What is the American Shotcrete Association?

What is the American Concrete Institute?

Why is there an ACI Nozzleman Certification Program?

Who provides ACI certification?

How much will the program cost?

Who are the ASA Approved Educators? 

Who are the ACI Approved Examiners?

Take me to a listing of ASA Approved Educators and ACI Approved Examiners.

How do I become an ASA Approved Educator?

How do I become an ACI Approved Examiner?

How do I schedule an ACI Nozzleman Certification Session?

How do I schedule an ASA Education Session?

Click here to download the ACI Nozzleman Certification Application.

What else should I keep in mind when scheduling a session?

How long is the ACI certification good for?

What happens if I fail a section of the exam?

Click here to download the ACI Retest Application.

What are the requirements for recertification after the certificate expires?

Click here to download the ACI Nozzleman Recertification Application.

How can I find out more about ACI certification?

How do I specify shotcrete nozzleman certification?

What is the American Shotcrete Association?

ASA is an industry association founded in 1998 to:
- encourage and promote the use of shotcrete,
- educate and inform the construction community of the benefits of shotcrete,
- provide potential users of shotcrete with a reliable reference source, and
- support and promote training of craftsmen in the shotcrete industry.

To find out more about ASA, please click here.

What is the American Concrete Institute?

Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, ACI is a technical and educational society with almost 16,000 members in 115 countries and 97 chapters in 32 countries.  

ACI has produced more than 400 technical documents, reports, guides, specifications, and codes for the best use of concrete; conducts about 125 educational seminars each year; and has 13 different certification programs for concrete practitioners, as well as a scholarship program to promote careers in the concrete industry.

To find out more about ACI, please click here.

Why is there an ACI Shotcrete Nozzleman Certification program?

Design engineers wanted a way to ensure that the quality of shotcrete placed on their projects met with their design specifications.  The materials are tested in accordance with standards established through the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and ASTM International.  Because shotcrete can be affected by the skill of the nozzleman, certain basic requirements should be demonstrated.  Designers and engineers with shotcrete experience would design test procedures to assure that the nozzleman had the skill to perform in a satisfactory manor. 

ACI established a shotcrete nozzleman certification program to establish a basic skill level of shotcrete nozzling.  A design engineer could then require the use of ACI nozzleman certification in their specifications.  This gives the engineer some confidence in the finished shotcrete product.

Who provides ACI certification?

Education, testing and certification are provided by sponsoring groups authorized by ACI.  The American Shotcrete Association (ASA) is an authorized sponsoring group consisting of ASA Approved Educators and ACI Approved Examiners.  ACI issues shotcrete nozzleman certificates.

How much will the program cost?

The fee per examinee is shown on the 2008 ACI Nozzleman Certification Application.

Other fees and expenses will include:

• Examiner fees and expenses

• Supplemental examiner fees (if more than 5 nozzleman)

• Classroom and education location

• Molds, reinforcement and scaffolding

• Equipment and materials: shotcrete material, shotcrete pump, air compressor, hoses, nozzle, blow-pipe, and test panels

• If overhead panels are to be shot, sturdy scaffolding will be required.

• Coring (expect approximately $100/nozzleman)

• Clean-up

Who are the ASA Approved Educators?

ASA Approved Educators are current ASA members that have been approved by the American Shotcrete Association, are knowledgeable in shotcrete, have been in the field of shotcrete for a minimum of five years, and have participated in at least two ASA-approved education sessions as a supplemental educator. ASA Educators are given an ASA Education CD of Educational Modules to assist in their education programs. ASA Educators cannot conduct ACI nozzleman certification examinations unless they are also ACI Approved Examiners.

Who are the ACI Approved Examiners?

ACI Approved Examiners are persons experienced in shotcrete technology who have been approved by the American Concrete Institute. Examiners have proven sufficient shotcrete experience, have passed the written exams for both the wet- and dry-mix programs, and have participated in at least two examination sessions as a proctor and supplemental examiner. ACI Approved Examiners are educated in organizing a session and conducting the ACI wet-mix and dry-mix (both vertical and overhead) nozzleman examinations.

