Why do I need documentation certification?

Documentation of Contract quantities is a class administered by Illinois Center for Transportation offering documentation certification (Illinois Department of Transportation class S-14).

The course is a prequalification for all IDOT consultants who will perform construction inspection (Phase III) work, including staking, material testing, inspection, documentation of materials and quantities, record keeping, enforcing specifications and much more. Check out a complete list of requirements for consultant prequalification.

The class helps participants learn how to:

Properly document contract quantities in compliance with state and federal standards,
Make project diary entries,
Quantify book preparation,
Use the cross-reference system and
Create extra work reports, measurement and calculation of pay items for pay quantities occurring in road and bridge plans.

How do I become certified?

To obtain documentation certification, one must successfully pass the test administered during the Documentation of Contract Quantities’ full class with a score of 70 percent or higher. Once a passing test score is obtained, certification is valid for four years.

In the event a passing score is not obtained, full-class participants may choose to either take a retest or retake the full class by registering online and paying the associated fee. Only one retest attempt is allowed after failing a full-class exam. The retest must occur within one calendar year of the full-class exam date.

If one fails to pass a retest exam, then he or she must take the full class in order to attempt the exam again.

How do I recertify?

Certified individuals have a four-month grace period following the expiration of their certification. Before the end of the grace period, participants have one opportunity to recertify by registering online and paying the associated fee, taking a two-and-a-half-hour documentation exam (retest) and passing with a score of 70 percent or higher.

If certification expires by more than the allotted four-month grace period or the participant does not pass the retest, the individual must retake the full class in order to attempt the exam again. Once a passing test score is obtained, the individual will again be certified.

Note: It is each individual’s responsibility to remember to retest within the four-month grace period of their certification expiration date. No exceptions.

About the class

The Documentation of Contract Quantities course is recommended for individuals with at least one year of IDOT construction experience. Participants should also have a familiarity with general highway and IDOT construction terminology and practices. It is also important to have a basic understanding of algebra and geometry with this course, especially concerning the order of operations and an ability to calculate area and volume. Participants are encouraged to explore math refresher web pages prior to taking the course.

Check out the course registration. To receive notifications for registration announcements and changes, join the notification list. Have more questions? Read some of these frequently asked questions.

About the exam

Illinois Center for Transportation provides several online full classes with exams as well as retest dates. Note: Requests for individual test dates or alternate site locations will not be accepted.

All exams and retests are open book/open notes. Review the items necessary to complete the online course here.

Online format

All DOC classes and retests will be held in an online format. View the instructions prior to taking the full class or retest. Each test, both for the full class and the retest, is two and a half hours long.

Fees

Spaces must be reserved with a credit card. IDOT personnel are to contact their district registrar to register. For those unsure who their district registrar is, please contact us.

Full-class fees:

Consultants: $350
IDOT or local agency employees: $50

Retest fees:

Consultant retest: $100
IDOT or local agency employees retest: $50