberof the examination questions. A basic understanding of theprinciples underlying the test
40、method and the basis of some ofthe required calculations for the test method should also bestressed. The questions shall cover the test method elementssuch as apparatus, sample preparation, test procedures, calcu-lations, and report requirements.NOTE 3See footnotes 5 and 8 for information on conduct
41、ing writtenexamination.9.3 The written examinations shall be given in a room thatprovides the lighting level, noise control, work space, ventila-tion, and temperature control that is recognized universally asnecessary for a testing facility in which written examinationsare administered.9.4 The exami
42、nation shall be proctored by a person ofintegrity with appropriate training and experience in supervis-ing written examinations.10. Performance Evaluation10.1 The performance evaluation shall be conducted in theform of a performance exam or a performance appraisal or acombination of both.10.2 Perfor
43、mance Examination:10.2.1 The performance examination for each test methodshall be administered by at least two, preferably three, qualifiedexaminers meeting the requirements of Section 6.10.2.2 The examiner shall conduct the performance exami-nation for a given test method in accordance with a pre-e
44、stablished evaluation guidelines that recognizes the steps thatmust be conducted to perform the test method properly.NOTE 4See footnotes 5, 7, and 8 for information on conducting oraland performance examinations.10.2.3 The performance examination shall be given in anenvironment that duplicates or at
45、tempts to duplicate the envi-ronment in which that test method is normally conducted.10.2.4 The scoring reports from the individual examinersshall be compared to obtain a consensus pass/fail result for theexaminee.10.3 Performance Appraisal:10.3.1 The performance appraisal for each test or practices
46、hall be administered by the candidates immediate supervisoror his qualified equivalent meeting the requirements of section6 (the examiner). He must have the technical expertise in thespecialty area and must have first hand knowledge of thecandidates job skills.10.3.2 The performance appraisal for a
47、given test method orpractice shall be conducted in accordance with pre-establishedevaluation guidelines that recognize the steps that must beconducted to perform the test method properly and allows theevaluator to exercise professional judgement when actions aretaken by the candidate which are not p
48、art of the documentedprocedure.10.3.3 The appraisal must consider the individuals perfor-mance over time and under a variety of work conditions.10.3.4 The results of the performance appraisal shall bevalidated by the supervising Professional Engineer or hisqualified equivalent.NOTE 5Management and s
49、upervision staff requirements are found inspecifications D 3666 in the section titled “Personnel Qualifications.”10.3.4.1 If the appraisal is conducted by the supervisingProfessional Engineer or his equivalent, then an appropriatemechanism shall be used to validate the results.11. Keywords11.1 certification; competency; evaluation; examination;examinerASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of
