Laboratory Acceptance for Material Testing and Special Inspection on School Construction Projects

How to Apply

Step 1:

• Submit an Application with Requisite Items

• A form DSA 100-PRE: Lab Program Preliminary Application and Instructions. The DSA 100-PRE is the preliminary application for a laboratory to apply for initial acceptance into the Laboratory Evaluation and Acceptance program or renew its acceptance. 

• Make payment by credit card or electronic check through a third-party service, Fiserv at DSA Laboratory Fees, or include a check in the application package. Application fees are as follows: 
  • $8,000:  New applicant, re-evaluation or expiration of acceptance.
  • $2,000: Laboratory location change (move).
  • $1,000: Engineering Manager change.
  • $500: Changes to supervisors, laboratory name, added services, or NDT Level III.

• A form DSA 650: Disclosure of Social Security Number and/or Federal Taxpayer Identification Number. This form must be submitted with your application. Issuance of certifications will not be granted until this information is received. Please see DSA’s Taxpayer ID and Social Security Number Disclosure for Certification webpage for additional application requirements related to collection of social security/tax identification numbers

Step 2:

• Document review and DSA on-site Assessment (OSA)

DSA will schedule and an OSA upon receipt of required submittal items. DSA will provide the laboratory with written correspondence regarding visit schedule, required participants and an overview of how the OSA will proceed. 

In collaboration with the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) resource, the DSA has developed a comprehensive on-site evaluation program to enhance the effectiveness of the current DSA Laboratory Evaluation and Acceptance (LEA) Program.

DSA is pleased to announce a change in format for Special Inspection Program (SIP) evaluations. Effective July 1, 2026, remote assessments (audits) will be offered for SIP evaluations. This change in format offers greater flexibility because remote SIP evaluations can be completed at any time, rather than solely at the time of onsite lab assessments by accrediting bodies.

Assessment Scope

The SIP evaluation applies to laboratories performing the following Special Inspection (SI) and Structural Testing (ST) disciplines for DSA’s Laboratory Evaluation and Acceptance (LEA) Program: 

Once the SIP evaluation is scheduled, the laboratory will be provided with instructions detailing the documentation being requested, process for providing the information, time frame for its review, and method for completing corrective actions. With the new remote format, the evaluations will rely on required documentation being uploaded to DSAbox, rather than provided to assessors while on site. Participating laboratories will receive a summary report at the conclusion of the SIP evaluation identifying findings and observations. All responses and corrective actions related to the SIP assessment will continue to be submitted directly to DSA for review and acceptance. 

Successful completion of the SIP evaluation is required to maintain LEA Program acceptance for performance of Special Inspection (SI) and Structural Testing (ST) work. Furthermore, DSA will continue to perform site evaluations, in accordance with the California Administrative Code, in part to verify information submitted remotely during the evaluation.  

SIP evaluations may be performed by AASHTO re:source. Please refer to the AASHTO re:source webpage for additional information. Other nationally recognized evaluation services or accreditation bodies may also perform SIP evaluations if such entities are deemed equivalent by DSA. 

• Special Inspection Program Announcement (PDF)
• IR 17-1: Special Inspection Program (SIP) (PDF)

Updated structural test and special inspection report templates are provided below for convenience and voluntary use by DSA-accepted testing facilities. These templates depict the mandatory information/statements and the desired format. Mandatory information includes addressee (typically the school district), DSA file and Application Number, specified requirements, cc list (architect, structural engineer, project inspector, and DSA) and the two conformance statements. Note that reports need not match these templates exactly. Additional information may be provided, test data may be rearranged, or other minor changes may be made. However, use of these standardized, electronically fillable templates is strongly encouraged since standardized templates will expedite review of reports by DSA and other parties to the project.

Test and Inspection Report Templates

(These templates are to be completed, printed and signed for submittal to DSA and CCs indicated.)

• DSA 201: Soil Compaction (PDF)
• DSA 202: Sieve Analysis (PDF)
• DSA 203: Tension/Bend (PDF)
• DSA 204: Compression (PDF)
• DSA 205: Concrete Masonry Unit (PDF)
• DSA 206: Anchor Load (PDF)
• DSA 207: Masonry Core Shear/Compression (PDF)
• DSA 208: High Strength Bolt Test Report (PDF)
• DSA 209: Fireproofing Density (PDF)
• DSA 210: Ultrasonic (NDT) (PDF)
• DSA 211: Attachment for Additional Comments/Information (PDF)
• DSA 250 Special Inspection Report (PDF)