The National Institute for Certification in Engineering

Technologies (NICET)

NICET Ambassador Presentation

The Agenda

NICET History and Background

Personnel Qualifications & Certification Programs

Certification Program Development and Administration

NICET’s Future

How to Get Involved

Additional Products and Services

NICET History

What is NICET?

NICET = National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies

NICET was formed in 1981 to replace two other certification bodies

ICET: Institute for Certification of Engineering Technicians. Created in 1961

ETCI” Engineering Technologist Certification Institute. Established in 1977

NICET currently functions as a semi-autonomous division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

NICET is governed by an eight person Board of Governors (BOG)

NICET’s Purpose

Provide nationally-applicable voluntary certification programs covering specialized engineering technology fields & subfields

Certifications For:

Individuals with appropriate engineering technician/technologist work experience

Residents of the United States and territories and certain others living abroad

Reciprocity with Canada for certain programs

Technologist

Construction Materials Testing Technician

Geotechnical Generalist Technician

NICET certification DOES NOT entitle certificants to practice engineering

engineering work performed by engineering technicians/technologists must be under the direct supervision of licensed Professional Engineers (PE), unless exempted by State law

Types of Credentials

Licensure

Legal credential conferred by Federal, State or local Government authorities

Certification

Voluntary credential conferred by private organizations to individuals meeting competency requirements for a specific profession

Diploma or Certificate

Credential conferred by an educational institution or a training entity in recognition for completing a specific training event

Accreditation

Recognition that an organization and its programs conform to a set of requirements established by a nationally recognized accreditation body

National Regulatory Bodies

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)

Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB)

Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR)

International Standards Organization (ISO)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)

Typical Requirements for National Certifications

Independent governing body representing consumers, the public, employers and regulators.

Exams must be totally separate from training activities and events.

Have a periodic recertification program.

Non-governmental, independent third-party national certification.

Have the resources to conduct testing and certification activities per industry standards.

Be the sole entity making decisions in relation to certification and recertification.

NICET Personnel Qualification & Certification

Value of NICET Certification for Technician

Professional stature

Job advancement opportunities

Accelerated entry into new job assignments or responsibilities

Assignments where NICET certification is a requirement

Marketable credential to employers

Value of NICET Certification to Employers

Independent assessment of employees knowledge and skills, as compared to national industry standards

Increases productivity and competition

Measures training comprehension and needs

Demonstrates commitment to competence through ongoing development of professional knowledge, skills and abilities

Nationally recognized credential

Mobility of workforce across state lines

Value for the Public

Protect the health, safety and welfare of the public from fraudulent, unethical and technically deficient practitioners

Provides high quality engineering products and services, efficiently and at reasonable costs

Engineering Technicians

“hands-on” members of the engineering team

Knowledge of applied math, physical science, and engineering science equivalent to an Associate Degree (two year) program in engineering technology

Types of work

Planning/design/construction/installation/acceptance/operation/maintenance of products, facilities and processes

Data collection/estimating/proposal/plan/ specification preparation/quality control/quality assurance/technical sales/technical writing

NICET Technician Programs

We offer over 25 certifications that measure job task competencies in two major categories:

Civil Engineering Technology

Electrical and Mechanical Systems Engineering Technologies

These certifications go from Entry level (Level I) to Senior level (Level IV) technicians

Civil Engineering Technology Certification Programs

Building Construction

Water/Wastewater Plants

Construction Materials Testing

Asphalt

Concrete

Soils

Geotechnical

Generalist

Construction

Exploration

Laboratory

Land Management and Water Control

Erosion and Sediment Control

Transportation Bridge Safety Inspection Highway Construction Highway Design Highway Materials Highway Surveys Highway Traffic Operations Highway System Maintenance and

Preservation

Underground Utilities Construction Water and Sewer Lines Stormwater and Wastewater

System Inspection

Electrical and Mechanical Systems Engineering Technology

Electrical Power

Electrical Power Testing

Fire Protection

Fire Alarm Systems

Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems

Special Hazards Suppression Systems

Water-Based (formerly Automatic Sprinkler) System Layout

Industrial Instrumentation

Industrial Instrumentation

Low Voltage Communications Systems

Audio Systems

Security Systems

Video Security Systems Designer

Video Security Systems Technician

Levels of Certification

Level I

Some relevant work experience

Work under constant, direct supervision

Level II

Minimum of two years relevant work experience

Work under general supervision

Level III

Minimum of five years of relevant work experience

Work independently and may supervise others

Level IV

Minimum of ten years of relevant work experience

Supervise and manage work of others

Major project involvement

Recertification

Payment of recertification fee and the accumulation of 90 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)points

Points are accumulated from:

Working full time in certification area

Relevant industry related training

Professional activities

Upgrading/testing for higher certification levels

Certification Program Development & Administration

Legally Defensible

Use sound test development processes to develop the exam.