Complete lists of ASA Approved Educators and ACI Approved Examiners are listed further down this page.  

How do I become an ASA Approved Educator?

Complete and submit the ASA Shotcrete Educator Application.  To be considered for approval, the following criteria must be met:

A) Sufficient shotcrete knowledge and work experience

B) Meet a minimum of at least four (4) out of the nine (9) following qualification requirements:

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in the shotcrete construction field as a supplier with service exposure, as an engineer or technician servicing shotcrete equipment.

• Minimum of one (1) full year of experience in shotcrete application as: an instructor, service technician for shotcrete materials or equipment related to shotcrete.

• Safety training at a minimum of five (5) civil or mining shotcrete projects.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience as a shotcrete nozzleman in dry-mix, wet-mix or both.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience presenting information regarding shotcrete applications in: education, marketing service or similar instructional presentations for shotcrete-related products or shotcrete equipment.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in the design community directly involved with shotcrete specification, application, and quality control procedures.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in shotcrete materials, equipment manufacturing, sales or service of the same application experience.

• Minimum of five (5) years experience in quality control or lab testing procedures related to shotcrete.

• Minimum of five (5) years teaching experience.

C)  Current ASA member (Individual member, primary contact of Corporate membership, or Corporate Additional member)

D)  Resume demonstrating basic shotcrete knowledge.  

E)  Upon probationary approval, participated in all phases of at least two (2) ASA-sanctioned Nozzleman Education programs for each process for which approval is sought, with different educators of record for each session. For the first session, the applicant must attend the session as a witnessing supplemental educator.  For the second session, the applicant must attend the session as a supplemental educator and shall conduct all phases of the session under the direct supervision of the educator of record. No credit will be granted to an applicant for attending an ASA-sanctioned Shotcrete Education session before probationary approval.    

F)  Completed ASA Nozzleman Educator Application.

How do I become an ACI Approved Examiner?

Complete and submit the ACI Nozzleman Examiner Application.  To be considered for approval, the following criteria must be met:

A) Knowledgeable in shotcrete and thoroughly familiar with the current applicable reference documents.

B) Have a total of at least five (5) years documented experience in at least two (2) of the following four (4)categories:

• Testing, inspection, and quality control of shotcrete

• Supervision of shotcrete construction work

• Design of shotcrete structures

• Shotcrete nozzling

C)  Have sufficient experience to evaluate and judge the qualifications of applicants and take charge of conducting written and performance examinations.

D)  Have, to the satisfaction of the examiners of record, participated in all phases of at least two (2) ACI-sanctioned Nozzleman Certification programs for each process for which approval is sought, with different examiners of record for each session. For the first session, the applicant must serve as a proctor and supplemental examiner.  For the second session, the applicant shall serve as a proctor and supplemental examiner and conduct all phases of the session including written examination, performance examination, and core grading, under direct supervision of the examiner of record.

E)  Have attained a passing grade on the written exam for each process sought.

F)  Have conducted or assisted in at least three (3) ACI-Sanctioned Nozzleman Certification programs in five (5) years, if not actively participating in committee C 660 activities.

G)  Completed ACI Nozzleman Examiner Application.

How do I schedule an ACI Nozzleman Certification Session? 

If you are interested in scheduling a nozzleman certification session, follow these simple steps:

First, scroll down to the listing of ACI Approved Nozzleman Examiners further down this page and contact an examiner to arrange the session date. All nozzleman certification sessions are being scheduled on an as-needed basis and are usually held at the customer's site. All equipment and materials must be provided by the customer. 

Next, fill out the 2008 ACI Nozzleman Certification Application for each individual taking the exam.

Fax the completed applications along with payment to (248) 848-3740 or mail them to ASA's home office along with a check. Applications can not be accepted without a confirmed examiner and session date.  Study manuals can not be mailed until applications and payment are received in full. The CP-60 (02): Craftsman Workbook for ACI Certification of Shotcrete Nozzleman is the study manual used for this program and is included in the price of the certification.  

How do I schedule an ASA Education Session?