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


Certification


Voluntary credential conferred by private organizations to individuals meeting
competency requirements for a specific profession
Diploma or Certificate


Legal credential conferred by Federal, State or local Government authorities
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

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
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Water/Wastewater Plants
Construction Materials Testing

Asphalt

Concrete

Soils
Geotechnical
Transportation

Bridge Safety Inspection

Highway Construction

Highway Design

Highway Materials

Highway Surveys

Highway Traffic Operations

Highway System Maintenance and
Preservation

Generalist

Construction

Exploration

Water and Sewer Lines

Laboratory

Stormwater and Wastewater System
Inspection
Land Management and Water Control

Erosion and Sediment Control

Underground Utilities Construction
Electrical and Mechanical Systems
Engineering Technology

Electrical Power



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Electrical Power Testing
Fire Protection
Low Voltage Communications Systems


Audio Systems
Security Systems

Fire Alarm Systems

Video Security Systems Designer

Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems

Video Security Systems Technician

Special Hazards Suppression Systems

Water-Based (formerly Automatic Sprinkler) System
Layout
Industrial Instrumentation

Industrial Instrumentation
Levels of Certification


Level I

Level III

Some relevant work experience


Work under constant, direct
supervision
Minimum of five years of relevant
work experience

Work independently and may
supervise others
Level II


Minimum of two years relevant
work experience

Level IV

Minimum of ten years of relevant
work experience

Supervise and manage work of
others

Major project involvement
Work under general supervision
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 Oversight
2. Practice Analysis
3. Validation
4. Blueprint/Test Design
5. Question Writing
6. Question Approval
7. Test Assembly
8. Standard Setting
9. Publishing
10.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


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Fire Alarms Systems (FAS)

Video Security Systems Technician

Level I

Level I

Level II

Level II

Level III

Level III

Level IV

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 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


Construction Materials Testing


Converting to CBT
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


Position Available Listing


NICET –certified technicians list their experience, skills and abilities.
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!!!!!