CSMT Program

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Concrete Slab Moisture Testing (CSMT) Program

ABOUT THE CSMT PROGRAM

Stand out from the crowd and gain fundamental education or full certification as a concrete slab moisture testing technician through ICRI’s Concrete Slab Moisture Testing (CSMT) Program. Be recognized as the go-to person for the testing of moisture in concrete floor slabs.

A growing number of project and manufacturer specifications require that those performing slab moisture testing be ICRI certified concrete slab moisture testing technicians.

In addition to improving your understanding of what slab moisture tests actually measure and what the test results mean, certified individuals provide a higher level of confidence in the test results that are critical in the flooring pre-installation decision-making process or post-failure forensic investigation.

The CSMT program consists of two (2) course options:

Education Course: Offering you fundamental education in concrete slab moisture testing; and
Certification Course: Offering you full certification as a concrete slab moisture testing technician

The CSMT Education course is for those who are not seeking to become certified as a concrete slab moisture testing technician but have an active interest in learning more about the test methods, what information the tests provide, and how the tests are to be properly performed.

Participants who attend and complete the 3-4 hour education session and successfully pass the written examination will receive a Certificate of Achievement from ICRI.

EXAMINATION

The written examination is based on the Education component and the following five (5) ASTM Standards, including all Annexes and Appendices:

F710 Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring; Section 5.2 pH Testing;
F1869 Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride;
F2170 Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes;
F2659 Preliminary Evaluation of Comparative Moisture Condition of Concrete, Gypsum Cement and Other Floor Slabs and Screeds Using a Non-Destructive Electronic Moisture Meter; and
F3191 Field Determination of Substrate Water Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to Receive Resilient Flooring.

ASTM Standards listed above are provided as free electronic downloads to paid registrants of the Education course. The Standards will also be included in the on-site course materials for Education course registrants.

ICRI will issue a Certificate of Achievement to individuals who receive a passing grade on the Written Examination.

RE-EXAMINATION

Failure of the Written Examination requires a complete re-exam. Re-examination of the written exam must be taken within one (1) year of the failed examination. Otherwise, the Education course must be retaken in its entirety.

Written Re-Examinations are available at ICRI-scheduled CSMT program locations.

In addition to scheduled program locations, the Written Re-examination can be taken at the ICRI office in the St. Paul, MN area.

Written Re-Examinations at an ICRI office location require pre-registration using the Re-examination Application. ICRI will contact individuals to confirm and coordinate the location, date, and time of the re-examination.

ICRI will issue a Certificate of Achievement to individuals who receive a passing grade on the Written Re-examination.

The CSMT Certification course is for those seeking to become an ICRI Certified Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician—Grade 1. Participants attend the 3-4 hour education session and written examination component. Applicants are also required to perform each of the five (5) applicable ASTM tests included in the program under the watchful eye of a qualified judge who will not provide any level of coaching.

With the successful completion and passing of the written and performance examinations, an ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician—Grade 1 certification will be issued by ICRI and the individual will receive a certificate and wallet card. The individual also has the option of being added to the ICRI Certified CSMT online database.

ICRI Certified Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician—Grade 1 is valid for five (5) years from the date of completion and passing of all applicable certification requirements.

Pre-Qualification

The Certification course requires pre-qualification based on the applicant’s previous hands-on slab moisture testing experience as approved by ICRI. Applicants must provide previous testing experience information on the registration form and be approved in advance by ICRI or register and participate in the Demonstration and Workshop component to have the previous testing experieince requirement waived.

Exams

The written and performance examinations are based on the education session and the following five (5) ASTM Standards, including all Annexes and Appendices:

F710 – Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring; Section 5.2 pH Testing;
F1869 – Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride;
F2170 – Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes;
F2659 – Preliminary Evaluation of Comparative Moisture Condition of Concrete, Gypsum Cement and Other Floor Slabs and Screeds Using a Non-Destructive Electronic Moisture Meter; and
F3191 – Field Determination of Substrate Water Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to Receive Resilient Flooring.

ASTM Standards listed above are provided as free electronic downloads to paid registrants of the Certification course and with Recertification. The Standards will also be included in the on-site course materials for Certification course registrants.

First recertification (5 years after original certification) registrants will receive an electronic download and/or hard copy study packet that includes copies of the ASTM Standards prior to the class. Second and future recertification (5+ years after first recertification) registrants are required to re-take the full Certification course and will receive electronic downloads and copies of the ASTM Standards as outlined above.

Individuals who successfulyl complete the Certification course, including passing the Written Examination and all parts of the Performance Examination, will receive the designation of ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician—Grade 1, and a certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI.

Re-examination

Written Examination
Failure of the Written Examination requires a retake of the entire exam.

Performance Examination
Failure on one (1) or more of the five (5) required ASTM Standard tests on the Performance Examination requires re-examination on failed tests only.

Re-examination of the Written and/or Performance Examinations must be taken within one (1) year of the failed examinations. Otherwise, the Certification course (including the education session, written and performance exams) must be retaken in its entirety.

Where are can you take your re-examinations?
Written and Performance Re-examinations are available at ICRI-scheduled CSMT program locations.

