Training and Educational Opportunities

Appia Training for LPAs and Consultants

The use of Appia has been required for DOT-let city projects since the April 2025 letting and for DOT-administered county projects since the April 2022 letting.  If a city or county staff member who performs construction inspection or administration has not yet attended an Appia training or has not attended in the last two years, they need to attend one of these.

Registration is now open on Workday Learning for these trainings.  Workday Learning is a new system that has replaced the previously utilized Iowa DOTU.  Instructions for registering in Workday Learning can be found at the top of the Local Systems Trainings & Videos webpage.  A file unique to each trainee will be send to registrants ahead of the training, so each individual needs to register.  Please contact Derek Peck if your agency or business has a substantial number of people (10+) that need training.

The following trainings will be held from 9:00am – 3:30pm (registration from 8:30am-9:00am):

• December 11 – Ames, District 1 DOT Training Garage, Upstairs (57073 US Hwy 30)
• December 19 – Sioux City, District 3 Office, Computer Room #104 (6409 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106)

Additional information can be found on the Local Systems Training & Videos website.

Local Systems Bureau Update Meetings

In 2026, there will be 3 one-day Local Systems Bureau Update Meetings. These trainings will cover changes and hot topics for anyone working on Federal-aid, State-aid, Farm-to-Market, or Swap projects for a Local Public Agency, including Cities, Counties, Consultants, MPOs and RPAs. All 3 sessions will cover the same material.

Trainings will be held as follows:

Boone – January 21, 2026 (Central Region)
Denison – January 22, 2026 (Western Region)
Coralville – January 29, 2026 (Eastern Region)

Federal-aid Overview Seminar
The Local Systems Bureau is hosting ONE Federal-aid Overview Seminar in 2026. This training is for anyone working on Federal-aid projects for a Local Public Agency, including Cities, Counties, Consultants, MPOs and RPAs. The Federal-aid Overview Seminar is broken into two days, and will be held in Boone on February 11 and 12, 2026.

Day 1 is Project Development through the Letting. Day 2 is Construction Inspection and Contract Administration. Attendees may attend Day 1, or Day 2, or both, depending on each individual’s role in Federal-aid projects. These seminars are in-person only.
Please encourage ALL of your staff who work on Federal-aid projects to attend, at least for one day depending on their job duties. Please also plan to attend if you are considering applying for or have been awarded a Federal Competitive Grant or Earmark.

Click here for more information and to register for BOTH events. Search the key words “Local Systems Update” and/or  “Federal-aid” to register for these classes.  Make sure to sign up for both days of the Federal-aid seminar if you intend to go to both – each day is a separate registration.

Iowa Work Zone Safety Workshop Series

During the months of February and March, work zone traffic control and safety training will be offered at several Iowa venues so that workers across the state can participate conveniently.  Each one-day workshop will cover the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), particularly Part 6.  The workshops consist of a general session for all participants, plus breakout sessions tailored to specific categories of work zone activities: city, county, utility, and Iowa DOT maintenance. More information about who should attend this workshop, its objectives, the agenda, and registration for all seven dates can be found at this link

Dates and venues for the 2026 Work Zone Safety Workshop Series are listed below.

• Wednesday, February 11 – Council Bluffs, Holiday Inn Express
• Thursday, February 12 – Ankeny, DMACC FFA Enrichment Center
• Tuesday, February 24 – Ottumwa, Bridgeview Center
• Wednesday, February 25 – Coralville, Kinnick Center, Holiday Inn and Suites
• Thursday, February 26 – Cedar Falls, Bien Venu Event Center
• Tuesday, March 10 – Storm Lake, Buena Vista University, Siebens Forum
• Thursday, March 12 – Ankeny, DMACC FFA Enrichment Center

ISWEP OnDemand eTraining

Take control of your professional development with our on-demand eTraining courses—certifications you can complete at your own pace, on your own schedule.

• Rain Garden Design, IGSIC-01
• Iowa Certified Construction Site Pollution Prevention Inspector and Installer, ICCSPPI-01
• Iowa Certified Construction Site Pollution Prevention Inspector and Installer Recertification, ICCSPPI-02
• Iowa Certified SWPPP Designer, ICSD-01
• Iowa Certified Home Builder SWPPP Supervisor, HBSS-01

CDL Training for Maintenance Equipment Operators

Under a new federal rule, all providers (individual locations) of entry-level commercial driver’s license (CDL) training must be listed on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR). To be listed on the TPR, the lead trainer at each location must certify that the location meets these requirements:

1. Follows a training curriculum that meets specific criteria for theory and behind-the-wheel training.
2. Utilizes facilities, vehicles, and instructors meeting federal requirements.
3. Meets federal record-keeping requirements.
4. Complies with any applicable state laws and regulations.

For a complete overview, please click here.

Additional resources:

• Dane Robinson, Arapahoe County Public Works, CDL Training Log (three tabs, first is the driving log with the lesson plan check on back, and the second tab is driver trainer notes)
• FMCSA Field Offices
• Clear Roads – Entry-Level Driver Training (CDL) for Maintenance Equipment Operators
• Ohio LTAP CDL Theory Training
• Kentucky Transportation Center Link (Summer 2022)
• Minnesota LTAP Commercial Drivers License Mentimeter Survey Pre-presentation
• CT LTAP ELDT Presentation
  

Iowa’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

The Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program is dedicated to providing technical and management assistance to Iowa’s local governments. And to accomplish their mission—of improving traffic safety through locally coordinated multidisciplinary efforts built on trusted relationships—the Iowa LTAP offers a variety of programs and resources aimed toward assisting local agencies with the ever-growing demands on the roads, streets, bridges, and public transportation of Iowa. Click here for a current list of LTAP events.

Institute for Transportation (InTrans)

The Institute for Transportation is a hub of local, regional, and national transportation-focused research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer. InTrans administers 15 centers and programs, and several other distinct research specialties, and a variety of technology transfer and professional education initiatives. Click here for a current list of InTrans events.

Research

Check out the latest research publications from the Iowa Highway Research Board. Information related to research activities including project highlights and successes, requests for proposal, unique collaborations, and more are available through the News section of the DOT’s Research Ideas site.