To protect technicians, instructors and staff, the following requirements must be met in order for WACEL to provide in office and at facility testing:

1.       Anyone who has been ill in the last 14 days will not be permitted to enter the WACEL office or take a WACEL certification test or practical exam.  Anyone who exhibits any of the following symptoms within the last seven days will not be permitted to take a WACEL certification exam at the WACEL office or participate in a WACEL practical exam

• Temperature of 100 degrees or higher
• Cough
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

2.       WACEL staff reserves the right to refuse entry by anyone exhibiting those symptoms.

3.       A short health questionnaire will be given to technicians that want to be tested and must be signed on a health affirmation log prior to testing.

4.       EVERYONE MUST AGREE TO HAVE THEIR TEMPERATURE TAKEN BEFORE AN EXAM IS GIVEN.  ANYONE WHOSE TEMPERATURE IS 100 DEGREES OR HIGHER WILL NOT BE GRANTED ACCESS.

5.       EVERYONE MUST WEAR A MASK THAT COVERS THEIR NOSE AND MOUTH.

6.       A limited number technicians can be tested during a given session in the WACEL office. Call the office one business day before technicians wants ot take an exam to register them for testing at the WACEL office

7.       Social distancing will be required for all in-office and practical exams.

8.       WACEL will conduct concrete  practical exams at a member’s facility provided there is a minimum of five technicians and that the exam space will allow for technicians to be at least six feet apart from one another. Email Bob Scheller, to schedule on-site practicals.

9.    WACEL will conduct written exams at a member’s facility provided there is a minimum of five technicians and that the exam space will allow for technicians to be at least six feet apart from one another.

10.    No food or drink will be allowed while taking exams.

ONLINE TESTING

The WACEL Online Testing Platform is now operational for Concrete I, Soil I and Concrete Masonry Strength Lab 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. 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.  
• You will note that there are options for Concrete I and Soil I.  Soil I will not be active until early next week.  If you select Soil I no exam will be assigned.
• After you 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 your office in an environment that follows CDC and local and state health official guidelines. 
• 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 Updates

WACEL Virtual General Membership Meeting: Key Factors Affecting Ground Improvement Cost and Performance

WACEL returns to virtual meetings on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, from 11am-Noon. Ed O’Malley, PE and Matt Klucina, PE of Geostructures will lead this program whose key learning objectives are as follows:

1. Determining which loads should be used for design after obtaining structural baseline data.
2. Determining when a geotechnical report is required and recommendations that the report should provide.
3. How to select allowable bearing pressures for the project.
4. The difference between prescriptive versus performance-based specification requirements and how they affect the project.

Speakers