BIG Changes Coming to ACPA Operator Certification Program

• Certification tests must be pre-paid

Certification tests will be pre-numbered and must be paid at the time of ordering. Certain exceptions may apply when attending an ACPA operator safety seminar; however no test will be processed without payment prior to testing.  The cost for all certification processing will be $60/member and $225/non-member.

• Elimination of the recertification test

Operators must take the Certification Test each time their certifications are due to expire. Although they are not required to take the complete test, they should take the corresponding sections of their current certification classification and will be encouraged to take the sections in which they have experience, or are in the process of obtaining experience.  

• Updating of experience time for certification classifications

An operator who obtains the required amount of equipment experience time within their current certification period and has passed the appropriate certification test sections, can update their certification classifications by submitting an Affidavit of Experience Time to the National Office. The operator’s records will be updated and a new Certification Card will be issued depicting 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. This only applies to operators who are taking the certification test for the first time regardless of the operator’s experience.  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 within the Certification Test.

• Randomized testing

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

• Individual downloading of results

Each company will be responsible for downloading their operator’s individual test results. An email address must be provided for each batch of tests to be processed so that the designee can receive an email notification with the link for report downloading. The operator will still receive a laminated certification card and decal from the National Office. 

• Unique operator identification number

The last four digits of the operator’s social security number and last name will become the operator’s “unique ID”. This number will remain consistent to the operator regardless of the company the operator is employed.

• Access to company records

Each company will have access to their operator’s records including expiration dates and certification classifications, current and prior test results, as well as the ability to re-print copies of the operator’s certification card.

• Verification of certification

An operator’s certification status can be verified publicly online via the ACPA website. Only the operator’s name, number and certification status will be revealed. No personal or company information will be listed.