The Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) offers two options for individuals seeking initial or renewal certification as a Qualified Work Zone Installer or a Qualified Work Zone Supervisor.
Work Zone Certification
Option 1: Formal Training with Exam
Enroll in a NCDOT-approved public training program and pass an associated exam.
The ITRE-NCLTAP Work Zone Installer and Work Zone Supervisor Trainings are a tried-and-true approach offering a structured and reliable path to certification.
Option 2: Exam-Only
The exam-only option is for experienced professionals who:
• Are seeking NCDOT Work Zone Recertification less than 90 days expired.
• Have similar certifications in other states
Anyone without these qualifications must enroll in a formal training session.
ITRE Work Zone Certification Exam-Only
- Certification Exams for Qualified Work Zone Installer and Supervisor for the Exam-Only pilot program have been developed by NCDOT/ITRE and are administered and proctored by ITRE
- $50 per attempt
- Open book exam
- Allotted time to complete exam is 1.5 hours for Installer Exam and 2.0 hours for Supervisor Exam
- Individual may bring printed reference materials only
- Digital devices and electronic reference materials are prohibited. (No cell phones, tablets, computers, smart watches, cameras, etc.)
- NCDOT Certification Card will be issued at the time of successful exam completion. If technical issues, certification card will be mailed promptly
- Certification remains valid for four (4) years, after which recertification is necessary to ensure ongoing compliance with updated standards and practices
- 30-day waiting period between attempts
- After two (2) unsuccessful attempts, individuals must enroll in a formal classroom training through a NCDOT-approved provider to complete certification
Exam Reference Materials
NCDOT Work Zone Safety Training website provides a document called Study Material for Installers & Supervisors which includes an overview of the exam-only option, a list of the key topics and the essential reference materials that candidates are expected to be familiar with and bring with them to the exam. As stated above, individuals may bring and use printed reference materials only during the exam. Digital devices and electronic reference materials are not allowed in the exam.
Exam Pass/Fail Criteria
Qualified Installer Certification Exam consists of 10 categories and to successfully pass this exam, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Minimum Category Performance: Installers must achieve a score of at least 80% in at least 8 out of the first 10 categories.
- Single Category Failure: Failure to get 2 questions correct in any single category will cause the candidate to fail the entire exam, regardless of performance in the other categories or overall score.
Qualified Supervisor Certification Exam consists of 13 categories and to successfully pass this exam, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Minimum Category Performance: Supervisors must get 80% of questions correct in at least 10 of the 13 categories to pass the exam (4/5 in the 5-question categories; 8/10 in the 10-question category).
- Single Category Failure: Failure to get 2 questions correct in any single category will cause the candidate to fail the entire exam, regardless of performance in the other categories or overall score.
Exam Schedule
| January 26, 2026 | Statesville, NC |
| February 12, 2026 | Kinston, NC |
| February 17, 2026 | Raleigh, NC |
| March 19, 2026 | Raleigh, NC |
| March 23, 2026 | Statesville, NC |
Register for Work Zone Exam-Only
Contact
Please contact the ITRE Work Zone Exam-Only Team at itre-testing@ncsu.edu if you have any questions or would like to be notified when new exam dates are added.