Comparative Analysis of Construction Inspector Training Programs Across State Departments of Transportation

10 pages•Published: June 2, 2026

Areeba Khan, Gilles Albeaino, Zhenyu Zhang, Charles Gurganus and H. David Jeong

Abstract

Construction Inspectors (CIs) serve as critical agents in maintaining quality, safety, and compliance within transportation infrastructure projects. Despite their essential role, state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the United States continue to face difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, primarily due to limited funding, retirements, and reduced interest from younger professionals. These challenges highlight the importance of implementing improved and standardized training programs to maintain a skilled and capable inspection workforce. This study conducts a comparative review of CI training programs across seven major state DOTs in the United States to identify standardized and state-specific training practices. The analysis explores different instructional modules, delivery modes, assessment mechanisms, and prerequisite coursework requirements. Findings revealed significant variation in training frameworks, reflecting differences in state priorities and instructional strategies. By synthesizing these practices, the study contributes to the development of a more standardized and competency-based approach to CI training, supporting the advancement of an adaptable and skilled inspector workforce across the nation’s transportation sector.

Keyphrases: construction inspectors, department of transportation, education, infrastructure, training modules

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference, vol 7, pages 979-988.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/lzks
	https://doi.org/10.29007/n72c

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2026:Comparative_Analysis_Construction_Inspector,
  author    = {Areeba Khan and Gilles Albeaino and Zhenyu Zhang and Charles Gurganus and H. David Jeong},
  title     = {Comparative Analysis of Construction Inspector Training Programs Across State Departments of Transportation},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {7},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/lzks},
  doi       = {10.29007/n72c},
  pages     = {979-988},
  year      = {2026}}

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