Asphalt Institute

What Asphalt Institute does

Asphalt Institute, Inc. is a Kentucky-incorporated non-profit international trade association founded in 1919 and headquartered in Lexington, KY, serving asphalt producers, manufacturers, refiners, and affiliated businesses worldwide. Its core mission is to promote the safe use and quality performance of petroleum asphalts through technical leadership, educational programming, and industry stewardship.

The organization generates revenue through four primary streams: (1) recurring membership dues from enterprise companies across petroleum refining, building materials, and chemical manufacturing; (2) certification and training courses including the National Binder Technician Certification (NBTC), National Emulsion Technician Certification (NETC), Paving Inspector Certification (PIC), Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector Certification (AA-PIC), and Mix Design Technology Certification (MDTC), priced at $90–$1,795 per registrant; (3) publication sales of proprietary technical manuals such as MS-2, MS-22, and MS-25 ($45–$75); and (4) AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing and research services. Its technology platform includes the R18LabQMS laboratory quality management software (commercialized under a registered trademark), an online Learning Portal (Docebosaas) for self-paced virtual training, and specification databases used by paving and roofing professionals.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: a network of eight Regional Engineers across the US and Canada delivers on-site technical support, an annual Summer Meeting (e.g., 2026 in Indianapolis) anchors member engagement, and active participation in TRB, AASHTO, ASTM, FAA, AAPT, and TAC committees reinforces its standard-setter position. Notable enterprise members include BP Asphalt (71-year member), GAF, Colas, IKO Industries, Hunt Refining, Ingevity, Flint Hills Resources, Trafigura, and Soprema. The organization is independently governed by its member companies with no parent, no venture backing, and no disclosed revenue, operating with a staff of 11–50.

Name

Asphalt Institute

Legal name

Asphalt Institute, Inc.

Website

https://asphaltinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asphalt Institute is a 1919-founded international non-profit trade association serving asphalt producers, manufacturers, and paving/roofing professionals with AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing, industry-recognized certifications, technical publications, and engineering resources across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Asphalt Paving, Roofing, and Saturated Materials Manufacturing (32412)

SIC

Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paving-Grade Asphalt Binder (PG/Performance-Graded) (EUALAKAA), Asphalt Mixing & Paving Materials (Hot/Warm/Cold Mix, RAP/RAS Blends) (EUALAKAG), Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO), Hazard Communication (GHS/SDS) & Chemical Safety (EDABAEAB), Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)

Keywords

• Asphalt industry certification
• Asphalt laboratory testing
• Paving inspector training
• Binder technician certification
• Asphalt technical publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Education and Training Courses: Revenue from certification courses (NBTC, NETC, PIC, MDTC, AA-PIC, Basic Binder/Emulsion Training), in-person and virtual formats, with registration fees ranging from $90 to $1,795 per course.
2. Publication Sales: Revenue from technical manuals and publications including MS-25 Asphalt Binder Testing Manual, MS-2 Asphalt Mix Design Methods, MS-22 Construction of Quality Asphalt Pavements, and other educational materials priced from $45 to $75.
3. Membership Dues: Trade association membership fees from asphalt producers, manufacturers, and affiliated businesses. Members receive access to resources, training discounts, and industry stewardship support.
4. Laboratory Testing Services: AASHTO-accredited testing, research, and analysis services provided to industry members and external customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Asphalt Institute is an international trade association that delivers industry-recognized certification programs (NBTC, NETC, PIC, MDTC, AA-PIC), in-person and virtual training courses, AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing and research services, and proprietary technical publications (MS-2, MS-22, MS-25) to asphalt producers, manufacturers, paving professionals, and government transportation agencies. It also operates the R18LabQMS® laboratory quality management software platform.

Product overview

Asphalt Institute offers a portfolio of professional certifications, training programs, publications, and laboratory services focused on asphalt technology. The core certification offerings include NBTC (National Binder Technician Certification), NETC (National Emulsion Technician Certification), PIC (Paving Inspector Certification), AA-PIC (Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector Certification), and MDTC (Mix Design Technology Certification). Supporting these are training courses like Basic Binder Technician Training and Basic Emulsion Technician Training. The institute provides AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing services and publishes technical manuals including MS-25 Asphalt Binder Testing Manual and MS-22 Construction of Quality Asphalt Pavements. R18labQMS software supports laboratory quality management. Engineering resources and technical expertise from regional engineers complement the offerings. Asphalt Magazine provides ongoing industry coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Binder Technician Certification (NBTC) A nationally recognized certification program for asphalt binder technicians that addresses variability in PG binder test data by promoting standard laboratory best practices and ensuring technicians are qualified to produce valid specification compliance and quality assurance data. Fully reciprocal with NETTCP. Priced at $1,750 per student.
• National Emulsion Technician Certification (NETC) A certification program designed to reduce variability in asphalt emulsion test data by promoting standard laboratory best practices and ensuring technicians are knowledgeable and fully qualified to produce valid specification compliance and quality assurance data. Priced at $1,750 per student.
• Paving Inspector Certification (PIC)
• Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector Certification (AA-PIC)
• Mix Design Technology Certification (MDTC)
• R18LabQMS® Laboratory Quality Management System Software
• MS-25 Asphalt Binder Testing Manual
• MS-22 Construction of Quality Asphalt Pavements
• Basic Binder Technician Training
• Basic Emulsion Technician (BET) Training
• Laboratory Testing Services
• Airfield Pavement Technical Workshop (APTW)

