Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Specialty 

Crops 

Inspection

Division

AIM 

Inspection

Series

Terminal Market 

Inspection Training 

Manual

April 2023
“SCI moving forward in the 21st Century using technology, innovation, and old-fashioned hard 

work”

Non-Discrimination Policy: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and 

employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
i

Terminal Market Training Manual

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1

GUIDE FOR ELECTRONIC USAGE........................................................................................... 1

PURPOSE....................................................................................................................................... 2

RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................................................................................... 2

Student ............................................................................................................................................ 2

Qualified Training Provider (QTP)................................................................................................. 3

Supervisor ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Federal Program Managers............................................................................................................. 4

TRAINING DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................. 4

SC-340 TMI Probationary Evaluation Form .................................................................................. 4

On-the-Job (OJT) Checklist............................................................................................................ 5

Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACG) .................. 5

Federal-State Cooperative Market (Fed-State) Inspectors.............................................................. 5

MIT COURSE I: FUNDAMENTALS OF MARKET INSPECTION (FOMI) ............................ 6

Overview......................................................................................................................................... 6

Pre-enrollment................................................................................................................................. 6

Required Office Resources............................................................................................................. 6

Equipment....................................................................................................................................... 6

Read and Review ............................................................................................................................ 6

Enrollment....................................................................................................................................... 7

Structure.......................................................................................................................................... 8

Blackboard Modules....................................................................................................................... 8

Knowledge Check Exams............................................................................................................... 8

On-the-Job Activities.................................................................................................................... 10

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) for FOMI.............................................................................. 10

Course Progress ............................................................................................................................ 10

Approximate Course Length......................................................................................................... 10

Successful Completion of Course................................................................................................. 11

MIT COURSE II: CORE COMMODITY, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION (CORE CIC) 11

Overview....................................................................................................................................... 11

Pre-enrollment............................................................................................................................... 12

Required Resources at Training Location..................................................................................... 12

Enrollment..................................................................................................................................... 12

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) for Core CIC......................................................................... 13

Structure........................................................................................................................................ 17

Commodities Covered .................................................................................................................. 17

Blackboard Modules..................................................................................................................... 18

Knowledge Check Exams............................................................................................................. 18

On-the-job (OJT) Commodity Training and Evaluation .............................................................. 19

Qualification Evaluation, Affirmation and Attestation................................................................. 22

Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs)............... 22

Federal-State Cooperative Market (Fed-State) Inspectors............................................................ 23

OJT Checklist................................................................................................................................ 23

Course Progress ............................................................................................................................ 23
ii

Approximate Course Length......................................................................................................... 23

Successful Completion of Course................................................................................................. 24

Student Commodity Grading and Additional Commodity Training ............................................ 24

CONTINUATION OF TMI COMMODITY TRAINING ........................................................... 24

MIT ON-THE-JOB (OJT) TRAINING TIMETABLE FOR CONTINUED COMMODITY 

TRAINING FOR TERMINAL MARKET INSPECTION (TMI) AGRICULTURAL 

COMMODITY GRADERS (ACGS) ........................................................................................... 24

MIT OJT Continued Commodity Training for TMI ACGs Qualified Training Provider (QTP). 25

Period I.......................................................................................................................................... 25

Period II ........................................................................................................................................ 26

Period III....................................................................................................................................... 27

MIT TRAINING PROGRAM COMPLETION ........................................................................... 28

REFERENCE LINKS................................................................................................................... 29

APPENDIX I - MIT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING (OJT) CHECKLIST........................................ 30

APPENDIX II - CORE CIC OJT TEACHING AND EVALUATION PLANS.......................... 31
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INTRODUCTION

This manual is designed to provide guidance to Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division and 

Federal-State personnel of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in terminal 

market inspection training of Agricultural Commodity Graders and Federal-State market 

licensees. If needed, contact your immediate supervisor for any situation not addressed in this 

manual.

Compliance with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) guidelines does not excuse failure 

to comply with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any other applicable Federal or State laws 

or regulations. SCI Division of the Specialty Crops Programs (SCP), AMS is responsible for 

grading/inspecting, audits and standardization programs of fresh and/or processed fruits and 

vegetables and related products. The legal authority for grading, auditing and standardization 

activities are the Agricultural Marketing Acts of 1936 and 1946, as amended.

GUIDE FOR ELECTRONIC USAGE 

The AIM system of instructional manuals is available electronically in Adobe Acrobat Portable 

Document Format (PDF) at the following intranet address: 

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/ams/AMS-SCI/SitePages/Home.aspx. 

When accessed electronically, AIM materials have hyperlinks and hypertext (visible as 

underlined blue text) available to the PDF user. Clicking on a hyperlink takes the reader to a 

web site with information relating to the subject. Hypertext links the reader to a different page 

within the current manual, or a different manual, with information relating to the subject. For 

example, the hypertext in the Table of Contents allows a reader to go directly to the section of 

interest in the manual by clicking on the section title. 

PDF offers a variety of tools depending on the Adobe version the reader has. The newer the 

version, the more tools available. PDF documents are easily searchable for content within a 

document or within multiple documents. To learn about the variety of PDF search options: 

• Click on the “Help” tab on the top of any page in Adobe Acrobat, 

• Then click on the “Adobe Acrobat Help” bar, 

• Type the word “Search” in the “Search” box, and click on the “Search” button, 

• A series of options will become available, 

• Click on the “Access Search Features” link and follow the instructions for the type of 

search you are interested in.
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PURPOSE

Within this document, Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Agricultural Commodity 

Graders (ACGs) and Federal-State Cooperative Market (Fed-State) Inspectors will be 

collectively known as “ACGs” unless otherwise designated.

This policy is intended for full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs providing TMI 

services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market licensee status. 

For terminal market training policy regarding mixed-tour or intermittent ACGs, contact SCI 

National Programs Mission Support or for Fed-State ACGs seeking restricted market license 

status contact a Federal Program Manager.

The Market Inspector Training (MIT) program provides developing ACGs fundamental and 

comprehensive technical and professional skills training to ensure mission-critical performance. 

Within the MIT, critical areas of terminal market inspection are divided into courses and 

timetables of progressive development:

• MIT Course I: Fundamentals of Market Inspection (FoMI)

• MIT Course II: Core Commodity, Inspection & Certification (Core CIC) 

• MIT On-the-Job (OJT) Training Timetable for Continued Commodity Training for 

Terminal Market Inspection (TMI) Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs) 

MIT provides the training necessary to prepare an ACG to perform terminal market inspection 

tasks and commodity inspection without direct supervision. It does not authorize, certify or 

license the student to perform terminal market inspection, that responsibility rests with the 

student’s supervisor or Federal Program Manager (FPM). Thus, students successfully 

completing any MIT commodity training course must still have their ability attested to by the 

supervisor and for Fed-State ACGs, also to be evaluated by the Federal Program Manager, to 

become qualified to perform market commodity inspections or to receive an unrestricted market 

license.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Student 

The student is the focal point of all training and must make every effort to become qualified to 

perform their inspection duties without direct supervision. The success of student training 

greatly depends on the relationship between the supervisor and student. Student responsibilities 

include:

• Actively participate in all scopes of the training. 

