The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies

1. The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies The “Hands-On” Partner of the Engineering Team

2. What is NICET? • A not-for-profit certification body • Established in 1961 as the Institute for Certification of Engineering Technicians • A semi-autonomous division of the National Society of Professional Engineers • Policy direction by eight-person Board of Governors

3. Why does NICET exist? • Provides nationally-applicable, voluntary certification programs • Covers most major engineering technology fields & many specialized technical disciplines • DOES NOT provide membership services • DOES NOT provide training!

4. Licensure/Certification/Diploma • Licensure is a legal credential conferred by federal, state, or local government authorities • Certification is a voluntary credential conferred by private organizations • Diploma/Certificate of Education is conferred by an educational institution

5. Who does NICET certify? • Individuals with appropriate engineering technician or engineering technologist work experience • Partial credit given for relevant work experience as craftsperson, scientist, engineer, etc. • Residents of the United States and territories and certain others living abroad

6. Types of work... • Involved in planning, design, fabrication/construction/ installation, acceptance, operation, and/or maintenance of products, facilities, and processes • Carry out support functions – data collection, estimating, proposal/plan/specification preparation, quality control/ quality assurance, technical sales, technical writing

7. Value of NICET Certification - Technicians/Technologists • Increased professional stature • Increased opportunities for job advancement • Quicker entry into new job assignments or new duties/responsibilities • Opportunities for assignments where NICET certification is required

8. Value of NICET Certification - Employers • Knowledge and skill assessments of new and existing personnel • Identification of training needs • Measure of training comprehension • Creation of a Team of qualified professionals in focused career tracks • Mobility of work force across state lines

9. Value of NICET Certification - Regulatory Agencies • Third-party evaluation of technical proficiency of Engineering Technology team members • Additional recourse when unqualified and/or unethical practitioners are encountered on the job

10. Value of NICET Certification - The Public • Provides high-quality engineering products and services, efficiently and cost effectively • Protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public from fraudulent, unethical, technically deficient practitioners

11. Engineering Technicians • “Hands-on” members of Engineering Team • Knowledge of components, operating characteristics, and limitations of engineering systems and processes • Knowledge of applied math, physical science, and engineering science equivalent to AS degree program in engineering technology

12. Job Task Competency (27 programs) General Knowledge (7 programs) Technician Programs

13. General Knowledge Programs • Architectural/Building Construction • Civil Engineering Technology • Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology • Electrical Testing • Electrical Power • Industrial Engineering Technology • Mechanical Engineering Technology

14. Job-Task Competency Programs • Transportation Engineering Technology • Construction Materials Testing • Fire Protection Engineering Technology • Geotechnical Engineering Technology • Industrial Instrumentation • Underground Utilities Construction • Building Construction • Land Management and Water Control • Low Voltage Communication Systems • Security Systems

15. Levels of certification... • Level I – Technician Trainee Level II –Associate Engineering Technician

16. Levels of certification... • Level III – Engineering Technician Level IV –Senior Engineering Technician

17. Certification requirements • Written examination requirement • Increasing amount of relevant work experience required • Verification of competency • Professional recommendation (Levels III & IV) • Major Project Involvement (Level IV)

18. Engineering Technologists • Members of Engineering Management Team • Work closely with engineers, scientists, and technicians • Thorough knowledge of equipment, applications & established design, and implementation methods

19. ASSOCIATE TECHNOLOGIST BS degree in engineering technology from TAC/ABET accredited program CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGIST AT plus five years relevant work experience and two professional endorsements Engineering Technologists • Certification awarded at two levels: • Multitude of certification categories

20. Recertification • Continuing Professional Development required every three years • 90 CPD points: relevant work experience; continuing education; professional activities; certification activities; recertification exam • Active, Retired, Inactive, Expired Status

21. 50 years of proven performance • Maintain 100% financial independence • Annual budget of $4.6 M • 28 specialty certification programs available • Over 135,000 technicians/technologists certified to date • Currently about 45,000 active certificates • 12,000 written exams administered annually • National testing network of more than 250 centers

22. NICET Executive Michael A. Clark, CAE Chief Operating Executive Primary Responsibilities • Implement the policies and directions of the Institute as established by the NICET Board of Governors • Manage all day-to-day operations of the Institute • Promote the value of certification and continued professional development for engineering technicians and technologists.

23. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CERTIFICATION IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES1420 King Street • Alexandria, VA 22314http://www.nicet.org • 888-476-4238