Quantifiable outcome

• NBTC program launched 2008, fully reciprocal with NETTCP
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NETTCP (Northeast Transportation Training and Certification Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008The NETTCP and NBTC (National Binder Technician Certification) programs share the same text, lecture, and examinations and are fully reciprocal. NETTCP was formed in 1995 as a cooperative effort within the NEAUPG (North East Asphalt User/Producer Group) to increase knowledge of production and field technicians and reduce problems associated with test result differences.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsphalt Institute engineers serve as Affiliate Members and active participants on TRB standing committees including AKM30 (Nonasphaltic Components of Asphalt Paving Mixtures) and AKD30 (Low-Volume Roads), and contribute paper reviews.
• AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsphalt Institute provides AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing services. The NBTC program focuses on AASHTO M320 and M332 Performance-Graded asphalt binder specifications.
• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector Certification (AA-PIC) under the Airfield Asphalt Certification Program (AACP). The APTW workshop provides up-to-date FAA requirements including specifications, advisory circulars, design criteria, and policy guidance. AI engineers contributed to revisions of FAA's asphalt paving manual.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Sohi, Vice President of Industry Stewardship, previously served as a contractor for the EPA at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. working on critical projects that shaped environmental policies and practices.
• ASTM InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsphalt Institute staff are active in ASTM committees. The PIC program satisfies personnel qualification requirements identified in ASTM D3666, Standard Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials.
• Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Johnson, Senior Regional Engineer, holds membership in AAPT and contributes to industry forums.
• International Society for Intelligent Construction (ISIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Johnson serves as an officer with ISIC, supporting innovation in asphalt technology.
• Canadian Asphalt User Producer GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Amma Agbedor, Senior Canadian & Research Engineer, chairs this national committee.
• Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Amma Agbedor chairs the Soils and Materials Committee through TAC.
• University of WaterloominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Amma Agbedor is a member of the Board of Advisory for The Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering at the University of Waterloo, championing collaboration, research, and innovation in sustainable pavement engineering across Canada.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA): The principal US trade association for asphalt paving contractors and producers. Directly comparable as a parallel asphalt industry trade association offering advocacy, training, and technical resources, though with a contractor (vs. producer) member focus.
• Northeast Transportation Training and Certification Program (NETTCP): Regional transportation technician certification program fully reciprocal with AI's NBTC. Direct peer in technician certification, sharing identical exam, lecture, and text content with AI.
• The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA): Trade association for asphalt roofing manufacturers. Directly comparable peer for AI's roofing segment, serving GAF, IKO, Soprema, and other AI members in the roofing value chain.
• Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association (AEMA): Trade association focused on asphalt emulsion manufacturing, overlapping with AI's NETC certification and emulsion testing scope. Highly comparable as a fellow technical trade body serving the asphalt value chain.
• Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT): International technical society for asphalt paving professionals. Comparable in providing technical knowledge, conferences, and training to asphalt professionals; AI engineering staff participate in AAPT forums as members.
• National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT): Auburn University-based research, testing, and education center for asphalt technology. Direct peer in providing asphalt testing, research, and professional training services to the same customer base.

Broad incumbents

• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with asphalt and construction materials testing services. Broad incumbent operating at much larger scale across many industries including asphalt pavement testing.

Regional players

• European Bitumen Association (Eurobitume): European bitumen industry association. Comparable in mission and offerings to the Asphalt Institute, but serving European members with regional standards and regulatory engagement.
• Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA): Australian trade association for asphalt producers and contractors. Comparable peer in a different geography, offering training, technical resources, and industry advocacy for the same product category.

Emerging players

• International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA): Trade association focused on slurry seal, micro surfacing, and chip seal applications. Adjacent peer serving overlapping paving professionals with technical training and certification programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asphalt_inst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AsphaltInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/asphaltinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asphalt-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/asphaltinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Asphalt Institute