Use sound test administration and certification processes to qualify the candidates.

Credentialing Terms

Fairness + Reliability + Validity=

A Defensible Exam&

A Defensible Certification Program

Fairness

Neither the exam nor the certification process discriminates against a candidate on the basis of race, creed or any other characteristic that does not prohibit a qualified candidate from practice.

Reliability

The examination is expected to perform the same when administered to a group of candidates who share similar or like qualifications.

Validity

The exam evaluates that which it purports to test (i.e., the qualifications and competencies of a particular group of people).

Certification Program Development

1. Program Definition and Oversight2. Practice Analysis3. Validation4. Blueprint/Test Design5. Question Writing6. Question Approval7. Test Assembly8. Standard Setting9. Publishing10.Test Administration

Certification Program Development

Industry and Stakeholder Support and Input Advisory Committee

Practice Analysis Committee

Subject Matter Experts (SME) Validation

Practitioner Validation

Assessment Design

Exam Development Task Groups

Help write the exam

Standard Model

Exams are based off of the Certification industry’s best practice

All applicants are tested on the same content

Content is weighed by importance

Computer Based Testing (CBT)

Administered by Pearson VUE Testing Centers.

Computer displays the question, use the mouse to select the correct answer.

Limited references.

Benefits of CBT Technology

Scheduling flexibility and convenience.

Tools to go beyond the multiple choice question.

Immediate scoring results.

High test security at over 200 proctored test centers across the nation.

Reasonable cost.

Efficient administration.

Reliable test data collection.

Standard Model/CBT Programs Fire Alarms Systems (FAS)

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems (I&T)

Level I

Level II

Level III

Water-Based (formerly Automatic Sprinkler) System Layout

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Video Security Systems Technician

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Video Security Systems Designer

Level I

Level II

Electrical Power

Level I

Level II

Level III

Special Hazards

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Program Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance: Cyclic basis of 12-18 months.

Corrective Maintenance: Periodically in response to industry input.

What is Next?

Program Changes

Moving away from work element to standard model.

Working to have all work element programs converted to the Computer Based Testing (CBT) format by 2017

International Testing

Meeting the testing needs of global companies.

Under development.

Pilot program coming soon.

Programs Currently Under Development

Fire Alarm Systems Inspection and Testing

Highway Construction Inspection

Converting to CBT

Construction Materials Testing

Converting to CBT

Transportation Construction Inspection

Ways to Get Involved

NICET Board of Governors

Eight-member Board of Governors

Field of Engineering (3)

Field of Engineering Technology (4)

General Public (1)

For consideration applicants must:

Active member of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) OR an active Level IV or SET engineering technician or technologist certified by NICET.

Willing to serve a three-year term.

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

NICET is always looking for qualified individuals to volunteer as SMEs.

Selected individuals will attend workshops and help NICET:

Identify a practice area’s certification needs

create, review and validate the practice analysis

develop the experience criteria

design the written exam

write and review test questions

determine the passing score

NICET Ambassador Program

Programs to assist with:

informing the engineering and technical community about the advantages of NICET certification.

encouraging the utilization of NICET-certified technicians and technologist.

Additional Products and Services

Practice Test

Aid in the preparation of NICET exams.

Similar in scope and difficulty to the actual exam.

Feedback is provided to help gauge knowledge and experience in content areas.

Not to be used as a measure of performance on actual exam

Training Provider Directory

NICET offers a directory of third-party organizations that offer training courses relevant to technical careers.

PLEASE NOTE: NICET does not review, monitor, or endorse training programs and materials. Materials produced by training providers are not allowed in testing facilities.

NICET Job Board

NICET provides an opportunity for potential employers and candidates to converge using the NICET Job Board.

Position Wanted Listing

NICET –certified technicians list their experience, skills and abilities.

Position Available Listing

Employers advertise job announcements on NICET’s website.

Job postings can also be listed on the Engineer and Science Career Network website

Extra fee for the dual postings

Online Certification Directory

Tool to verify individual certifications

Can be searched by using either the individual’s

Certification number (different number from NICET Id) or

Last name, first initial and employers zip code

NICET Store

NICET offers an array of products and services.

Stickers, patches and decals to show an individual as being “NICET Certified”

Copies of Personal Records

Reprints of score reports

Copies of past application forms

Salary Survey Results

Survey conducted in 2010

Directories for currently Certified individuals broken down by certification industry

Over 50 Years of Proven Performance

Division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

100% financial independence and self-supporting.

Annual budget over $4,000,000.

Offer 25 certification programs.

Over 135,000 technicians certified to date.

Over 40,000 active certificants.

Over 11,000 exams administered in 2014.

National test center network.

Conversion of major programs to computer-based testing (CBT) by 2017.

Questions???

Thank you for your time!!!!!