• Comprehend the applicable task requirements. 

• Obtain and maintain knowledge and appropriate skill level within all training courses.

• Budget on-duty time to complete assigned tasks within established time limits. 

• Request assistance from the supervisor when having difficulty with any part of training.
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Qualified Training Provider (QTP)

While the supervisor is responsible for ensuring the student is fully trained in the performance of 

their assigned duties, MIT courses allow Qualified Training Providers to provide instruction, 

demonstration and evaluation of student ability and proficiency so that the supervisor can make 

an educated decision on student qualifications to perform inspection duties without direct 

supervision.

Qualified Training Providers include:

• GS-9 or Unrestricted Terminal Market ACGs

• Inspectors-in-Charge 

• Officers-in-Charge, Assistant Officers-in-Charge and Sub-area Supervisors

• Federal-State Supervisors

• SCI and Federal-State Training Officers

• SCI Training and Development Branch Training Specialists and Training Contractors

• Federal Program Managers

QTPs must be fully trained in all aspects of terminal market inspection and maintain a fully 

successfully performance rating or unrestricted market license status. See additional QTP 

qualifications per MIT course within this policy. 

Qualified Training Provider responsibilities include:

• Advise and assist supervisor in executing training responsibilities

• Conduct training in support of MIT course requirements

• Maintain a record of student progress

• Review student training documentation, provide instructional feedback and evaluation on 

student proficiency and ability

• Brief supervisor on student status, provide training updates and recommend training 

mitigation for non-proficiencies

• Assist supervisor in completion and documentation of mitigation corrective actions.

• Identify training resources in support of training activities 

Supervisor

The student’s supervisor has the single greatest impact on mission accomplishment. They must 

share their experiences and expertise to meet mission requirements and provide a quality training 

environment for student success. 

The supervisor is responsible for ensuring the student is qualified to perform inspection duties

without direct supervision although they may utilize Qualified Training Providers to provide 

MIT training and evaluation. While Qualified Training Providers provide training, ultimately the 

supervisor will determine the student’s qualifications in performing inspection duties without 

direct supervision. Supervisor responsibilities include:
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• Evaluate training results and documentation to ensure student is fully prepared for their 

mission responsibilities

• Ensure student performance deficiencies are addressed via effective corrective actions

• Ensure student training duties do not detract from primary duties 

• Ensure training is planned and scheduled accordingly to meet office needs

• Ensure Qualified Training Providers are aware of the training requirements in support of 

the overall mission 

• Budget and allocate resources to support training requirements, including training time 

and training providers

• For probationary students, ensure Division-required evaluations include a review of 

previously-certified tasks to ensure the student met duty position requirements

Federal Program Managers

Federal Program Managers (FPMs) are responsible for issuance of market licenses to Fed-State 

ACGs. MIT courses are designed to provide Fed-State ACGs sufficient training for license 

evaluation. 

ACG MIT courses supplement, not replace, established USDA Fed-State ACG licensing 

requirements and procedures. For further information regarding Fed-State ACG licensing,

contact a Federal Program Manager or the SCI Federal State Inspection Management Branch 

Chief or Assistant Branch Chief.

TRAINING DOCUMENTATION

Keeping records of the training provided, including critical milestone dates, is essential in 

maintaining the integrity of a training program. All documentation pertaining to an ACG’s 

terminal market inspection training must be kept either as electronic files (i.e., in Blackboard, in 

computer server shared files, in supervisor’s hard drive, etc.) or as hard copy documents (i.e.,

written exams and exercises in a secured file cabinet). All records will include the name of the 

ACG, and where applicable, dates, market office, scope and supervisor signature. Training 

documentation will fall under the general records retention policy and will be transferred 

accordingly during changes of an ACG’s official duty station.

Each course of MIT has unique training documentation designed to support learning objectives. 

These include exercise worksheets, student evaluations and supervisor verifications. Refer to 

each course section in this manual to learn more about the documentation needed per course. 

Documentation listed below will be utilized throughout all courses of MIT.

SC-340 TMI Probationary Evaluation Form

The SC-340 TMI Probationary Evaluation Form is to be used to document the performance of 

probationary SCI ACGs performing Terminal Market Inspections (TMI). SC-340 is not required 

for ACGs who are not in probationary status or for Fed-State ACGs. The Probationary 
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Evaluation form needs to be completed until the ACG satisfactorily completes their first-year

probationary period. However, in certain situations, it may be appropriate to utilize this form 

beyond the employee’s probationary period; please consult with your supervisor concerning such 

a situation.

The evaluation needs to be completed bi-weekly, starting two weeks after the first day on duty 

until the ACG successfully completes MIT Course II: Core Commodity, Inspection and 

Certification (Core CIC) and has no unacceptable or deficient elements noted. Once those 

criteria are met, begin to incorporate performance reviews as outlined in the Supervisory 

Reviews of Agricultural Commodity Graders policy and reduce SC-340 completion to once per 

month for the duration of the probationary period. If at any time during the once per month 

evaluation period the ACG’s performance becomes unacceptable or deficient, the frequency 

would revert to bi-weekly for the duration of the probationary period. 

The SC-340 TMI Probationary Evaluation Form is available on the AMS Forms Catalog at the 

following intranet link: https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/ams/AMSFormsCatalog/SC340.pdf

On-the-Job (OJT) Checklist

Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACG)

SCI ACG training progress will be tracked via the OJT Checklist (Appendix I). It is intended to 

record critical training information related to commodity inspection and certification and other 

inspection-related tasks. Once the training for a task or for each commodity under MIT Course 

II: Core CIC is successfully completed, the supervisor will update the student’s OJT Checklist 

with signature indicating that the employee is qualified to perform that task or inspect a 

commodity without direct supervision based on evaluated proficiency. 

The OJT Checklist can be used as a quick reference guide by a dispatcher assigning daily 

inspection work to identify which commodities the ACG can inspect without direct supervision. 

The OJT Checklist will be maintained until the completion of the On-the-Job Training Timetable 

for New Terminal Market Inspection Agricultural Commodity Graders. 

Federal-State Cooperative Market (Fed-State) Inspectors

Fed-State inspector training progress may utilize the OJT Checklist (Appendix I) to track 

training progress but is not a requirement as training may already be tracked via the cooperative 

market licensing process. Contact the Federal State Inspection Management (FSIM) Branch 

Chief for additional guidance.
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MIT COURSE I: FUNDAMENTALS OF MARKET INSPECTION (FOMI)

Overview

The FOMI course is required for all full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs 

providing TMI services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market 

licensee status that perform terminal market inspections. ACGs are required to successfully 

complete the FOMI course prior to entrance into MIT Course II: Core Commodity, Inspection & 

Certification (Core CIC).

The FOMI course is a balanced delivery approach utilizing the Blackboard online learning 

system for remote virtual learning and on-the-job training activities, within an actual terminal 

market environment. A Certificate of Completion is issued with the successful completion of all 

FOMI requirements. Once the FOMI is successfully completed, commodity training according 

to the Timetable can commence. 