In addition to scheduled program locations, the Written Re-examination can be taken at the ICRI office in the St. Paul, MN area.

Written Re-Examinations at an ICRI office location require pre-registration using the Re-examination/Recertification Application. ICRI will contact individuals to confirm and coordinate the location, date, and time of the re-examination. The Performance Re-examination is only available at ICRI-scheduled CSMT class locations.

Individuals who successfully pass the Written Re-examination and all parts of the Performance Re-examination will receive the designation of ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician—Grade 1, and a new certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI.

Recertification

To restore and maintain active certification status, recertification is required on a 5-year basis.

First Recertification – 5 years after original certification
First recertification requires passing a written exam that covers the five (5) applicable ASTM Standards. No performance exam is required. Passing the written exam will provide certification for a period of five (5) years. If the written exam is taken and passed within:

the 6-month period prior to the original certification expiration date, certification will be extended for an additional five (5) years beyond the original certification expiration date.
the 9-month allowable grace period after the original certification expiration date, recertification will start on the date that the written exam is passed.

A new certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI upon successful completion of the recertification requirements. An individual’s certification is considered to be expired at the original certification expiration date if successful recertification does not occur before this date. If recertification is not completed within the 9-month grace period following the original certification expiration date, recertification will require successful completion of the full Certification course.

Failure of the recertification written exam requires retaking and passing the entire written exam to get recertified. The written re-exam must be taken within six (6) months of the failed written exam or the Certification course must be taken in its entirety and successfully completed to re-establish certification. Successful re-examination or completion of the Certification course will provide certification for a period of five (5) years, and a new certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI.

Second and Future Recertifications – 10+ years after first recertification
The second and future recertifications require again completing and passing the Certification course in its entirety. Successful recertification will provide certification for a period of five (5) years from the date of completion of all applicable second recertification requirements.

If successful completion of the Certification course is:

within 6 months before the first recertification expiration date, it will extend certification for five (5) years beyond the first recertification expiration date.
during the 9-month allowable grace period after the first recertification expiration date, the five (5) year certification period will begin on the date that the Certification course is successfully completed.

A new certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI with successful completion of the Certification course.

An individual’s first recertification is considered to be expired at the first recertification expiration date if successful completion of the Certification course does not occur before this date.

Failure of the second recertification written exam requires retaking and passing the entire written exam to get recertified. Failure of one (1) or more of the five (5) required performance examination tests requires re-examination of the failed performance test(s) only.

Re-examination of a failed written and/or performance exam must be taken within one (1) year of the failed examination(s). If re-examination of the failed written and/or performance exam is not re-taken and passed successfully within one (1) year of the failed written and/or performance exam, the Certification course must be re-taken in its entirety and successfully completed to re-establish certification. Successful re-examination will provide certification for a period of five (5) years and a new certificate and wallet card will be issued by ICRI.

Sample Specification

1.01 QUALITY ASSURANCE

Concrete-Moisture Testing Qualifications: Engage experienced concrete moisture testing firm/individual that has technicians who are trained to appropriately perform concrete moisture testing per the ASTM methods outlined in this Section. Individuals who pass the written and performance exams of the Concrete Surface Moisture Testing Technician (CSMTT) Program administered by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) have proven the ability to perform the test methods: ASTM F1869, ASTM F710 (Section 5.2), ASTM F2170 ASTM F2659 and ASTM F3191.

A typical class schedule is as follows:

Day 1 - Education and Certification

8:00–8:30 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 am–12:00 pm: Education Session
12:00–2:00 pm: Lunch and Study Period
2:00–3:00 pm: Written Examination/Recertification Examination
3:00–5:30 pm: Demonstration and Workshop

Note: Continental breakfast and lunch provided only at ICRI scheduled/hosted classes, and excludes classes held at World of Concrete, TISE, and other trade show events.

Day 2 - Certification Only

8:00 am–5:00 pm: Performance Examinations

For Certification participants, Day 2 consists of the Performance Examination where each individual is required to perform all five (5) ASTM tests included in the program. Each individual will be assigned a 1-hour time slot on Day 1.

Individuals traveling to the class must not count on departing on Day 2 until after 5:00 p.m., unless special arrangements have been requested and approved by ICRI prior to the class. Every effort will be made to accommodate travel schedules when the performance examination time slots are assigned.

All prices are in U.S. Dollars.

CSMT Education Course Fees

	ICRI Member (per person)	ICRI Student Member* (per person)	Non-Member (per person)
Education Course	$395	$199	$495
Demonstration and Workshop	$175	N/A	$225
Re-Exam - Written	$150	$75	$225

*Student Member: Must be an ICRI Student Member (membership requires verification of student status)

CSMT Certification Course Fees

	ICRI Member (per person)	ICRI Student Member* (per person)	Non-Member (per person)
Certification Course (includes Education component)	$750	N/A	$995
Certification Course + Demonstration and Workshop (includes Education component)	$850	$425	$1145
Recertification: 1st - Written Exam	$395	N/A	$495
Recertification: 2nd and Future - full Certification Course	$595	N/A	$795
Re-Exam - Written (includes recertification)	$150	$75	$225
Re-Exam - Performance (includes recertification)	$175	$89	$250