Navigating the Standard
Model/Computer Based
Testing (CBT) Program
The Agenda
•Work Element vs Standard Model/Computer Based Testing (CBT)
• What does Standard Model mean?
• What is Computer Based Testing?
•Status of Fire Protection Programs
•Program Requirements
•Future Direction
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.
Fire Protection
Programs
Fire Protection Numbers (As of February 2015)
Fire Alarm Systems Inspection &
Testing of Water
Based Systems
Special Hazards
Suppression
Systems*
Water Based
Systems Layout
Level I
3019
1121
1152
874
Level II
7442
2480
472
718
Level III
3103
959
381
1885
Level IV
2218
198
1240
Total
15782
2203
4717
4560
*includes certificants that still maintain their Special Hazards Systems Layout certification
Work Element vs
Standard Model/CBT
What is Standard Model?
•Exam is based off of the Certification industry’s best practice
•All applicants are tested on the same content
•Content is weighted by importance
What is Computer Based Testing?
•Exams are administered by Pearson Vue Testing Centers
• Test centers are located across the US and on select Military bases around the
world
• Test centers are open seven days a week
•Exams are taken on computers at the testing centers
Work Element Exam vs Standard Model
Work Element Testing
Standard Model/Computer
Based Testing
•Paper & Pencil Exams
•Typically 2-4 hours in length
•Can last up to seven hours
•5,000 Test Centers in 165 countries
•140 Test centers across the US
•Advanced Multiple-Choice, Hot-Spot, Drag &
Drop, Performance Simulations
•Exams are held quarterly
•Multiple choice questions
•“bank” or save elements that you’ve passed
•Receive unofficial score at end of test
Program Requirements
Fire Alarms
•Level I
• 75 questions, 110mins
• Cost $205
• Content
• Installation (77-82% of exam)
• Maintenance (18-23%)
•Level II
• 99 questions, 150mins
• Cost $265
• Content
•
•
•
•
Submittal Prep and Layout (15-20%)
Installation (44-49%)
Maintenance (21-26%)
Management and Supervision (10-15%)
•Level III
• 102 questions, 150mins
• Cost $320
• Content
•
•
•
•
Submittal Prep and Layout (23-28%)
Installation (28-33%)
Testing and Maintenance (15-20%)
Management and Supervision (17-22%)
•Level IV
• 105 questions, 170mins
• Cost $370
• Content
•
•
•
•
•
Submittal Prep and Layout (23-28%)
Installation (13-18%)
Maintenance (13-18%)
Education/Communication Tasks (13-18%)
Management/Supervision (25-30%)
Inspection and Testing
•Level I
• Two Exams
• Inspection and Testing Fundamentals
• 55 questions, 80mins
• Cost $150
• Content
• Inspection (80-89%)
• Testing (11-15%)
• Level I Work Practices
• 50 questions, 80mins
• Cost $150
• Content
• Documentation (18-22%)
• Safety (38-42%)
• Work Management (38-42%)
•Level II
• Three Exams
• Inspection
• 47 questions, 80mins
• Cost $160
• Tested on Inspection tasks (100%)
• Testing
• 52 questions, 80mins
• Cost $160
• Tested on Testing tasks (100%)
• Level II Work Practices
• 54 questions, 80mins
• Cost $160
• Content
• Documentation (12-16%)
• Safety (14-18%)
• Work Management (68-72%)
Continued…
Inspection and Testing
Level III
• Two exams
• Inspections and Responsibilities
• 53 questions, 80mins
• Cost $205
• Content
• Inspection (79-83%)
• Documentation (11-15%)
• Work Management (4-8%)
•Level III (continued)
• Level III Advanced Testing
• 79 questions, 110mins
• Cost $205
• Content
• Testing (85-89%)
• Safety (2-6%)
• Work Management (7-11%)
Water Based Systems Layout
•Level I
• 109 questions, 135 min
• Cost $205
• Content
•Level II
• 129 questions, 225 min
• Cost $265
• Content
• Safety (2-5%)
• Safety (2-5%)
• Contract Documents (7-10%)