FOMI must be successfully completed within six (6) weeks of beginning the course.

Pre-enrollment

Required Office Resources 

• Hard copy of the current General Market Manual and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 

Inspection Certificate (FV-300) Manual 

• Access to a computer with internet availability

• Computer access to a printer within the local office 

• FV-300N notesheets

• Pen 

• Notepad

• Calculator

Equipment

Prior to enrollment, the student will be assigned inspection equipment as outlined in the General 

Market Manual and Inspector Grading Equipment Inventory Sheet. 

Read and Review

The supervisor will provide a hard copy of the current General Market Manual and Fresh Fruit 

and Vegetable Inspection Certificate (FV-300) Manual and provide sufficient time for the 

student to read and review the sections as indicated below:

A. General Market Manual:

• Authority
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• Relationship with Industry

• Prohibited Activities

• Requesting Inspections

• Inspection Equipment

• Carrier, Load, Lot

• Determining Type of Inspection

• Performing the Inspection

• Federal Marketing Orders and Section 8e Requirements

• Certificate

• Fees

• Re-inspections and Appeals

• PACA

B. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Certificate (FV-300) Manual:

• General Instructions

• Identifying the Inspection

• Describing the Product

Enrollment 

The FOMI course is required for all full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs 

providing TMI services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market 

licensee status. These ACGs are required to successfully complete the FOMI course prior to 

proceeding to MIT Course II: Core Commodity, Inspection & Certification (Core CIC) and the 

MIT On-the-Job Training Timetable for New Terminal Market Inspection Agricultural 

Commodity Graders (Timetable). 

A. SCI

The front-line supervisor will submit an enrollment request email to their respective 

Regional Branch Chief (RBC) or Assistant Regional Branch Chief (ARBC) that provides:

• Student name and USDA email address

• Front-line supervisor name and USDA email address

• Officer-in-Charge and Assistant Officer-in-Charge name and USDA email 

address

• Market office or inspection point name

• Name of course to be enrolled in 

• Acknowledgment that all pre-enrollment requirements have been met.

The RBC or ARBC will review the request and, if approved, forward the email to the SCI 

Training and Development Branch via SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov stating that the 
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request to enroll is approved. RBC or ARBC will contact the SCI Associate Director of 

Field Operations for additional guidance if approval is denied.

The Training and Development Branch will respond with further enrollment information 

and instructions.

B. Fed-State

The Fed-State front-line supervisor will submit an enrollment request email to their 

respective Federal Program Manager (FPM) that provides:

• Student name and State government email address

• Fed-State front-line supervisor name and State government email address

• Market office or inspection point name

• Name of course to be enrolled in 

• Acknowledgment that all pre-enrollment requirements have been met.

The FPM will review the request and, if approved, forward the email to the SCI Training 

and Development Branch via SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov stating that the request to 

enroll is approved. FPM will contact the Federal State Inspection Management (FSIM) 

Branch Chief for additional guidance if approval is denied.

The Training and Development Branch will respond with further enrollment information 

and instructions.

Structure

FOMI course structure consists of Blackboard modules, knowledge check exams, and on-the-job 

activities. 

Blackboard Modules

FOMI Blackboard modules cover fundamental inspection policies, procedures, concepts, and 

terms as outlined within the General Market Manual, FV-300 Certificate Manual, Sanitation 

Manual, Section 8e & Marketing Manual, and 7 CFR, Part 51. Modules must be taken within 

the order established as this generally follows the normal flow of the inspection process. 

Modules do not need to be taken all at one sitting and it is encouraged that the supervisor has the 

student accompany Qualified Training Providers during live inspections to break up sittings and 

provide exposure relevant to topics covered whenever practical.

Knowledge Check Exams

Each module has a knowledge check exam requiring a minimum score of 70% to advance to the 

next module. If an exam score is less than 70% on the first attempt, the student will have an 
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additional attempt to successfully pass the exam. If, after two attempts, the student has not 

successfully passed the exam:

Student will:

• Notify their supervisor that they have exceeded their allowable attempts

• Provide a copy of incorrect exam questions and answers from Blackboard to their 

supervisor:

o Go to www.usda.blackboard.com

o Go to the MIT Course I: Fundamentals of Market Inspection course

o Click on Gradebook from the left-panel course menu

o Click the link for the failed item

o In the Calculated Result list, click on the score for any failed attempt to view the 

missed questions

o Print the page from this window

Supervisor will:

• Review, or assign review to a Qualified Training Provider, the incorrect questions and 

answers with the student for clear understanding of the nature and subject matter of the 

question

• Once the student has a clear understanding regarding the incorrect questions and answers, 

forward a request for a third attempt to the Training and Development Branch via email 

at SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov detailing that the review is complete, and that the 

student is prepared for the third attempt to successfully complete the exam 

The third Exam will be released to the student to complete. If the student does not successfully 

complete the exam on the third attempt:

Supervisor will:

• Provide additional localized mitigation training and subject-matter review to ensure the 

student has retained the appropriate knowledge and demonstrates the relative ability; 

Qualified Training Providers may be utilized to provide mitigation training

• Ensure all mitigation training provided is documented via the student’s local training 

record 

• Contact the Chief of the Training and Development Branch (TDC) for further instruction 

when mitigation training is completed

• The TDC Chief, in collaboration with the Area Officer in Charge and the Regional 

Branch Chief or the Federal Program Manager and Federal State Inspection Management 

(FSIM) Branch Chief will evaluate and determine next steps. If desired by either party, 

the Associate Directors for Field Operations or Business Management Services may be 

requested to concur.
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On-the-Job Activities

FOMI on-the-job activities will be completed within the local office or at another market 

location if sufficient live inspection availability is not feasible. Activities are listed within 

Blackboard for certain modules and are taken once the module is successfully completed. Many 

activities require the student to accompany a Qualified Training Provider for on-the-job exposure 

to live inspections. While more than one activity may be completed during a single live 

inspection, it is recommended that supervisors provide as much exposure to the live TMI 

environment as possible by utilizing multiple live inspections in completion of activities. Further 

guidance per activity is listed within each activity worksheet in Blackboard. 

Activity worksheets require a Qualified Training Provider or supervisor review for accurate 

student responses. Answer keys will be provided for efficient and uniform reviews. Activity 

worksheets must be complete, accurate, legible and be in accordance with established Division 

policy and instructions. Errors must be addressed, and effective corrective actions noted. 

Once an activity worksheet is reviewed and necessary corrective actions are complete, the 

supervisor will:

• Sign the activity worksheet acknowledging that student responses are successfully 

completed and are in accordance with established Division policy and instructions 

• Complete the FOMI activity attestation record in Blackboard once all FOMI activities are 

successfully completed

• Keep completed activity worksheets in the student’s local training file

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) for FOMI

The following qualifications must be met to be a QTP assisting in FOMI training:

• Qualified to perform all fresh commodity inspections without direct supervision

• Maintain a fully successful performance rating or unrestricted market license status. 

