Section 460.230  Responsibilities of Certified Diesel Emission Tester

a)         Persons interested in becoming a Certified Diesel Emission Tester (CDET) must meet the following requirements:

1)         Be a least eighteen years of age; and

2)         Possess a valid State or U.S. Government issued photo-identification card.

b)         Every applicant must accomplish the following before certification as a CDET to conduct diesel emission inspections is awarded:

1)         Pass an open-book written test, administered by the Department, based on this Part with a passing score of at least 88%.

2)         Demonstrate proficiency to the Department, by properly operating and calibrating the diesel emission inspection equipment where employed.

c)         An Owner may request retesting of a CDET applicant who failed the initial examination.

1)         A person who failed any part of the initial examination shall wait a period of 15 days before reapplying.

2)         A person who fails a second time shall wait a period of 30 days before reapplying.

3)         After three failures within one 12 month period, a person is not eligible to take the examination for a period of one year from the date of the last failure.

d)         If the OTS or OPETC where a CDET is employed changes diesel emission inspection equipment, the CDET shall be required to demonstrate proficiency by operating and calibrating the new inspection equipment.

e)         If a CDET leaves the employ of one OTS or OPETC and is subsequently hired by another, the latter employer shall request in writing to the Department a transfer of the CDET's certification.

1)         The Department may require the CDET to pass the written and proficiency examinations before the certificate is transferred. (See subsection (b) for examination standards.)

2)         Both tests shall be administered if the lapse in employment exceeds 30 days.

f)         The CDET's certificate remains the property of the Department and shall be immediately returned to the Department by the Owner if the CDET ceases inspecting vehicles or ceases to be employed by the OTS or OPETC, or if the permit is suspended, canceled or revoked; or if the CDET fails to maintain certification.

g)         If a CDET's certificate has been suspended for 90 days or more or canceled, the Department will require that the CDET pass the written and proficiency examinations prior to recertification.

h)         If an OTS or OPETC is inoperative for a period of six months or more, all CDET certificates shall be canceled.  Any former CDET shall be required to be reexamined before a certificate is issued.

i)          Failure of a CDET to pass either the proficiency or written portion of any retest shall automatically cancel the certification.

j)          Refusal of a CDET to submit to retesting shall automatically cancel the certification and the certificate shall be immediately surrendered to an Inspector.

k)         No person shall perform a diesel emission inspection unless that person has been certified as a CDET by the Department and that person has been issued a valid certificate.  The certificate shall be displayed at the OTS where the CDET is employed.  If employed by an OPETC, the original certificate shall be kept at the OPETC's recordkeeping office and a copy shall be kept in the vehicle used to perform the diesel inspection.

l)          The CDET shall perform the diesel emission inspection according to procedures established in this Part.

m)        The CDET shall have sole physical control of the vehicle being tested during the entire diesel emission inspection.

n)         The CDET shall be responsible for documenting all diesel emission inspection results in the manner prescribed in Section 460.330.

o)         The CDET who performed the original diesel emission inspection or reinspection shall affix the validation certificate to the Diesel Emission Inspection Report as prescribed in Section 460.330.  The validation certificate shall be affixed only if the vehicle inspected equals or exceeds all of the requirements of this Part.

p)         The CDET shall not accept any gratuity from any person for or in connection with an official diesel emission inspection or for the issuance or giving of proof of a diesel emission inspection.

q)         CDET certificates shall expire 12 months following the date of issue but may be renewed annually by complying with this Part. The Department will annually recertify CDETs who have met the requirements of this Part. [625 ILCS 5/13-103.1]

r)          The annual recertification of CDETs, administered by the Department, shall include an open-book examination, physically performing a diesel emissions test, or demonstrating the proficiency in the operation of diesel emissions testing equipment utilized by the OTS or OPETC where employed.

s)         Failure to pass any part of the recertification exam cancels the CDET's certificate.  CDETs who fail to pass the recertification exam are prohibited from testing vehicles until they successfully pass the initial CDET proficiency and written examinations.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 16576, effective October 29, 2024)