ACI MFTT

No. ACI lists both programs under Masonry Testing in its certification catalog. The field technician credential focuses on sampling and tests performed at the jobsite, while the laboratory credential covers controlled laboratory procedures. Review each program's stated scope with ACI or a sponsoring group before choosing which exam to take.

The content is organized into five areas: masonry materials, units, mortar, and grout sampling; field testing of mortar and grout, including consistency, water content, and compressive strength specimens; masonry prism construction, curing, and compressive strength testing; unit compressive strength and absorption/saturation testing; and test records, reporting, and qualification of test personnel.

ACI's public program pages reviewed here do not state the number of questions, the time limit, or the passing score for this exam. Format can vary by sponsoring group and delivery method. Request the current candidate handbook or contact ACI or your sponsoring group before scheduling so you know exactly what to expect.

Difficulty is not published. ACI describes testing programs as assessing both knowledge and the ability to perform, record, and report test results, so memorizing procedures is not enough. Candidates without real practice mixing mortar, molding specimens, or building and capping prisms usually find the performance-oriented material harder than the definitions.

No official preparation time is published. Build a study plan around the five content areas, weight hands-on practice heavily, and schedule the exam only after you can perform each procedure unaided and complete the associated record accurately. If you lack jobsite access, arrange practice sessions with a laboratory or sponsoring group.

Start with sampling and materials, because every later test depends on a representative sample. Then move to mortar and grout field tests, prism construction and curing, unit strength and absorption, and finally records and reporting. Practicing in that order lets each skill build on the previous one, and reporting practice keeps you attentive to required data fields.

ACI states that certification examinations and optional training courses are conducted through an international network of over 135 sponsoring groups. Use ACI's Find a Sponsoring Group tool to locate a provider near you. Availability, schedules, languages, and local fees vary by sponsoring group, so confirm details directly with the group you select.

The most frequent study gaps are procedural rather than conceptual: inconsistent specimen preparation, timing errors in absorption or saturation steps, poor prism capping, and incomplete or illegible records. Because the program explicitly covers recording and reporting results, treat the data sheet as part of the test, not paperwork to finish afterward.

No. This is an independent study page. Certification is issued only by ACI through its authorized sponsoring groups after you meet the program's requirements. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACI, and nothing here substitutes for the official candidate materials or the governing ASTM standards.