Course Progress

Student FOMI progress can be accessed in Blackboard by the designated supervisor, Officer-inCharge/Assistant Officer-in-Charge/Sub-area Supervisor, Federal Program Manager, Regional 

Branch Chief or Assistant Regional Branch Chief as indicated on the FOMI enrollment email. 

Approximate Course Length

FOMI must be successfully completed within six (6) weeks of beginning the course. 

Average time to complete all requirements of the FOMI course is 32 hours (12 hours of 

Blackboard virtual training and testing, and 20 hours of activities). As many OJT activities 

require the student to accompany another inspector during a live inspection, local workload and 

staffing may impact the time it takes to complete on-site activities. 
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Successful Completion of Course

FOMI is successfully completed when:

• All modules have been viewed

• All knowledge check exams passed

• All OJT activity completion is attested to by the supervisor in Blackboard

When the FOMI course has been successfully completed, a certificate of completion will be 

issued to the student. For SCI ACGs the supervisor will record course name and date 

successfully completed on the student’s office file MIT On-the-Job Training (OJT) Checklist

with signature and date. 

FOMI must be successfully completed within six (6) weeks of beginning the course. Exceptions 

can only be granted with Associate Director approval.

MIT COURSE II: CORE COMMODITY, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION (CORE 

CIC)

Overview

The Core CIC course is required for all full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs 

providing TMI services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market 

licensee status. ACGs are required to successfully complete MIT Course I: Fundamentals of 

Market Inspection (FoMI) prior to enrollment of Core CIC.

The Core CIC course is a balanced delivery approach utilizing the Blackboard online learning 

system for remote virtual learning, on-the-job teaching and hands-on learning of commodity 

inspection and certification policy and procedures. The on-the-job component is delivered by a 

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) at a terminal market location and reinforces fundamental TMI 

procedures while providing in-depth instruction, demonstration, and evaluation of inspection 

processes for five selected commodities. 

A Certificate of Completion is issued with the successful completion of all Core CIC 

requirements. Once Core CIC is successfully completed, the student will be sufficiently trained 

and has demonstrated proficiency in the inspection of five (5) commodities or commodity 

groupings (i.e., Berries, Oranges, Melons, etc.) without direct supervision. 

The student’s supervisor or Federal Program Manager (FPM) will ensure the student is qualified 

to perform inspection on the five (5) commodities without direct supervision. Additionally, the 

Fed-State student’s FPM will evaluate the student for an unrestricted market license. As needed, 

additional commodity training will commence following Continuation of TMI Commodity 

Training section within this manual.
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The entire Core CIC course must be successfully completed within ten (10) weeks of assignment 

within Blackboard. Supervisor and Qualified Training Provider will coordinate schedules to 

ensure OJT commodity training is provided in a mutually agreeable timeframe within the 

required 10-week window for course completion. Timeframe may be dependent on student 

ability and performance, Qualified Training Provider travel status or a selected commodity’s 

availability. Average time to complete all course requirements is eight weeks and can be 

completed in one period of time or over a series of weekly periods. 

Student training progress can be accessed in Blackboard by the designated supervisor, Officerin-Charge/Assistant Officer-in-Charge/Sub-area Supervisor, Federal Program Manager, Regional 

Branch Chief or Assistant Regional Branch Chief as indicated on the Core CIC enrollment email.

Pre-enrollment

Student must have successfully completed MIT Course I: Fundamentals of Market Inspection

(FoMI).

Required Resources at Training Location

The supervisor will coordinate with the Qualified Training Provider (QTP) to ensure the 

following resources are in place prior to training:

• Hard copies of General Market Manual (GMM), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Inspection 

Certificate (FV-300) Manual, Sanitation Manual, U.S. Grade Standards and Market 

Inspection Instructions. All references are found at www.ams.usda.gov

• Access to all commodity-specific official and unofficial aides and references

• Issuance of all TMI Inspector Grading Equipment to student

• Pad of FV-300N notesheets

• SC-300 mock or serialized certificates. 

• Teaching and learning space

• QTP access to office printer

• Access to commodities covered; this can be via actual service requests, prearranged 

access via local applicants or via official purchase order produce buy.

Enrollment 

The Core CIC course is required for all full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs 

providing TMI services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market 

licensee status. ACGs are required to successfully complete the FoMI course within six months 

prior to enrollment of Core CIC.

A. SCI

The front-line supervisor will submit an enrollment request email to their respective 

Regional Branch Chief (RBC) or Assistant Regional Branch Chief (ARBC) that provides:
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• Student name and USDA email address

• Front-line supervisor name and USDA email address

• Officer-in-Charge and Assistant Officer-in-Charge name and USDA email 

address

• Market office or inspection point name

• Name of course to be enrolled in 

• Names of the elective commodities or commodity groupings to be taught

The RBC or ARBC will review the request and, if approved, forward the email to the SCI 

Training and Development Branch via SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov stating that the 

request to enroll is approved. RBC or ARBC will contact the SCI Associate Director of 

Field Operations for additional guidance if approval is denied.

The Training and Development Branch will respond with further enrollment information 

and instructions.

B. Fed-State

The Fed-State front-line supervisor will submit an enrollment request email to their 

respective Federal Program Manager (FPM) that provides:

• Student name and State government email address

• Fed-State front-line supervisor name and State government email address

• Market office or inspection point name

• Name of course to be enrolled in 

• Names of the elective commodities or commodity groupings to be taught

The FPM will review the request and, if approved, forward the email to the SCI Training 

and Development Branch via SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov stating that the request to 

enroll is approved. The FPM will be given the same Blackboard permissions as the 

assigned supervisor. FPM will contact the Federal State Inspection Management (FSIM) 

Branch Chief for additional guidance if approval is denied.

The Training and Development Branch will respond with further enrollment information 

and instructions and provide the FPM with the same Blackboard permissions as the 

assigned supervisor.

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) for Core CIC

OJT commodity training will be conducted by an approved Core CIC Qualified Training 

Provider (QTP). Approval to be a QTP for Core CIC is determined by qualifications based on 

position status, subject-matter knowledge and teaching ability. A Blackboard learning program 

is used to validate a candidate’s qualifications.
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To be recommended as a QTP for the Core CIC program, Regional Branch Chiefs (RBCs) or 

Federal Program Managers (FPMs) will submit an ACG, Training Officer, Sub-Area Supervisor, 

or Fed-State inspector who meets the following prerequisites as a candidate for a QTP.

• Fully Successful GS-9 or higher (for SCI)

• Unrestricted Market Licensee (for Fed-State)

• Qualified to perform all fresh commodity inspections without direct supervision

For those that meet these prerequisites, the RBC or FPM will submit an enrollment email to the 

SCI Training and Development Branch (TDB) via SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov requesting 

enrollment for the candidate into the Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development learning 

program in Blackboard. 

Email must include:

 Candidate name and USDA or Fed-State email address

 Front-line supervisor name and email address

 Officer-in-Charge and Assistant Officer-in-Charge name and USDA email address (SCI 

only)

 Market office or inspection point name

 Name of program to be enrolled in (Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development) 

The TDB will assign the Blackboard Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development learning 

program to the candidate. Program must be completed within 60 days of assignment within 

Blackboard.

A. Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development Program

The Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development learning program will evaluate a 

candidate’s subject-matter knowledge and develop specific teaching ability. It consists of 

three courses that must be successfully completed to be an approved QTP for Core CIC.

• Evaluation of Knowledge

• Adult Learning Development 

• Core CIC OJT Teaching Development 

1. Evaluation of Knowledge Course

Two parts of the course are used to evaluate a candidate’s knowledge of material 

that will be taught within the Core CIC.

a. Fundamentals of Market Inspection (FOMI) Evaluation

The FOMI Evaluation consists of a 30-question exam based on the 

existing MIT: FOMI program. Evaluation is successfully completed with a 
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minimum exam passing score of 80%. If not successfully completed, 

candidate will be required to review the MIT: FOMI modules from the 

failed questions and re-take the module exam requiring a passing score of 

80%. If candidate fails to successfully complete the retest, they have 

failed the evaluation of knowledge and will not be approved as a Core CIC 

QTP at this time. See Successful Completion below for further details.

b. Core CIC Commodity Grading Evaluation

After successfully completing the FOMI Evaluation, the candidate will 

complete the Core CIC Commodity Grading Evaluation. Core CIC 

commodity knowledge tested will consist of these commodity groupings:

Peppers (Sweet and Other Than)

Avocados (incl. Section 8e)

Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries)

Tomatoes (incl. Section 8e and Tomato Suspension Agreement)

Table Grapes (incl. Section 8e)

Oranges (FL/CA/TX) (incl. Section 8e)

Potatoes (incl. Section 8e)

Onions (incl. Section 8e)

Summer Squash

Asparagus

Cucumbers

Watermelon

Lemons & Limes 

Mangos

Kiwifruit (incl. Section 8e)

Melons (Honeydew & Cantaloupe)

Blueberries

The Evaluation consists of 17 exams, with each consisting of five (5) 

questions, covering the 17-commodity grouping above. Evaluation is

successfully completed with a minimum passing score of 80% for each 

exam. If not successfully completed, candidate will be required to review 

the Core CIC module(s) for each failed commodity grouping and take the 

associate module exam(s) requiring a passing score of 80%. If candidate 

fails to successfully complete the module exam(s) after the re-test, they 

have failed the evaluation of knowledge and will not be approved as a 

Core CIC QTP at this time. Candidate must successfully complete the 

requirements of mitigation training before re-enrollment in the Core CIC 

QTP course.

See Successful Completion below for further details.

2. Adult Learning Development Course
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After successfully completing the Evaluation of Knowledge course, the candidate 

will attend the Adult Learning Development course. Sessions will be live, virtual, 

and instructor-presented to develop proper demonstration, psycho-motor, 

communication and questioning techniques and abilities. To evaluate successful 

development, candidates will prepare a presentation on a Core CIC training 

scenario applying the adult learning techniques covered within the sessions. The 

Adult Learning Development course is successfully completed when the 

presentation is satisfactorily prepared and presented. Candidate will then move 

on to the Core CIC OJT Teaching Procedures and Tools Development course.

3. Core CIC OJT Teaching Development Course

After successfully completing the Adult Learning Developmental course, the 

candidate will attend the Core CIC OJT Teaching Development course. Sessions 

will be live, virtual, and instructor-presented to develop functional awareness of 

the Core CIC OJT teaching plans, student evaluations, documentation, and 

communication methods that they will be responsible for as Core CIC QTPs. 

Core CIC OJT Teaching Development is successfully completed when the 

candidate attends all sessions.

The Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development program is successfully completed 

when the candidate has successfully completed its three courses:

• Evaluation of Knowledge

• Adult Learning Development

• Core CIC OJT Teaching Development

Once successfully completed, the candidate is qualified and is an approved Core CIC 

OJT Qualified Training Provider. The SCI Training and Development Branch will 

maintain the list of approved Core CIC QTPs. Only approved QTPs may deliver final 

Core CIC training and evaluate students.

If a candidate fails to successfully complete any part of the course, they will not be 

approved as a Core CIC QTP and must complete mitigation training to address 

deficiencies. Mitigation training will be coordinated via candidate’s supervisor.

Candidates that complete mitigation training must wait a period of five (5) days before 

being resubmitted for Core CIC QTP consideration. When resubmitting a candidate who 

has completed mitigation training, the RBC or FPM will include a brief report of the 

mitigation with the re-enrollment email sent to the SCI Training and Development 

Branch. Final determination of re-enrollment will be handled on case-by-case basis and 

made by the SCI Training and Development Branch Chief in consultation with 

candidate’s supervisor and Regional Operations Branch Chief, or FISM Branch Chief as 

applicable.
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Candidates that are approved to be re-enrolled will complete the part of the course that was 

failed. For Evaluation of Knowledge exams, the re-enrolled candidate would re-take the five (5) 

question commodity exam(s) initially failed. Evaluation is successfully completed with a 

minimum passing score of 80%. Then, the candidate may proceed to the next course in the 

Program. If candidate fails to successfully complete the re-enrollment commodity exam(s), they 

have failed the Evaluation course and will not be approved as a Core CIC QTP at this time; their 

status will be determined on a case-by-case basis by Regional and senior Division management.

Structure

Core CIC course structure consists of Blackboard modules, knowledge check exams, and on-thejob commodity training and evaluation.

Commodities Covered

Core CIC will cover the two required core commodities and three elective core commodities as 

determined by the supervisor at time of enrollment. This allows flexibility to develop an ACG 

that meets SCI’s mission and local office service needs. 

Commodities include commodity groupings such as “Berries” to cover material from several 

commodities within a single Market Inspection Instruction, or from several commodities within 

multiple Instructions such as “Oranges.” While elective core commodities are designed to be 

flexible, they may have limited seasonal availability (i.e., Melons).

“Peppers” and “Avocados” are required for all Core CIC students. In addition, three of fifteen 

elective Core commodities must be selected from below:

Required Core Commodities (Both are required):

• Peppers (Sweet and Other Than)

• Avocados (incl. Section 8e)

Elective Core Commodities (Select three):

• Berries (Strawberry, Raspberries, Blackberries)

• Tomatoes (Fresh, Tomatoes on the Vine, Greenhouse) (incl. Section 8e and Tomato 

Suspension Agreement)

• Table Grapes (incl. Section 8e)

• Oranges (FL/CA/TX) (incl. Section 8e)

• Potatoes (incl. Section 8e)

• Onions (BGG and Other than BGG) (incl. Section 8e)

• Summer Squash

• Asparagus

• Cucumbers (Field Grown, Greenhouse, Pickling)
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• Watermelon

• Lemons & Limes 

• Mangos

• Kiwifruit (incl. Section 8e)

• Melons (Honeydew & Cantaloup)

• Blueberries

Blackboard Modules

Core CIC commodity Blackboard modules cover material within the commodity’s Market 

Inspection Instruction manual, Section 8e & Marketing Order manual, and the FV-300 

Certificate manual. A module on service efficiency and customer service techniques is also 

required.

