Pipeline Operators Qualification and Certification
D.O.T. OQ Plan Changes…
….Are you in COMPLIANCE? 
979/345-2378

OQCC, an Accredited Assessment/Training Sponsor of NCCER can help you meet your Operator Qualifications (OQ), as well as, submitting OQ Reports

D.O.T. Rule 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 - Impact on Operators and Contractors.
The rule places a significant compliance burden on operators and contractors. Pipeline operators and technicians must be qualified and certified as of October 28, 2002, in order to keep working in this industry. Contractors will have to have a "qualified workforce" that is able to perform activities for multiple operators and they must be qualified and certified under each operator's plan.
See Federal Register on D.O.T. Rule

What is OQ ?
The Operator Qualification Rule is part of 49CFR Part 192 (subpart N) and 49CFR Part 195 (subpart G) under the Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety. (see http://ops.dot.gov/regulate.htm) This rule requires pipeline operators to develop and maintain a written qualification program for individuals performing covered tasks on pipeline facilities.
See: www.pipe-line.com Article

Key dates associated with OQ
October 26, 1999 ­ OQ rule went into effect, see: D.O.T. website
April 27, 2001 ­ Operators must have a written qualification program
October 28, 2002 ­ Operators and contractors must complete the qualification of individuals performing covered tasks

What we can do for you
Operator Qualification and Certification Center can assess, certify, and train your employees to meet the requirements of the D.O.T. rules.

With more than forty (40) years combined professional experience in the construction industry, the OQCC staff is fully qualified to advise you on the D.O.T. requirements and to assess and certify your people so they meet the requirements. The results of this assessment will be documented in the National Registry on-line database, which is accessible to employers and individuals.

OQCC is a subscriber of the National Registry (ISNetworld) where assessment and training results are kept and made available to individuals and employers who are client members.

OQCC is a Fully Accredited NCCER Assessment / Training Center  -   What's that ?

OQCC is an affiliate of Total Inspection Services, which is an third-party inspection service to oil and gas companies to monitor and report on pipeline related construction projects.

Call 979-345-2378

Who is OQCC?
What our assessments do
What is NCACC ?
What is NCACP ?

Safety
The law also requires that the "qualifications applicable to an individual who operates and maintains a pipeline facility shall address the ability to recognize and react appropriately to abnormal operating conditions that may indicate a dangerous situation or condition exceeding designed limits."
See: pipeline-com Article, Safety Updates

Where?
We can assess and certify people at our facilities here in West Columbia or onsite at your location. In either case call us to make arrangements and set up a schedule. You can call any day of the week, Saturdays and Sundays included. Phone: 979-345-2378 or Fax: 979-345-6228

What is NCCER ?
National Center for Construction Education and Research(NCCER) is A non-profit educational foundation serving the construction and maintenance industries. The NCCER is responsible for the design, implementation, control, and evaluation of The Contren Learning Series Curricula and National Craft Assessment and Certification Program.

What is the National Registry ?
The National Registry is a database maintained by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) which lists the names of the individuals who have successfully completed NCCER's Contren Learning Series curricula task modules, the NCCER Master Trainer Process, the NCCER Instructor Certification Training Program, the Craft Assessment and Certification Process, Accreditation Visitor Training, and/or other NCCER approved training and education. See:nccer.org and ISNetworld.

What is NCACC ?
The National Craft Assessment and Certification Council is an oversight council comprised of representatives of industry, industry trade associations, and owners that is responsible for the National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP).

What is NCACP ?
The National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP) is a nationally recognized and industry-driven program designed to evaluate the journey-level knowledge and skills of experienced workers. For API(American Petroleum Institute) and the pipeline industry, the NCACP has been modified to shift focus from assessing to journey-level to assessing to determine qualification on selected covered tasks as identified by API and the industry. All assessments developed under the PTAP are tied directly to the NCCER's standardized pipeliner training curricula (the Contren Learning Series) to assist in upgrade training if needed. NCCER's assessment process is designed to address the following issues:

• Meet the demands of D.O.T and pipeline operators regarding pipeline workforce qualifications
• Identify the knowledge, skill, and overall qualification level of the current pipeline workforce
• Eliminate duplication of efforts and the burdens it places on pipeline technicians
• Increase technician credentialing opportunities and workforce professionalism
• Increase pipeline workforce involvement in training
• Assist pipeline contractors in maximizing their training dollars
• Enhance career opportunities and progression for individuals within the pipeline industry
• Expand workforce development resources to the pipeline industry
• Enhance safety and productivity of the pipeline workforce
• Improve the image of the pipeline industry

Accredited Assessment Center

Accredited Assessment Center - A fully accredited sponsor that has a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certified Administrator and meets all requirements established by the NCCER for the National Assessment and Certification Program.

NCCER Assessments

NCCER assessments provide:

• Individuals with assessment, training, and remedial training if needed.
• Individuals with documented certification of their qualifications.
• Records to the NCCER database which is available to potential employers.

OQCC is a provider of NCCER assessments including both written and performance evaluations of pipeline technicians' knowledge level and skills. Written and hands-on performance evaluations relate directly to API's established covered tasks. Every assessment has all questions correlated back to competencies and modules in the NCCER's Contren Learning Series Pipeline Curricula. This provides a training prescription whereby any deficiencies revealed by the assessments can be rectified.

All assessments are subjected to expert psychometric analysis and validation through the NCCER's development process. This allows them to be used for both pre- and post- employment assessments.

Once a person is assessed, NCCER tracks and records the results through the National Registry and provides appropriate credentials to individual workers. Credentials provided through the NCACP are "Certified (Written)" --- for successful completion of the written knowledge assessment. "Performance Verification" --- for successful completion of the performance verification requirements, and "Certified Plus" --- the highest level of verification, for successful completion of both the written and all performance verification requirements. Under the Pipeline Training and Assessment Program (PTAP), Certified (written) is provided when a candidate passes the cut-score and all required task modules with 70% or higher.

OQCC

Operator Qualification and Certification Center, L.P., OQCC, is a fully accredited assessment / training center that meets all the requirements established by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) for the National Assessment and Certification Program for the purpose of qualifying and certifying personnel under the D.O.T. Rule 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 which state that all individuals who operate and maintain pipeline facilities shall be qualified to operate and maintain the pipeline facilities.

The law also requires that the qualifications applicable to an individual who operates and maintains a pipeline facility shall address the ability to recognize and react appropriately to abnormal operating conditions that may indicate a dangerous situation or condition exceeding designed limits. Persons covered by the proposed Rule include operators, subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195. The Rule applies to all people who perform covered tasks, regardless of whether they are employed by the operator, a contractor, a sub-contractor, or any other entity performing covered tasks on behalf of the operator.