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Clean Truck Check - Credentialed Tester Overview

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Becoming a Credentialed Tester

How do I register for the Tester Training Course?

Anyone can become a credentialed tester and may be employed by a fleet and are responsible for testing fleet vehicles or will offer for-hire services (third-party testers) either as an independent business owner or as an employee of a heavy-duty vehicle service facility. 

  1. Create a tester account.
    • Your email used to create the account must be the same you use to login to your testing devices
  2. Review the training course
  3. Pass the exam with an 80% or better
    • Credentials are valid for 2 years from the date the exam is passed. 

You may choose to be listed on the "Available for Hire Credentialed Testers" list in your CTC-VIS tester account. **CARB has provided an instructional video.

How do I update/change my tester information?

If you need to edit your tester information, **please see this instructional video.

To change your email address, you will need to email HDIM@arb.ca.gov from the current email address on file. 

What topics will the Tester Training Course cover?

The training course and exam will educate you on the regulatory requirements and how to perform the different types of emissions compliance testing. There are six modules posted on the Tester Training Course webpage:

Completing the six training modules takes approximately two hours.

How do I get my certificate once I pass the test?

After completing the six training modules, you will be directed to a 20-question multiple-choice exam. A minimum score of 80 percent is required to pass the exam. After passing the exam, you will be provided with an electronic version of your certificate to download in your CTC-VIS tester account under My Info, then Documents. Please retain the certificate for your records.

Does my Certificate of Completion ever expire? How do I renew it?

Your certificate is valid for two years from the date you passed the exam. The expiration date is located at the bottom right of your Certificate. To renew your certificate, you must retake the Tester Training Course and pass the exam again.

I just completed the tester training and received my Certificate of Completion. What are my next steps?

Upon receiving your Tester ID, you can now officially perform compliance tests on applicable heavy-duty vehicles and become a third-party tester either as an independent business owner or as an employee of a heavy-duty vehicle service facility. Note that to perform OBD compliance tests, you must use a CARB-approved OBD test devices.

Also, please note that a non-OBD vehicle compliance test consists of both a smoke opacity test and a visual inspection of the vehicle. You may continue to use your current SAE J1667-compatible smoke meters to complete the required opacity test.

Please subscribe to the Clean Truck Check (Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance) Gov Delivery to continue to receive the latest information regarding the program. 

Can I do OBD Testing and Non-OBD Testing?

You may perform emissions compliance testing for OBD-equipped vehicles and you must use CARB-certified OBD test devices for this testing. You have to submit the first OBD test result to appear as "Yes" for OBD testing capability on the public "Available for Hire Credentialed Testers" list.

To perform emissions compliance testing for non-OBD-equipped vehicles, you may continue to use your current SAE J1667-compatible smoke meters to complete the required opacity test and use the Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection Worksheet.

to conduct a visual inspection.

Can I share my credentials with co-workers who also want to perform emissions compliance testing?

No. The email address used to register for the Tester Training Course and exam should be unique to you and used only for tests you submit. Every credentialed tester must take the Tester Training Course and pass the exam to obtain their own certificate.

How do I remove myself from the public tester list?

Please uncheck the for hire option in your CTC-VIS tester account, my info. **CARB has provided an instructional video.

Is there a Clean Truck Check logo I can use for marketing?

CARB has developed materials to assist Credentialed Clean Truck Check (CTC) Testers. This material is available for download at Clean Truck Check Credentialed Testers Marketing Materials. You are encouraged to use it at your business.

The CARB Clean Truck Check logo is provided in the link below. Use of CARB logos that are not authorized will result in receipt of a “cease and desist” letter due to the unauthorized use of the logo. 

Emissions Compliance Testing

What are the testing requirements for Clean Truck Check?

Starting October 1, 2024, emissions compliance testing will be required for all vehicles subject to Clean Truck Check. Vehicle compliance deadlines begin January 1, 2025. Vehicles may submit passing tests up to 90 days prior to the vehicle’s compliance deadlines. A factsheet is available in the link below. 