Commodity module objectives include:

• Recognizing the different grading criteria within the commodity grade standard and 

official inspection instructions

• Explaining the growing and harvesting process to understand how defects form

• Identifying defect names and scoring guides for uniform grading

• Discuss the critical grading criteria needed to accurately certify inspection results

Modules assigned do not need to be taken all at one sitting and it is encouraged that the 

supervisor have the student accompany Qualified Training Providers during live inspections to 

break up sittings and provide exposure relevant to topics covered whenever practical.

If student must travel to complete the on-the-job training and evaluation portion of Core CIC 

Blackboard modules, knowledge check exams may be completed in their local office prior to the 

travel.

Knowledge Check Exams

Each commodity module has a knowledge check exam requiring a minimum score of 70%. If an 

exam score is less than 70% on the first attempt the student will have an additional attempt to 

successfully pass the exam. If, after two attempts, the student has not successfully passed the 

exam:

Student will:

• Notify their supervisor that they have exceeded their allowable attempts

• Provide a copy of incorrect exam questions and answers from Blackboard to their 

supervisor:

o Go to www.usda.blackboard.com
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o Go to the MIT Course II: Core Commodity, Inspection & Certification (CORE 

CIC) course

o Click on Gradebook from the left-panel course menu

o Click the link for the failed item

o In the Calculated Result list, click on the score for any failed attempt to view the 

missed questions

o Print the page from this window

Supervisor will:

• Review, or assign review to a Qualified Training Provider, the incorrect questions and 

answers with the student for clear understanding of the nature and subject matter of the 

question.

• Once the student has a clear understanding regarding the incorrect questions and answers, 

forward a request for a third attempt to the Training and Development Branch via email 

at SCITrainingBranch@usda.gov detailing that the review is complete, and that the 

student is prepared for the third attempt to successfully complete the exam. 

The third Exam will be released to the student to complete. If the student does not successfully 

complete the exam on the third attempt:

Supervisor will:

• Provide additional localized mitigation training and subject-matter review to ensure the 

student has retained the appropriate knowledge and demonstrates the relative ability. 

Qualified Training Providers may be utilized to provide mitigation training

• Ensure all mitigation training provided is documented via the student’s local training 

record 

• Contact the Chief of the Training and Development Branch for further instruction when 

mitigation training is completed

• The TDC Chief, in collaboration with the Area Officer in Charge and the Regional 

Branch Chief or the Federal Program Manager and Federal State Inspection Management 

(FSIM) Branch Chief will evaluate and determine next steps. If desired by either party, 

the Associate Directors for Field Operations or Business Management Services may be 

requested to concur.

On-the-job (OJT) Commodity Training and Evaluation

After the commodity Blackboard module and knowledge check exam is successfully completed, 

on-the-job training (OJT) and evaluation should begin to further support commodity grading 

knowledge and ability. 

OJT commodity training for five (5) selected commodities is delivered in-person by a Core CIC 

Qualified Training Provider (QTP) and includes the use of market inspection locations and 
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product samples to provide practical and comprehensive instruction, demonstration, and 

evaluation on the following scopes:

• Basic inspection responsibilities 

• Efficiency and customer service techniques

• Grading criteria within grade standards and instructions

• Use of references, resources, and equipment

• Identifying defects, scoring guides and/or factors that affect U.S. Grade.

• Applying critical elements of Section 8e inspection for imports (as per applicable

commodity).

• Applying the critical elements needed to accurately certify inspection results on a Federal 

notesheet and certificate.

Throughout the OJT commodity training, the student will be required to successfully 

demonstrate proficient performance of the above scopes. 

A. OJT Location and Learning Space

On-the-job commodity training will be conducted at one of these locations:

• Student’s local office when provided by a local Qualified Training Provider 

(QTP) or when an out-of-market QTP can be arranged. Travel would need to be 

arranged by the student’s supervisor.

• SCI Training office (e.g., Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Los 

Angeles, CA, Fredericksburg, VA) when a QTP can be arranged. Travel would 

need to be arranged by the student’s supervisor.

Student’s inspection point/sub-office/area office is responsible for all travel costs, 

regardless of training location. Contact the SCI Training and Development Branch for a 

list of approved QTPs and contact information. Student’s supervisor will contact the 

approved QTP directly to make scheduling and travel arrangements for the training.

Fed-State supervisors are to contact the Federal-State Inspection Management Branch 

Chief prior to enrollment for policy related to any training costs not related to travel

expenses.

For OJT commodity training, the supervisor will coordinate with the QTP so that live 

inspection requests and inspection worksites will be utilized when practical. When not 

practical, or when a learning-centric environment is more beneficial, the supervisor will 

coordinate with the QTP for a suitable alternative learning space. Alternative learning 

space will be quiet, free from distractions and have network connectivity as needed.

B. OJT Product and Specimens
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The supervisor will coordinate with the QTP to ensure that sufficient commodity product 

and specimens are available. Whenever practical, live inspection requests and inspection 

product will be utilized. When not practical, the QTP will procure sufficient samples 

from a local source and utilize a suitable learning space. 

C. OJT Teaching and Evaluation Plans

To assist the Qualified Training Provider (QTP) in the delivery of on-the-job commodity 

training, a structured teaching and evaluation plan for basic inspection responsibilities

and for each commodity will be used. Plans provide unique instructional and 

demonstrational guidance with tips on teaching the various scopes of the commodity to 

meet objectives. Plans also provide guidance on the evaluation and use of the SC-369

Market Inspector Training (MIT) Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) 

Training Evaluation form. Further details are located within each plan. Plans for each 

Core CIC commodity are found in Appendix II – Core CIC OJT Teaching and Evaluation 

Plans.

Teaching and Evaluation Plans are only intended to be used by the Core CIC QTP. 

Using these plans to train students by personnel other than the QTP or by the QTP within 

this course is prohibited.

D. OJT Teaching and Evaluation Scope Completion Progress Documentation

QTPs will utilize the SC-359 MIT Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) 

Commodity OJT Progress form to track completion of all scopes within each OJT 

Teaching and Evaluation plan. The form will consist of the scope number, name, 

signature of the QTP performing the training, the date scope was completed, and any 

applicable comments or remarks. Students will be made aware of their progress 

throughout the entire teaching process. If multiple QTP’s are utilized to teach scopes, the 

student’s supervisor will be responsible for sharing the started SC-359 form with each 

QTP until all scopes are completed. 

QTPs will ensure updated or fully completed SC-359 forms are forwarded to the 

student’s supervisor for local filing within the student’s training file.

E. OJT Commodity Training Evaluation

Once all scopes for a commodity Teaching and Evaluation plan are completed, the QTP 

evaluation process for that taught commodity will take place. To evaluate performance,

the student will independently complete live or mock evaluation inspections for each of 

their five (5) commodities. Details of these inspection scenarios to be evaluated will be 

determined by the complexity and scope of the commodity; see individual commodity 

OJT Teaching & Evaluation Plans for further guidance. 

