1. An Overview of NICET Certification
The National institute for certification in engineering technologies (NICET)
An Overview of NICET Certification

2. What’s on the Agenda History & Background
What’s the Value in Certification?
Personnel Qualifications & Certification
How Do I Become Certified?
What’s Next for NICET?
Questions

3. History & Background

4. 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.

5. Purpose
Provide nationally-applicable, voluntary certification programs covering specialized engineering technology fields & subfields

6. Goals of Certification Programs
Produce exams and certification programs that are:
Valid
Reliable
Fair
Legally defensible
Valid: the test should be an accurate depiction of what candidates need to know in order to qualify for their certification or license; test content should accurately reflect the tasks and concepts required to perform the job appropriately
Reliable: measurement of the exams should be consistent from item to item, form to form, and exam to exam (difficulty levels, scoring, equating, etc.)
Fair: any two candidates of equal ability or knowledge should receive comparable scores despite differences in age, race or ethnicity, gender, geographical location, time of day, etc.
Legally defensible: items should be accurately referenced to current literature about the knowledge concepts and accepted task performance practice in the industry

7. NICET Certifies…
Individuals with appropriate engineering technician/technologist work experience
Residents of the United States and territories and certain others living abroad
Partial credit given for relevant work experience as craftsperson, scientist, engineer, etc.

8. Certification vs…. … Engineering Practice
NICET certification DOES NOT entitle certificants to practice engineering
When not exempted by state law, engineering work performed by engineering technicians/technologists must be under the direct supervision of licensed Professional Engineers (PE)

9. What’s the Value in Certification?

10. Value of NICET Certification for the 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, prospective employers or clients

11. Value of NICET Certification for the Employer
Independent assessment of knowledge and skills based on national industry standards
Increases productivity and competitiveness
Measures training comprehension and needs
Demonstrates employer commitment to competence through ongoing professional development of knowledge, skills, and abilities
Nationally recognized credential
Mobility of workforce across state lines

12. Value for the Public
Protects 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. Personnel Qualification & Certification

14. Certification Requirements
Written examination
Relevant work experience
Verification of competency by the direct supervisor
Professional recommendation (general performance & character reference) at Level III and IV
Major Project Involvement at Level IV

15. Civil Engineering Technicians NICET Technician 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*
*Denotes the program is in the Standard Model.

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
Typical certification requirements. Programs may vary.

18. Recertification Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Accumulate 90 CPD points from:
Relevant work experience
Continuing education
Professional activities
Certification activities or a recertification exam
Active, Retired, Inactive, Expired Status

19. How Do I Become Certified?

20. 2-Step Certification Process
Written Exam
Work Experience
Work History
Performance Verification
Personal Recommendation (Level III & IV)
Major Project (Level IV only)

21. Apply for Certification
Paper Application
Standard and Work Element Models: application-forms/
Online Application for Testing

22. Testing Standard Model CBT Apply through NICET first
Select a 90 day eligibility window
Schedule location and time with Pearson VUE (

23. Experience Application
Initial review can take up to 90 days from meeting the testing requirement. The timeframe can vary based on the number of application received by NICET. The applications are reviewed in the order they are received.
If additional information is required a Conditional Decision Letter (CDL) is issued. Review of CDL response can take up to 60 days.
Take the time to make sure all required forms are completed correctly.
Keep a copy, for your records, of all documents submitted to NICET.

24. Training

25. NICET Does Not Provide Training
In order to protect the integrity of the test and to avoid any implication of “teaching to the test” NICET does not offer training.
NICET lists references used in development of the exams.
Content Outlines or Program Detail Manuals can provide guidance for preparation.
Training is not required for certification.

26. Other Training Sources
Any training that teaches the best practices of the industry will help with the NICET exams.
NICET does not review or endorse training.
There is a list of training providers on NICET’s website. These companies and organizations have either paid to advertise or support NICET certification development.

27. What’s Next for NICET?

28. Program Changes Moving away from Work Element to Standard Model.
Changing the administration of the test from paper- pencil to CBT.

29. Programs Currently Under Development
Fire Alarm Systems Inspection and Testing
Highway Construction Inspection
Construction Materials Testing

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

31. Resources NICET Policy: http://www.nicet.org/about-us/policies/
NICET Code of Ethics:
Subscribe to the NICET Newsletter:

32. Questions???

33. Thank you for your time…