• Contract Documents (4-7%)
• Survey Existing Conditions (13-15%)
• Survey Existing Conditions (10-12%)
• Codes and Standards (7-10%)
• Codes and Standards (5-8%)
• System Layout (53-56%)
• System Layout (68-71%)
• Submittal and Approval Process (4-7%)
• Submittal and Approval Process (1-4%)
• Project Management (4-7%)
• Project Management (3-6%
Continued…
Water Based Systems Layout
•Level III
• Two Exams
• General Plans Preparation
• 58 questions, 170min
• Cost $260
• Content
• Contract Documents (7-10%)
• Survey Existing Conditions (10-15%)
• Codes and Standards (7-10%)
• System Layout (60-70%)
• Project Management (7-10%)
• Hydraulics and Water Supply Planning
• 70 questions, 290min (incl. 20 min break)
• Cost $260
• Content
• System Layout tasks (100%)
•Level IV
• 70 questions, 290mins (incl. 20min break)
• Cost $370
• Content
•
•
•
•
•
•
Safety (2-6%)
Contract Documents (4-7%)
Survey Existing Conditions (10-20%)
Codes and Standards (4-7%)
System Layout (45-55%)
Project Management (18-22%)
Special Hazards Suppression Systems
•Level I
• 100 questions, 140 min
• Cost $205
• Content
•Level II
• 160 questions, 170 min
• Cost $265
• Content
• Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (43-49%)
• Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (22-28%)
• Repair and Recharge (6-12%)
• Repair and Recharge (10-16%)
• Installation (22-28%)
• Installation (32-38%)
• System Design and Configuration (11-17%)
• System Design and Configuration (11-17%)
• Safety (11-17%)
• Work Management (2-8%)
• Safety (5-11%)
Special Hazards Suppression Systems
•Level III
• 103 questions, 200 min
• Cost $320
• Content
•Level IV
• 60 questions, 140 min
• Cost $370
• Content
• Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (2-8%)
• System Design and Configuration (42-48%)
• Repair and Recharge Tasks (15-21%)
• Work Management (40-46%)
• Installation (16-22%)
• Safety (4-11%)
• System Design and Configuration (69-75%)
• Work Management (27-33%)
• Safety (2-8%)
Video Security Systems Technician
•Level I
• 49 questions, 60 min
• Cost $205
• Content
•Level II
• 142 questions, 180 min
• Cost $265
• Content
• System Installation
• Project Planning
• System Testing and Commissioning
• System Installation
• Troubleshooting
• System Testing and Commissioning
• Documentation
• Troubleshooting
• Planning and Conducting User Training
• Documentation
Video Security Systems Technician
•Level III
• 140 questions, 165mins
• Cost $320
• Content
•Level IV
• 98 questions, 105mins
• Cost $370
• Content
• Project Planning
• Project Planning
• System Installation
• System Installation
• System Testing and Commissioning
• System Testing and Commissioning
• Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting
• Documentation
• Documentation
• Project Management
• Project Management
Video Security Systems Designer
•Level I
• 146 Questions, 180mins
• Cost $265
• Content
•Level II
• 77 questions, 105mins
• Cost $320
• Content
• Identify Customer Needs and Project Objective
• Conduct Site Assessment
• Conduct Site Assessment
• Lay out System
• Lay out System
• Prepare Proposals, Contracts and Documentation
• Prepare Proposals, Contracts and Documentation
• Project Management
• Plan and Conduct User Training
• Project Management
Future Direction
Future Direction
•Currently developing two new programs
• Fire Alarm Systems Inspection and Testing certification
• Transportation Construction Inspection (TCI)
•Striving to convert all major programs to the Standard Model format by 2017
•Looking to develop our exams for International markets
Questions???
Thank you for your time!!