Do you have to be a credentialed tester to perform OBD tests using a telematics device?

No, the test results from telematics devices are automatically provided.

How do I know if I should do an OBD or non-OBD test?

You may review information in this factsheet Clean Truck Check - Emissions Compliance Testing Requirements
OBD-equipped vehicles (2013 and newer diesel engines and 2018 or newer alternative fuel engines) are required to undergo a scan of the engine’s OBD data using a CARB-certified OBD test device.

Non-OBD-equipped vehicles (2012 and older diesel engines and 2017 and older alternative fuel engines) are required to undergo testing as noted in the following question.

What testing equipment do I need to perform emissions compliance testing?

To perform OBD compliance tests, a credentialed tester must use a CARB-certified OBD test device. A list of CARB-certified OBD test devices is available at OBD Test Devices. CARB’s webpage will continually be updated as devices become approved for use in the program. Using an OBD test device that is not certified by CARB will result in an unsuccessful test for the vehicle on which it is used. More information on OBD testing can be found at OBD Readiness Criteria.

Diesel non-OBD vehicles are required to complete a smoke opacity test and a visual inspection of the vehicle’s emissions control equipment, referred to in this program as the Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection. Alternative fuel non-OBD vehicles are only required to complete the visual inspection and are not subject to the smoke opacity test requirement.

To perform smoke opacity testing, you will need an SAE J1667-compatible smoke meter. A list of manufacturers that sell SAE J1667-compatible smoke meters and their contact information is available at Smoke Meter Manufacturers. If you already have an SAE J1667-compatible smoke meter, you may continue to use that for emissions compliance testing on non-OBD-equipped vehicles. It is the responsibility of a credentialed Clean Truck Check Tester to coordinate with a smoke meter manufacturer to ensure that their specific smoke meter model is SAE J1667-compatible. The SAE J1667 Recommended Practice Snap Acceleration Smoke Test Procedure for Heavy-Duty Powered Vehicles is also available to reference.

To perform the Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection, you will need access to reliable sources of engine and vehicle technical specifications, such as service and repair manuals. The current form for completing and submitting results to CARB is available at Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection Worksheet. Please read the information and instructions document to accurately complete and submit the separate Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection Form.

How do I submit my test to CARB Clean Truck Check?

For your OBD tests, the test results will be sent directly to CARB through your CARB approved OBD device. These results should show within an hour, but possibly up to 1 day from the test date. 
For your NON-OBD tests please see Submitting a NON-OBD Test.

What do I do if the ECL is missing/illegible?

Please reference the Missing/Illegible ECL Factsheet.

How do I create a tester account and submit and review test results?

You need to create a tester account in the Clean Truck Check-Vehicle Inspection System (CTC-VIS). To create a tester account in CTC-VIS, please select “Credentialed Tester Account” from the “Account Type” dropdown menu during the registration process. For detailed instructions, please refer to the Credentialed Tester Account User Guide. A video is available at Create A CTC-VIS Account To View/Review Test Results.

OBD data collected by CARB-certified OBD test devices will be automatically transmitted to a centralized database maintained by the OBD device vendor. All OBD data submissions to CARB must come from the OBD device vendor. You can view OBD test results on the Test Results page in your credentialed tester account. Each test result is a hyperlink that displays the associated Test Result message in a popup dialog box when you click on it.

For non-OBD-equipped vehicles, forms associated with emissions compliance testing must be submitted through your CTC-VIS tester account. See here for instructions: Clean Truck Check Non-OBD test submission through CTC-VIS

Can we create a Company account to view test results from all of our Credentialed Testers?

Each tester must have their own account to view their results. As the results are based on the tester ID and email address, their test results are only visible under their individual CTC-VIS account.

How can I receive updates on Clean Truck Check activities?

Subscribe to receive automatic email updates on Clean Truck Check implementation and other activities.

Where do I get additional Clean Truck Check information?

For more information, visit Clean Truck Check (HD I/M).

If I have additional questions, how do I contact CARB?

Please email staff at hdim@arb.ca.gov.