Self Study Correspondence Courses

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. As an Engineer, why would I want to take these courses?

As a design professional, it is important to know the current information being used in the steel construction industry. Writing good specifications, and knowing how the project is to be properly fabricated, erected and inspected is also vital to a successful project. The course on "Bolted Joints" is of particular interest to Engineers, as the selection of bolted joint types has a significant effect upon project requirements, construction cost, and inspection cost. In addition, if you are a PE or SE that requires continuing education for maintaining your license, these courses are also a practical and economical means to receiving that continuing education.

2. As a person working for a Fabricator or Erector, why would I want to take these courses?

It is essential to understand the Engineer's specifications and to properly implement the project requirements, as well as meet the code requirements as set forth by AISC and the RCSC. These courses can provide you the basis for standard procedures for implementation in your shop or in the field, reducing cost and quality problems and conflicts with inspectors. Shops that seek AISC Quality Certification or other approvals can use completion of these courses to demonstrate ongoing education and efforts to improve quality, as well as document the qualifications of office, shop supervision, bolting personnel and inspection personnel.

3. As an Inspector, why would I want to take these courses?

Besides improving your knowledge and skill at performing bolting inspection, these courses can be used to document your knowledge of bolting operations and inspection to prospective clients and employers. Currently, no existing certification program exists for bolting inspection, as it does for welding inspection. Completion of the complete package, with the receipt of the Certificate of Completion, should place you among the most qualified for bolting inspection tasks.

4. How long do I have to complete the course(s)?

There is no time limit, but we encourage you to complete your work within six months.

5. If I choose not to take the examination, is there any credit given?

There will be no formal confirmation given by SSTC that you have studied the course material. There will be no refund given for the course. You may keep the course materials.

6. May I decide to have someone else study these materials and have them take the examination instead?

Yes, you may share the study materials with others in your firm. The course material and examinations are copyrighted, however, and copying, posting on a company website, or reproduction in any form is not permitted. Should you decide not to take the examination, you are free to provide your examination to someone else. However, only they will receive credit for course completion.

7. May a group of us study the material, and each send in the examination for credit?

We use several different examinations for each course. Each individual seeking credit must apply separately and submit the examination provided to him or her. If several people in the same organization wish to take a course as a group, we can arrange to register all individuals in the group.

8. What type of questions are on the examinations, and how many are there?

Questions are multiple choice and true-false type questions. There are 25 questions for each course except Bolting Inspection, which has 50 questions. None will require the use of a calculator. The course material is not to be used during the exam, but the RCSC Specification for Structural Joints Using ASTM A325 and A490 Bolts is essential and should be used during the exam.

9. May I get help in completing the examination?

This is a self-study course, and you may seek help in understanding the material prior to taking the exam. However, you must not seek help during the examination itself. We believe that you alone will take your examination, practicing professional ethics.

10. How will you know I took the examination, and not someone else?

You will be signing an affidavit that you took the exam without assistance. In an effort to control your examination costs, the exams are not proctored. We rely upon your ethics.

11. How many exam questions do I have to get right to pass?

A passing grade is with 70% or higher correct answers. For the Certificate of Completion to be issued for the entire 7-course Package, an overall rate of 80% correct answers is needed, with no individual course falling below 70%.

12. What do I get upon successful completion of the course?

Course participants will receive a confirmation letter for their records stating that they passed the course. The letter also lists the contents of the course, and the amount of CEU / PDH credit given.

13. If I take the Package Course and achieve the 80% pass rate, what do I get?

You will receive a formal Certificate of Completion of the course, suitable for framing, as well as a wallet card.

14. What if I fail to pass the examination?

We will return the graded examination to you, along with a second examination. You are expected to study the course materials a second time prior to repeating the examination. There is no extra charge for the second exam.

15. Where do I get the RCSC Specification?

It can be downloaded for free at www.boltcouncil.org, or may be purchased in booklet form from the AISC at www.aisc.org, or by calling (312) 670-2400.

16. Where do I get the AISC Specification?

The LRFD Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (1999) can be downloaded for free at www.aisc.org, or may be purchased in booklet form from the AISC at www.aisc.org, or by calling (312) 670-2400.

17. Where do I get the Guide, listed as Recommended Reading for some of the courses?

We reference certain sections of the Guide. Download the Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints at www.boltcouncil.org. The Guide may also be purchased from the AISC at www.aisc.org or by calling 312-670-2400.

18. Is there any overlap between course content?

Yes, because some information applies to all subjects, such as the need for washers, the importance of lubrication, the level of pretension, etc., these subjects are repeated in two or more of the individual courses. This is to make each course self-contained. As you study, you may find specific variations between requirements, such as different rules for twist-off bolt lubrication when compared to the other installation methods.

19. Are these courses pre-approved by states requiring such for license renewal?

We have approval from New York, through the Practice Institute of Engineering, Inc. You must take the entire course package of seven courses to quality for New York State credit of 7.0 PDHs. We have not sought Florida approvals.

20. How are the CEU / PDH credit hours calculated?

For self-study correspondence courses, the average time to complete a course is used as the basis for setting CEU / PDH credit hours. It is not permitted to "log" your own time spent in study and use that time instead. Each course completed provides 0.1 CEU or 1 PDH, except for the Bolting Inspection course. The Bolting Inspection course provides 0.2 CEUs or 2 PDHs.