The Qualified Training Provider will complete the SC-369 Market Inspector Training 

(MIT) Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation form for each 
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evaluation inspection scenario. The SC-369 will indicate if the student has demonstrated 

proficient or deficient level of performance regarding the commodity scopes.

Deficient performance will be addressed via mitigation training involving subject-matter 

review to ensure the student has retained the appropriate knowledge and demonstrates the 

relative ability. Qualified Training Providers may be utilized to provide mitigation 

training. All mitigation training is documented on the SC-369 form. 

The SC-369 form requires a Qualified Training Provider name and title and student 

signature. Form must be complete, accurate, and legible.

F. Distribution of Completed Forms

The Qualified Training Provider will forward all completed SC-359 Progress and SC-369 

Evaluation forms to the student’s front-line supervisor for further evaluation and filing 

within the student’s training file.

Qualification Evaluation, Affirmation and Attestation

Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs)

For each Core CIC OJT commodity, the front-line supervisor will evaluate the student to affirm

demonstrated proficiency regarding inspection and certification of the commodity. The 

evaluation may be based on information within each SC-369 Market Inspector Training (MIT) 

Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation form, discussion with the 

Qualified Training Provider or personal observations of the student. The front-line supervisor 

will complete the Front-Line Supervisor Core CIC OJT Commodity Training Affirmation record 

in Blackboard for each Core CIC commodity and submit the student’s SC-369 Market Inspector 

Training (MIT) Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation forms to 

the Officer-in-Charge (OIC).

The OIC will evaluate the student to attest demonstrated proficiency and that the ACG is 

qualified in performing an inspection on the commodity without direct supervision. The 

evaluation may be based on information within each SC-369 Market Inspector Training (MIT) 

Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation form, discussion with the 

front-line supervisor or Qualified Training Provider or personal observations of the student. The 

OIC will complete the OIC/FPM Core CIC OJT Commodity Training Attestation record in

Blackboard to indicate the student has successfully completed the Core CIC course requirements 

and is qualified in performing an inspection on Core CIC commodities without direct 

supervision.
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Federal-State Cooperative Market (Fed-State) Inspectors 

For each Core CIC OJT commodity, the front-line supervisor will evaluate the student to affirm 

demonstrated proficiency regarding inspection and certification of the commodity. The 

evaluation may be based on information within each SC-369 Market Inspector Training (MIT) 

Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation form, discussion with the 

Qualified Training Provider or personal observations of the student. The front-line supervisor 

will complete the Front-Line Supervisor Core CIC OJT Commodity Training Affirmation record

in Blackboard for each Core CIC commodity and submit the student’s SC-369 Market Inspector 

Training (MIT) Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation forms to 

the Federal Program Manager (FPM).

In coordination with the Fed-State unrestricted licensing process, the FPM will evaluate the 

student for licensing. The evaluation may be based on information within each SC-369 Market 

Inspector Training (MIT) Core Commodity Inspection Certification (CIC) Training Evaluation 

form, discussion with the front-line supervisor or Qualified Training Provider or personal 

observations of the student. The FPM will complete the OIC/FPM Core CIC OJT Commodity 

Training Attestation record in Blackboard to indicate the student has successfully completed the 

Core CIC course requirements. The FPM will complete remaining requirements for licensing. 

Contact the Federal State Inspection Management (FSIM) Branch Chief for additional guidance.

OJT Checklist

For SCI ACGs, the front-line supervisor will record the Core CIC commodity name, the 

Qualified Training Provider name, the date commodity training for the commodity was 

successfully completed (which is the date of OIC attestation), front-line supervisor signature and 

date on the student’s office file OJT Checklist (Appendix I) with signature and date. 

As use of the OJT Checklist is not required for Fed-State inspectors, contact the Federal State 

Inspection Management (FSIM) Branch Chief for additional guidance if being used for a FedState student.

Course Progress

Student Core CIC progress can be accessed in Blackboard by the designated supervisor, Officerin-Charge/Assistant Officer-in-Charge/Sub-area Supervisor, Federal Program Manager, Regional 

Branch Chief or Assistant Regional Branch Chief as indicated on the Core CIC enrollment email. 

Approximate Course Length

The entire Core CIC course must be successfully completed within ten (10) weeks of assignment 

within Blackboard. Timeframe may be dependent on student ability and performance, Qualified 

Training Provider travel status or a selected commodity’s availability. Average time to complete 

all course requirements is eight weeks and can be completed in one period of time or over a 

series of weekly periods. 
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Successful Completion of Course

Core CIC is successfully completed when the OIC or FPM has completed the OIC/FPM Core 

CIC OJT Commodity Training Attestation record for all five commodities in Blackboard. A

certificate of completion will be issued to the student. 

Student Commodity Grading and Additional Commodity Training 

For SCI ACGs, the student is only authorized to inspect without direct supervision commodities 

qualified by the Core CIC course and listed on the student’s OJT Checklist. Students may 

participate in other commodity inspections under direct supervision. 

For Fed-State inspectors, the student is not authorized to inspect commodities qualified by the 

Core CIC course until licensed by the Federal Program Manager. 

As needed, additional commodity training will continue as listed below.

CONTINUATION OF TMI COMMODITY TRAINING

Until such time that the MIT Course III: Comprehensive Commodity, Inspection and 

Certification course is established, ACGs who require training on additional commodities will 

follow the guidance under MIT On-the-Job (OJT) Training Timetable for Continued Commodity 

Training for Terminal Market Inspection (TMI) Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs). 

Additional commodity-specific training is not authorized without successfully completing the 

MIT Course I: Fundamentals of Market Inspection (FoMI) and MIT Course II: Core Commodity 

Inspection and Certification courses. 

MIT On-the-Job (OJT) Training Timetable for Continued Commodity Training for 

Terminal Market Inspection (TMI) Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs)

The Timetable is structured for ACGs who have completed MIT Course I: Fundamentals of

Market Inspection (FoMI) and MIT Course II: Core Commodity Inspection and Certification 

(Core CIC) courses and is required for all full-time, not mixed-tour or intermittent, SCI ACGs 

providing TMI services and full-time/non-seasonal Fed-State ACGs seeking unrestricted market 

licensee status. Completion of all time periods is approximately four months. Qualified 

Training Providers and supervisors will work together to ensure that the student is properly 

trained at an appropriate pace, in accordance with field office needs.

The process requires close communication and coordination between the Qualified Training 

Provider and supervisor. Where the local market is not an active market daily, it may be 

financially advisable to have the student go to an active market, especially for Fed-State students 

from Shipping Point areas.
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MIT OJT Continued Commodity Training for TMI ACGs Qualified Training Provider (QTP) 

The on-the-job component is delivered by a Qualified Training Provider (QTP) at a terminal 

market location and reinforces fundamental TMI procedures while providing in-depth 

instruction, demonstration, and evaluation of inspection processes for selected commodities. 

Only qualified and approved Core CIC QTPs may deliver continued commodity training and 

evaluate students. See Core CIC QTP Evaluation and Development Program section under MIT 

COURSE II: CORE COMMODITY, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION (CORE CIC) for 

QTP requirements.

