MnDOT ADA Construction Certification Course

About the Course

The ADA Construction Certification Course covers the construction requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and MnDOT Standard Plans and Specifications. This in-person course is designed to provide MnDOT contract administration personnel, contractors, and consultant inspectors with a detailed understanding of the construction of accessible curb ramps, sidewalks, and signal systems.

Participants will be guided through an 8-hour classroom training and exam that cover:

• MnDOT Special Provisions Prosecution of Work ADA (1804)
• Curb Ramp Standard Plan 5-297.250
• Sidewalk and Driveway Standard Plan 5-297.254
• Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
• Pay Items and Compliance Checklists

Registration 

• Cost: $250
• MnDOT employees:
  • Obtain supervisory approval for your training request.
  • Use your Office/District Training Registration Process.
  • If your training request is approved, you will receive an email enrollment confirmation.
  • Office/district training specialists should submit registrations via the group registration form.
• All other attendees: Register online (credit card payments only) or complete the group registration form to register with a Purchase Order.
• Notes:
  • Meals will be provided.
  • Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
  • There is a limit of five personnel from one agency per training session.
  • A waitlist will be available once registration is full.
  • Purchase orders will not be accepted after March 1, 2026.
  • Registration closes one week prior to the course date. No cancellation refunds will be issued after this date unless a substitute attendee is provided. 

When you register, please identify any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodation needs you may have. To help us best meet your request, please register early and give us advance notice. Requests should be sent to Kawanna Finklea at [email protected].

Materials

Manuals will be provided. Participants must bring pens, pencils, highlighters, and calculators. 

Who Should Attend

This training is required for a minimum of one contractor's representative working on MnDOT projects containing ADA work. Consultant inspectors who work on pedestrian infrastructure—as well as those who are interested in MnDOT's prequalification work type, 11.8 ADA Construction Inspection for inspection staff augmentation—should also participate. All MnDOT contract administration personnel should attend. All Minnesota city and county inspectors are also encouraged to participate.

Certification and Exam

ADA Construction Certifications are valid for three years, including the year in which the training was successfully completed for both certifications and recertifications. Construction recertifications may be taken in the online course and exam. The eight-hour classroom option is available to anyone wanting more in-depth ADA construction training and information, including those needing recertification who would prefer the classroom training to the online course.

Each student will need to complete an online exam that requires a 70 percent score to be certified. If you get between 60 percent and 69 percent on your first attempt at the exam, you will be allowed to take it one more time to achieve a 70 percent. If you get lower than 60percent on the exam, you will have to re-register and retake the in-person course in order to take the certification exam again. 

Certification Cards

Certification cards will not be sent until class payment is processed and the participant receives a passing score. Please allow for time to process and mail certification cards in bulk mailings.

Hotel Accommodations

For those attending the session at Timberlake Lodge, special room rates are available. To book your room, call 218-326-2600 and mentioned that you are attending the UMN ADA Certification event. King ($110 plus tax) or double ($120 plus tax) rooms are available on March 9 and 10, 2026. Book by February 9 for the special rate.

More Information

With questions about course content or certification, contact Dustin Walls ([email protected] or 218-396-0865)  or Harvey Unruh ([email protected] or 651-216-2912) with the MnDOT Operations Division ADA. 

With other questions, contact Kawanna Finklea ([email protected]) with the Center for Transportation Studies.     

Credit­

To the best of our knowledge, this course/activity meets the continuing education requirements for 7.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. Learn more about continuing education for professionals from the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID. Individuals are responsible for tracking their continued education hours. No Department of Labor and Industry continuing education credits are available.

Sponsors

This course was developed by—and certifications are maintained by—MnDOT. It is being administered by Minnesota LTAP at the Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota.