EFNARC Handheld Shotcrete Certification Scheme

Setting Global Standards for Handheld Sprayed Concrete Operations

Introduced in April 2026, the EFNARC Handheld Shotcrete Certification Scheme establishes the world’s first standardized international qualification framework for handheld sprayed concrete operators.

While automated and robotic spraying technologies have advanced rapidly, a significant portion of shotcrete application across tunneling, mining, concrete repair, and refractory construction is still performed using handheld techniques. Historically, training for handheld shotcrete varied widely across regional markets or did not exist at an international level.

To address this critical industry gap, EFNARC created a standardized certification scheme that combines rigorous classroom instruction, objective Virtual Reality (VR) simulator assessments, and practical field evaluation.

Key Objectives of the Scheme

• Safety First: Ensuring operators strictly adhere to Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) protocols in underground and high-risk environments.

• Structural Quality: Raising application quality in both wet and dry spraying methods to guarantee structural integrity and long-term durability.

• Material Efficiency & Cost Reduction: Training operators to minimize rebound waste and lower overall project material costs.

• Unbiased Quality Control: Establishing independent online testing and objective VR simulator evaluations, ensuring examiners do not assess colleagues from their own company or group.

Open to Experienced and Novice Operators

The EFNARC Handheld Shotcrete Scheme is designed to accommodate operators at all stages of their careers:

• Novice Personnel: Can complete the training and exam modules first, then earn their full certificate after fulfilling the required 40 days of supervised field experience.

• Experienced Operators: Can complete the certification modules and submit existing proof of work experience to earn their international credential immediately.

Explore the Scheme