Period I 

A. Approximate length is two months 

B. Continuation of Commodity Specific Training: 

• Increase frequency and level of independent grading on commodities covered in 

Core CIC

• Provide hard copies or electronic versions of standards and handbooks for four 

additional commodities inspected at the locally-assigned market 

• Gradually increase the complexity of commodities covered 

• Provide sufficient time for the student to read the entire handbook of each 

additional commodity prior to being taught 

• Administer corresponding Commodity Questionnaires, grade, and review with 

student 

• Utilize live or mock inspections as needed to demonstrate, review and knowledge 

check all commodity-related scopes and procedures

• Increase student’s level of independent grading as knowledge and skills continue 

to develop 

C. Efficiency and Customer Service:

• Ensure that dedicated independent grading and timely delivery of services is 

occurring 

• Ensure that best practices are being followed in providing expedient and attentive 

service to all customers

D. Documentation: 

• Throughout this period, maintain and update employee’s training record

• For SCI ACGs, the TMI ACG Probationary Evaluation form (SC-340) must be 

completed once per month as the student follows the normal schedule for 

Supervisory Reviews of Agricultural Commodity Graders 
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• If at any time during the once per month timing the student’s performance shows

more than one Unacceptable or Deficient element, the frequency would revert to 

bi-weekly and seek guidance from the Regional Field Operations Branch office or 

Federal Program Manager regarding how long the bi-weekly timing will continue

• Review and critique all independently-graded inspection notesheets and 

certificates. Complete a SCI Records Review form (SC-383) documenting 

reviews

• For SCI ACGs, continue to update student’s OJT Checklist with each completed 

and evaluated task or commodity

Period II

A. Approximate length is one month

B. Continuation of Commodity Specific Training:

• Monitor independent grading on commodities taught in first four months, take 

corrective actions as needed

• Continue to increase the complexity and number of commodities covered

• Rotate student into more complex assignments

• Administer corresponding Commodity Questionnaires on new commodities as 

needed

• Based on abilities and individual development steadily increase the complexity 

of commodities taught, building toward the most complex Standards such as 

potatoes, tomatoes, and table grapes

Utilize live or mock inspections as needed to demonstrate, review and knowledge 

check all commodity-related scopes and procedures

• Independent grading should be occurring regularly on all commodities previously 

covered

C. Efficiency and Customer Service:

• Ensure that timely, expedient, and attentive delivery of services is occurring to all 

customers

D. Documentation:

• Throughout this period, maintain and update employee’s training record

• Throughout this period, the TMI ACG Probationary Evaluation form (SC-340) 

must be completed as outlined in Period I

• Review and critique all independently-graded inspection notesheets and 

certificates. Complete a SCI Records Review form (SC-383) documenting 

reviews

• For SCI ACGs. continue to update student’s OJT Checklist with each completed 

and evaluated commodity
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Period III

A. Approximate length is one month

B. Continuation of Commodity Specific Training:

• Monitor independent grading on commodities taught in first six months, take 

corrective actions as needed

• Continue to increase the complexity and number of commodities covered

• Continue to rotate student into more complex assignments as warranted

• Independent grading should be occurring regularly on all commodities previously 

covered

C. FEIRS (where applicable):

• Once the minimum ACG performance, experience, and activity requirements 

within the Requesting Deployment of the Fresh Electronic Inspection 

Reporting/Resource System (FEIRS) Program and Related Equipment policy are 

reached, a request for FEIRS deployment can be made

• Once FEIRS basic training is complete, all inspections are to be completed via 

FEIRS

• Monitor issued FEIRS certificates for accuracy

D. Digital Imaging:

• Provide guidance on camera operation and General Market Manual guidance for 

taking and processing of digital images

E. Efficiency and Customer Service:

• Ensure that timely, expedient, and attentive delivery of services is occurring to all 

customers

E. Documentation:

• Throughout this period, maintain and update employee’s training record

• Throughout this period, the TMI ACG Probationary Evaluation form (SC-340) 

must be completed as outlined in Period I

• Review and critique 25 independently-graded inspection FEIRS or paper 

certificates per month. Complete a SCI Records Review form (SC-383)

documenting reviews

• For SCI ACGs, continue to update student’s OJT Checklist with each completed 

and evaluated commodity and with completed FEIRS basic training
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MIT TRAINING PROGRAM COMPLETION

The MIT program is considered complete when the student has:

• Successfully completed MIT Course I: Fundamentals of Market Inspection (FoMI)

• Successfully completed MIT Course II: Core Commodity Inspection and Certification

(Core CIC) 

• Successfully completed MIT On-the-Job (OJT) Training Timetable for Continued 

Commodity Training for Terminal Market Inspection (TMI) Agricultural Commodity 

Graders (ACGs)

• Demonstrated sufficient knowledge, skill, and ability toward inspection of commodities 

not covered and without direct supervision
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Effective Date: April 2023 Page 29 of 31

REFERENCE LINKS

 

SC-340 TMI Probationary Evaluation Form: __________

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/ams/AMSFormsCatalog/SC-340.pdf

Supervisory Reviews of Agricultural Commodity Graders: __________

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Supervisory%20Reviews%20of%20ACGs%

20-%20May%202016.pdf

Requesting Deployment of the Fresh Electronic Inspection Reporting/Resource System 

(FEIRS) Program and Related Equipment: __________

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FEIRSDeploymentProcedures.pdf

SCI Records Review form (SC-383): __________

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/sites/ams/AMSFormsCatalog/SC-383.pdf?csf=1&web=1

Checked Materials have been printed from the links in this manual and included for 

reference.
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Effective Date: April 2023 Page 30 of 31

APPENDIX I - MIT ON-THE-JOB TRAINING (OJT) CHECKLIST

STUDENT: _________________________ MARKET OFFICE: ________________________

FRONT-LINE SUPERVISOR: ____________________________ 

Task or Commodity Qualified Training 

Provider

Date 

Successfully 

Completed

Supervisor 

Signature*

Signature 

Date

* Supervisor signature indicates that student is qualified to perform task or commodity 

inspection without direct supervision based on demonstrated proficiency.

Additional Comments
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Effective Date: April 2023 Page 31 of 31

APPENDIX II - CORE CIC OJT TEACHING AND EVALUATION PLANS

The following Teaching and Evaluation plans are available to Qualified Training Providers, 

students, supervisors, and Federal Program Managers via the Document Library in Blackboard 

upon enrollment of the Core CIC course.

Asparagus

Avocados (incl. Section 8e)

Basic Inspection Responsibilities

Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries)

Blueberries

Cucumbers

Kiwifruit (incl. Section 8e)

Lemons & Limes

Mangos

Melons (Honeydew & Cantaloupe)

Onions (incl. Section 8e)

Oranges (FL/CA/TX) (incl. Section 8e)

Peppers (Sweet and Other Than)

Potatoes (incl. Section 8e)

Summer Squash

Table Grapes (incl. Section 8e)

Tomatoes (incl. Section 8e and Tomato Suspension Agreement)

Watermelon