Professional engineers are often looking for ways to increase their professional knowledge within the industry. With technology becoming more and more integrated into the profession, there are ways to learn more and increase your status as an engineer. The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), a division of the National Society of Professional Engineers, promotes excellence in engineering technologies via certification services. Each of NICET’s nationally recognized certification programs are designed by industry experts and practitioners to ensure a qualified workforce. Certification levels lay out a career path for advancement from entry to senior-level responsibilities.
This year, a new certification program is being offered under the Electrical and Mechanical Systems Engineering Technology category!
NICET in cooperation with the Safer Buildings Coalition is developing a new engineering technician certification program for IB-ERCES. Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems (ERRCS) is set to go live in 2020. The new program comes as a response to the need for qualified individuals to design, install, test, inspect, and maintain in-building radio communication systems. Looking at the success of credentialing programs for fire sprinklers and fire alarms, a program for in-building communication systems just made sense. This credentialing will make a difference to building owners, code officials, and the industry that provides these systems. A credentialing program like this will ensure that the systems are safe, effective, and compliant to regulatory requirements.
In the program’s inception, a group of industry leaders and practitioners met to establish the general framework for the certification program. It is currently comprised of three levels for inspection, testing, and maintenance, and one level for design. Now the program creators are asking for the industry’s help to validate the knowledge and skills needed to be considered minimally competent for the program. If you have any experience with IB-ERCES, please participate in these surveys:
