1. NICET Ambassador Presentation
The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)
NICET Ambassador Presentation

2. 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

3. NICET History

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Types of Credentials Licensure Certification Diploma or Certificate
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

7. 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)

8. 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.

9. NICET Personnel Qualification & Certification

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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
Low Voltage Communications Systems
Audio Systems
Security Systems
Video Security Systems Designer
Video Security Systems Technician

17. 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

18. 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

19. Certification Program Development & Administration

20. Legally Defensible
Use sound test development processes to develop the exam.
Use sound test administration and certification processes to qualify the candidates.

21. Credentialing Terms
Fairness + Reliability + Validity = A Defensible Exam & A Defensible Certification Program

22. 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.

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

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

25. Certification Program Development
Program Definition and Oversight
Practice Analysis
Validation
Blueprint/Test Design
Question Writing
Question Approval
Test Assembly
Standard Setting
Publishing
Test Administration

26. 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

27. 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

28. Computer Based Testing (CBT)
Administered by Pearson VUE Testing Centers.
Computer displays the question, use the mouse to select the correct answer.
Limited references.

29. 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.

30. Standard Model/CBT Programs
Video Security Systems Technician
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Video Security Systems Designer
Electrical Power
Special Hazards
Fire Alarms Systems (FAS)
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems (I&T)
Water-Based (formerly Automatic Sprinkler) System Layout

31. Program Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance: Cyclic basis of months.
Corrective Maintenance: Periodically in response to industry input.

32. What is Next?

33. 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

34. International Testing
Meeting the testing needs of global companies.
Under development.
Pilot program coming soon.

35. Programs Currently Under Development
Fire Alarm Systems Inspection and Testing
Highway Construction Inspection
Converting to CBT
Construction Materials Testing
Transportation Construction Inspection

36. Ways to Get Involved

37. 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.

38. 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

39. 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.

40. Additional Products and Services

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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.

47. Questions???

48. Thank you for your time!!!!!