Class Descriptions

What is CETP?

CETP stands for Certified Employee Training Program. It is a formal structure for training, testing and documentation to assure that workers in the propane industry have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work safely and effectively.

Who issues the certification?

CETP involves a dual certification process. Industrial Training Services certifies to successful completion of the objective (knowledge) portion of the program, while either the employee's supervisor or an independent trainer certifies the performance of the hands-on activities (skills).

1.0 Basic Principles & Practices (prerequisite to 2.2, 2.4, 3.0, 4.1 & 4.2)

An “entry level” course that provides pre-requisite instruction about propane’s physical and combustion properties, how propane is produced and transported, the organizations that influence, publish or enforce codes and standards, how basic functions are performed in a bulk plant, primary safety concerns, and customer service.

2.0 Propane Delivery

Propane Delivery includes inspecting, maintaining and operating propane delivery vehicles, filling propane storage containers, and making customer deliveries of propane.

2.1 Propane Delivery Basics (prerequisite to 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5)

Provides general information applicable to all drivers of cargo tank motor vehicles used to delivery propane, including DOT driver qualifications, personal protective equipment, CMT pre-trip inspections, verifying placarding, markings & inspections, flammable & combustible liquids, verifying the presence of odorant, handling CMV accidents, breakdowns & emergencies, parking/garaging of vehicles.

2.2 Operating a Bobtail to deliver Propane:

Identifying bobtail equipment and operating procedures, preunloading inspections, bulk plant loading/unloading systems & procedures, walkaround inspection of CTMV, purging propane containers prior to transferring product, handling out-of-gas calls & piping leak checks, evacuating ASME tanks, post-trip inspections, required monthly inspections, bobtail loading via compressor or auxiliary inlet.

2.3 Operating a Transport to deliver Propane:

Identifying characteristics & physical properties of propane, transport equipment, components of terminal and bulk plant loading/unloading systems, loading a transport using a plant pump, compressor or auxiliary inlet, walkaround inspection of a CTMV after loading, safe driving techniques, emergency discharge and delivery hose assembly inspections, purging propane containers, unloading a transport and reducing vapor pressure using a plant compressor, unloading using a plant or CTMV pump, performing post-trip inspections, and monthly inspections and tests on emergency discharge systems and delivery hose assemblies.

2.4 Cylinder Delivery:

Identifying features of cylinder delivery vehicles, preparing cylinders for storage & transportation, inspecting, evacuating and flaring cylinders, replacing valves & fittings on cylinders, requalifying cylinders, operating a dispenser, identifying DOT marking/labeling requirements, transporting DOT cylinders, operating a dispenser to fill vehicle-mounted ASME tanks, driving techniques, examining customer cylinders & installations, handling out-of-gas calls & leak checking piping systems, DOT exchange and motor fuel cylinder cabinet installation requirements, performing pos-trip inspections.

2.5 Relocating/Delivering ASME Tanks by Truck, Tank Trailer or Tractor/Trailer:

Identifying equipment and operating procedures, examining, maintaining & operating ASME tank-setting trailers, verifying ASME tank condition, loading/securing ASME tanks using cranes, operating a dispenser to fill vehicle-mounted ASME tanks, transporting ASME & Intermodal tanks, identifying safe driving techniques, post-trip inspections.

3.0 Plant Operations:

Maintaining ASME tanks (including PPE, combustible liquids, ammonia contamination, purging/evacuating, flaring, replacing valves/fittings, corrosion protection, protective coatings), maintaining DOT cylinders (examining, evacuating, purging cylinders, replacing valves/fittings, requalification, preparing for scrap), operating dispensing equipment (by weight or volume, preparing cylinders for transportation, filling vehicle mounted ASME tanks) and maintaining bulk plant equipment (valves, fittings, piping systems, ESVs, hoses, pumps, strainers, bypass systems, compressors, electrical systems, scales, liquid meters, security procedures).

Plant Operations will offer one standard certification area with three optional specialized certifications.

The standard certification area in 3.0 Plant Operations Basic Certification consists of the following:

3.1 Maintaining ASME Tanks

3.2 Maintaining DOT Cylinders

3.3 Operating Dispensing Equipment to Fill Containers

3.4 Maintaining Bulk Plant Equipment

The optional specialized certification areas in 3.0 are:

3.5 Cargo Tank Product Transfer:

PPE, loading/unloading systems, placarding, marking, testing, delivery hose assemblies, verifying odorant, reducing vapor pressure.

3.6 Railcar Product Transfer:

PPE, railcar documentation, condition & spotting procedures, unloading systems, verifying odorant, unloading and security.

3.7 Intermodal Tanks: PPE, testing and inspection requirements, safe handling of flammables/combustibles, ammonia contamination testing, evacuation procedures, faring, replacing valves/fittings, purging, methanol injection, protective coatings, preparing for transportation.

4.0 Vapor Distribution Systems Operations

Distribution System Operations covers installing propane storage tanks and cylinders, vapor regulation and metering systems, vapor distribution systems, liquid distribution and vaporizer systems, inspecting and pressure testing propane piping systems, and installing and testing cathodic protection systems. The certification areas in 4.0 are:

4.1 Design, Layout & Selection of Propane Vapor Distribution Systems: Using architectural & construction drawings, determining system load & customer demand, designing DOT (exchange & stationary), aboveground ASME and underground ASME installations, determining proper corrosion protection for tanks/piping, selecting regulators, piping, tubing, vapor meters, estimating job costs.

4.2 Preparing & Installing Propane Vapor Distribution Systems: Preparing tanks & cylinders for transporting, locating underground utilities & services, preparing foundations, installing DOT (exchange & stationary), aboveground ASME and underground ASME containers, manifolding, installing PE tubing & fittings, installing regulators, copper tubing, steel piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, performing pressure tests on gas distribution lines, installing vapor meters, purging gas distribution lines, performing leak checks, placing appliances into service, documenting and recordkeeping, communicating safety information to customers.

5.0 Transfer System Operations

Transfer System Operations covers maintaining and troubleshooting pumps and metered delivery systems and propane compressors, maintaining propane valves, flow monitors, and hoses, and inspecting and maintaining liquid transfer systems.

6.0 Appliance Installation

Appliance Installation is a prerequisite to 7.0-Appliance Service. Appliance Installation covers placing propane utilization equipment into service, identifying the fundamental principles of venting and ventilation, pressure testing and leak checking propane piping systems, controlling propane/air mixtures for proper combustion, and sizing and installing natural draft venting systems.

7.0 Basic Electricity for Propane Appliances (Appliance Service)

Appliance Service covers identifying troubleshooting skills in electrical circuits/systems, measuring electrical quantities, identifying operating characteristics and components of common sensing devices, and troubleshooting control devices basic to gas operated equipment.