BIG Changes Coming to the ACPA Operator Certification Program

Beginning 2014, there will be significant changes to the ACPA Operator Certification Program that will seek to elevate the integrity of the program while helping to streamline administrative processing:

• Elimination of the recertification test

Operators must take the certification test each time their certifications are due to expire. The operators are not required to take the complete test, but should take the sections they want to be certified in, or have been certified in. The cost for all certification processing will be $60/member and $225/non-member.

• Easier updating of certified classifications

An operator who obtains additional equipment experience time within the current certification period can update certification classifications by submitting an updated certification application to the national office. The operator’s records will be updated and another certification card will be issued with the additional classifications.

• Operational evaluation for first-time certification

An operational evaluation will need to be conducted by an authorized company representative (ACR) as a prerequisite to certification testing for operators who are taking the certification test for the first time. The ACR must witness the operator completing various tasks associated with operating a pump such as properly setting outriggers, unfolding the boom and use of the equipment’s controls. A signed affidavit attesting to the operator’s ability to perform these tasks to a satisfactory level must accompany the operator’s certification test along with the affidavit of completion included with the Operator Safety Presentation program.

• Randomized testing

There will be five certification tests—identical in content—but with randomized questions within each section. This will seek to eliminate any sharing of answers between operators and provide a greater level of assurance that each operator has answered the questions on the basis of his or her own understanding.

• New software program will improve efficiency

Phase I of the new certification software grading program will allow members access to their operator’s certification records as well as allow confirmation of an operator’s certification. The program will also allow for a member to download their operators’ test results and to download copies of the operator’s certification and safety cards.

More in store coming…

The procedural changes will take effect along with the software completion of Phase I sometime early next year. Phase II of the program will feature an online safety training program as well as a certification testing program with immediate grading results and should be completed in 2014.