Current News

 

Sheeting Shoring and Underpinning Best Practices Presented at WACEL's January 22, 2025 Meeting

Case histories that showcase geotechnical engineering and construction observation/testing best practices related to sheeting, shoring and underpinning will be the focus of WACEL’s January 22, 2025 General Membership Meeting.  The speakers will be representatives from Steele Foundations.  Click here to register.

WACEL Office Testing Update

The elevator at the WACEL office is down.  Technicians coming to the office at 7508 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD for testing need to call 301-799-7401 on arrival.  A member of the WACEL staff will come to the lobby and escort each technician. to the office.

Written and Practical Certification Exam Options

WACEL is currently providing the following options for written certification exam testing:

  1. Testing at the WACEL office in Bethesda, Maryland. To register a technician to take a certification exam, call WACEL at 301-799-7401 the day before the test date to determine availability.  Almost all of the time, requests can be honored.  A completed application is required to take a test.  Either bring the application at the time of testing or email it to tcohn@wacel.org. Testing is not available on Tuesdays in the WACEL office.
  2. Testing at member facilities.  WACEL will conduct written exams at a member’s facility provided there is a minimum of (5) technicians.
  3. Testing online.  Concrete I, Soil I Special Inspector Field, Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector, Structural Concrete Special Inspector, Foundation Special Inspector, Strucutral Steel Special Inspector, and Aggregate Concrete, Concrete Masonry Strength and Soil Laboratory Technician exams are available online.  Please review the procedure below.
  4. All Practicals must be administered by an approved WACEL proctor.  If  practicals are proctored by in-house staff, the proctor must be aprroved by WACEL and must make a separate video of each test that the technician performs and forward the package of videos to WACEL for grading.

WACEL is currently providing the following options for practical certification exam testing:

  1. Testing internally following the WACEL procedure.  This can be done following the guidelines and submitting videotapes to WACEL.
  2. Testing at member facilities.  WACEL will conduct practical exams at a member’s facility provided there is a minimum of (5) technicians.
  3. Testing at Vulcan Materials  WACEL is offering concrete proficiency exams at Vulcan Materials in Springfield on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.  Register technicians for concrete practicals below.  

Please email bob@wacel.org. for member facility requests or any other questions you may have.

Online Testing

The WACEL Online Testing Platform is now operational for Concrete I, Soil I Special Inspector Field, Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector, Structural Concrete Special Inspector, Foundation Special Inspector, Strucutral Steel Special Inspector, and Aggregate Concrete, Concrete Masonry Strength and Soil Laboratory Technician exams.

To register your technicians for online exams, you must have supervisor status in the WACEL database. If you need supervisor status, email tcohn@wacel.org with the names and email address of those in your organization who should be designated as supervisors.  

Steps to register technicians for online exams:

  • Log on to the WACEL web site at www.wacel.org.
  • Click on the drop down menu on the TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM tab underneath the WACEL logo on the landing page and click on online testing.
  • Click on the blue bar at the bottom of the page that says "Click here to register technicians".
  • If the technician you want to register has previously taken a WACEL certification exam while in your employ, his or her name should be listed under the select a person tab. If the tech has not previously taken an exam while in your employ fill in the first and last name in the appropriate fields. You must provide a valid email address for the technician and you also must provide a password that is at least six characters in length and one of the characters must be a number.  
  • After registering a technician and hit submit, an email is sent to WACEL to assign the exam as well as to the supervisor and the technician taking the exam. After WACEL assigns the exam, the exam will be available the following business day beginning at 7:00 am. If you register your technicians today, May 15 for Concrete I, the exam will be available from May 18-May 20 between the hours of 7am and 7pm. 
  • Technicians must take the exam at a company office and must be overseen by a PE/WACEL-approved supervisor. 
  • After the technician completes the exam, a PE or designated supervisor must submit an application (attached) signed by the technician and supervisor and submitted to WACEL (tcohn@wacel.org) along with a photo of the technician and a photo of the technician’s government-issued identification (e.g. driver’s license). By signing the application both the PE/Supervisor and the technician certify that they followed online testing guidelines and that they did not compromise the integrity of the WACEL certification program. If you do not submit an application or the required photos, no certification will be issued.

Call us at 301-652-7925 or email tcohn@wacel.org with questions or if you need more information.

Certification and Accreditation Program Scheduling

WACEL is currently scheduling inspections and audits for the laboratory accreditation program. Call us at 301-652-7925 or email bob@wacel.org to schedule your inspection and/or audit.

  • WACEL Study Guides and videos demonstrating concrete testing are now available online. Click here to go to the Resources Section.

Wacel Directories

Upcoming Events

Register for meetings, training classes and practical exams, and keep up-to-date on the latest program updates and changes.

Soil Class

December 14, 2024
ABC - Virginia
42680 Trade W Drive
Sterling, VA 20166
8:30am – 5:00pm

Please note that the Soil Class does not include the Soil Practical

Register

Concrete Class

December 21, 2024
ABC - Virginia
42680 Trade W Drive
Sterling, VA 20166
8:30am – 5:00pm

Please note that the Concrete Class does not include the Concrete Practical

Register

Concrete Practicals

December 10, 2024
Vulcan Materials
5412 Industrial Drive
Springfield, VA
5-9pm

December 17, 2024
Vulcan Materials
5412 Industrial Drive
Springfield, VA
5-9pm

WACEL will also perform concrete, soil and MARTCP proficiency testing at member offices.  At least five technicians are required for an in-office practical

View All Events

WACEL Membership Meetings

Sheeting, Shoring and Underpinning Best Practices

Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Maggiano's Tyson's Corner, 11am-1pm    

Case histories that showcase geotechnical engineering and construction observation/testing best practices related to sheeting, shoring and underpinning will be the focus of WACEL’s January 22, 2025 General Membership Meeting.  The speakers will be representatives from Steele Foundations.

One CEU hour will be provided to those who attend the meeting. 

Register Now

 

WACEL Certification Program

WACEL certification or equivalent certification is required by all metropolitan area jurisdictions.

Find Certified Technicians

Register to take an exam

 

Accreditation Programs

WACEL membership requires that all laboratories in the WACEL service territory be accredited by WACEL or an equivalent accreditation program.

WACEL membership requires that all inspection agencies participate in an Inspection Agency Audit Program or an equivalent audit program.

Learn more about the laboratory accreditation program

Learn more about the inspection agency audit program

Membership

WACEL offers membership to Engineering Laboratories and Inspection Agencies that are directed and managed by full-time professional engineers.

Engineering Laboratories

Engineering Laboratories

Join

Inspection Agencies

Inspection Agencies

Join

Government Entities that Recognize WACEL Programs

Maryland

Montgomery County

Prince George's County

Maryland State Highway Administration

 

Other Cities/States

State of New Jersey

City of Houston, Texas

Washington, D.C.

Virginia

Arlington County

City of Alexandria

Culpeper County

Fairfax County

Fauquier County

Loudoun County

Prince William County

Stafford County

Spotsylvania County

Virginia Department of Transportation

Federal and Public Agencies

American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Naval Engineering Facilities Command (NAVFAC) Chesapeak Division

Testing On Demand at WACEL HQ

7508 Wisconsin Avenue, 4th Floor, Bethesda, MD, 20814   |   Phone: 301-652-7925   |   Fax: 301-907-9326