Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Level 2 Technician

The Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Level 2 Job Mix Technician course is intended to cover the concepts and preparation procedures of HMA job mix formula (JMF).  Individuals who complete this course will be certified to perform HMA Level 2 Job Mix Technician duties for SCDOT projects.  Each participant is responsible for performing mathematical calculations related to the JMFs.  The instructors for the course are made up of knowledgeable asphalt industry consultants, academia, contractors and SCDOT representatives. 

Course Outline:
To become certified, participants are required to attend a two-and-a-half (2 ½) day course, pass a written exam (open book and open notes) with a score of 80% or higher, perform a full JMF preparation in the presence of the SCDOT Asphalt Materials Unit personnel at OMR in Columbia, and submit proof of enrollment in the AASHTO AMRL Proficiency Sample Program.  Topics covered include:

• Materials
  • Aggregate
  • Asphalt Binder
• SCDOT Mix Design Procedures and Related Calculations
  • Aggregate blending
  • Preparing aggregate samples
  • Mixing and compacting laboratory HMA samples
  • Maximum specific gravity (MSG)
  • Bulk specific gravity (BSG
  • Calculating volumetric properties
    • % air voids
    • % VMA
    • % VFA
  • Optimum % asphalt binder content
  • ITS testing
  • Stability testing
  • Rut-resistance testing
• SCDOT Specifications

Entry Requirements/What to Expect:
Prerequisites:

• Current HMA Level 1 QC Technician certification
• Experience form signed by a certified HMA Level 3 QC Manager or a certified HMA Level 2 Job Mix Technician confirming 6 months of related asphalt lab experience, preferably in HMA job mix preparation

Additional Requirements:
On a yearly basis, to maintain certification and to continue to be able to submit JMFs to SCDOT, each HMA Level 2 Job Mix Technician must submit the results of his/her annual AMRL proficiency samples to Tri-County Technical College via email at conted.tctc.edu with a subject of "SCDOT AMRL results".  See the SCDOT Technician Certification Policy for more details.

Course Materials:
Electronic versions of the course materials are available below.  However, course materials can be updated at any time, and these electronic materials may not be the most updated version.  The most updated version of the course materials is distributed to all course registrants on the first day of the course.   

Section 1 - HMA Level 2 Slide Presentation 
Section 2 - HMA Level 2 SCDOT Specs Slide Presentation 
Section 3 - Problems 
Other SCDOT Resources^(*Note)

Note: Other materials in the manual for this course are not posted here because of periodic updates by SCDOT.  Those materials include selected sections of the SCDOT Standard Specifications, SCDOT Supplemental Specifications, and SCDOT Test Procedures.  The most updated versions of all of those materials may be found on the SCDOT website (www.scdot.org).