Section 451.130  Certified Safety Tester Qualifications and Requirements

a)         Prospective and current CSTs shall meet the following requirements:

1)         Be at least eighteen years of age; and

2)         Possess a valid photo identification issued by a State or by the United States government.

b)        Every applicant shall accomplish the following before certification as a CST is awarded:

1)         Pass an open-book written test based on this Part and the applicable procedures prescribed in the 92 Ill. Adm. Code Inspection Procedures.

2)         If applicable, demonstrate proficiency in the operation of the ABTD utilized at the OTS where employed.

3)         Proficiently perform a safety test on a vehicle applicable to the examination being administered.

c)         The owner may request that a CST applicant who failed any portion of subsection (b) be reconsidered for certification.

1)         A person requesting to be retested shall wait 15 days from failure before reapplying.

2)         A person who fails any portion of a retest two times shall wait 30 days before requesting a retest.

3)         After three failures within one year, a person is not eligible to reapply for a period of one year from the date of the last failure.

d)         A CST shall test a minimum of 10% of the vehicles safety tested at the CST's OTS or OMSTC during any calendar year.  The Department may require any CST to be retested if the CST does not test at least 10% of the vehicles or is either issued a written warning or citation from the Department.  A retest under this subsection shall be scheduled within 30 days after receipt of notice from the Department.  The Department may consider a CST certificate revoked if a CST does not perform 10% within a calendar year.  

e)         The Department shall annually recertify CSTs who have met its requirements.  CST certificates shall expire 12 months following the date of issue but may be renewed annually by complying with the requirements as established by the Department.  (Section 12-103.1 of IVC) CSTs are not required to be recertified until they have been a CST for more than one year.  Annual CST recertifications shall be administered at the physical location list on the permit.

f)         The annual recertification of CSTs may include an open-book examination, physically performing a safety test on a vehicle subject to safety testing or demonstrating proficiency in the operation of the ABTD utilized at the OTS or OMSTC where employed.

g)         CSTs who fail the recertification exam are prohibited from inspecting vehicles until they have successfully passed the initial CST proficiency and written examinations.  Failure to pass any part of the recertification exam cancels the CST's Certificate and requires the CST to pass the initial certification examination, including the proficiency and written examination as prescribed in subsections (b) and (d), if applicable.

h)         If the OTS where a CST is employed changes the ABTD, the CST shall be required to demonstrate proficiency in the operation of the new ABTD.

i)          If a CST is employed at a second or subsequent OTS or OMSTC, a new Certificate will be issued to the CST for each OTS or OMSTC.  The owner shall notify the Department that the owner wishes to employ an existing CST.

1)         If the lapse in employment between OTS or OMSTC does not exceed 30 days, and any ABTD does not differ (if applicable.), the CST's Certificate will be updated and mailed to the OTS or OMSTC where the CST is now employed.

2)         If a lapse in employment between Stations exceeds 30 days or if any ABTD differs, the CST must pass both the written and proficiency examinations.

i)          CST Certificates remain the property of the Department and shall be immediately returned to the Department when a CST ceases to either safety test vehicles or be employed at the Station.  If requested by an Inspector, the Certificate shall be surrendered

k)         CST Certificates shall be seized by an Inspector when the Certificate is suspended, cancelled, or if the CST fails to maintain certification.

l)          CST Certificates are subject to cancellation or suspension for any violation of this Part. (See Section 13-108 of the IVC and 92 Ill. Adm. Code for administrative hearing procedures.)

m)        If a CST's Certificate has been suspended for 90 days or more or cancelled, the Department will require the CST be retested and pass the written and proficiency examinations prior to a Certificate reinstatement.

n)         If an OTS or OMSTC is inoperative for a total of six months or more, during a 12-month period, all CST Certificates shall be cancelled.  Any former CST shall be retested and pass the written and proficiency examinations before a Certificate is issued.

o)         Failure of a CST to pass either the proficiency or written portion of any retest shall automatically cancel the Certificate.

p)         Refusal of a CST to submit to retesting or recertification shall automatically cancel his/her Certificate.  The cancelled Certificate shall be surrendered to an Inspector, at the inspector's request.

q)         No person shall perform any part of a safety test unless certified as a CST by the Department and possess a valid Certificate issued by the Department.  The Certificate shall be displayed in the lane where the CST is employed or in the vehicle used for performing safety tests by an OMSTC.

1)         No CST, Owner, OTS, or OMSTC employee shall authorize duties which are required to be performed by a CST to one who is not a CST.

2)         No person shall test school buses unless they have been certified as a School Bus CST.

3)         The Department may issue a citation/complaint or written warning to an owner who allows an employee who is not a CST to safety test a vehicle and/or issue a COS in violation of this Part.

r)          The CST shall perform the applicable safety test according to the vehicle's type and required test procedures (see 92 Ill. Adm. Code Inspection Procedures and the Appendix G Inspection).

s)         Before beginning the safety test, the CST shall remove any previously applied COS affixed to the vehicle.

t)          The CST shall have sole physical control of the vehicle during the entire safety test procedure for any special vehicle or school bus being tested.

1)         A CST shall perform the retesting of repaired components requiring use of an ABTD only within the perimeter lines of the lane.

2)         No CST shall perform any repairs or charge for any repairs made on a vehicle submitted for a safety test without the express consent of the vehicle's owner or driver.

u)         The CST shall be responsible for all safety test results entered on the VIR.  The CST shall prepare a VIR for each vehicle presented for a safety test.

v)         The CST who performed the original safety test or retest of a vehicle shall affix the appropriate COS to the vehicle only if the vehicle meets or exceeds the specifications necessary to pass a safety test.

1)         The CST shall complete the backside of the COS, except for a trailer COS, with the required information using a permanent black or blue marker.

2)         The CST shall affix to the face of the COS the appropriate numeric decals indicating both the month and year of the COS expiration date.

w)        A CST shall not accept any gratuity from any person for or in connection with a safety test or for the issuance or giving of a COS.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 15244, effective November 13, 2025)