A Qualified Transportation Workforce through NICET Certification

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1 A Qualified Transportation Workforce through NICET Certification Ahmed Farouki Senior Director, Technical Services M-TRAC Albuquerque, New Mexico 8/6-7/2014 1

2 NICET Background Pencil & Paper to Computer Based Testing (CBT) Transportation Construction Inspection Additional Products and Services 2

3 What is NICET? A not-for-profit independent certification organization A semi-autonomous division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Policy direction by eight-person Board of Governors (BOG) 3

4 53 Years of Proven Performance 100% financial independence and self-supporting. Offer 27 certification programs. Over 138,600 technicians certified to date. Over 44,000 active certifications. Over 12,000 exams administered annually (PP and CBT). National test center network. 4

5 The Civil Programs.. Building Construction Water/Wastewater Plants Construction Materials Testing Asphalt Concrete Soils Geotechnical Generalist Construction Exploration Laboratory Land Management and Water Control Erosion & Sediment Control Transportation Bridge Safety Inspection Highway Construction Highway Design Highway Materials Highway Surveys Highway Traffic Operations Highway System Maintenance & Preservation Underground Utilities Construction Water and Sewer Lines Stormwater & Wastewater System Inspection 5

6 Certification Requirements. Written examination (passing lower level exams is required for certification at upper levels) Work experience in subfield of certification Performance verification of competency by the direct supervisor, a P.E. or a NICET IV/SET A professional recommendation (for levels III & IV) Demonstrated supervisory capacity & major project responsibility (for level IV) Abide by the NICET Code of Ethics 6

7 Typical Certification Career Path. Level I Three to six months of relevant work experience Work under constant, direct supervision Level III Five years of relevant work experience Work independently and may supervise others Level II Two years relevant work experience Work under general supervision Level IV Ten years of relevant work experience Supervise and manage work of others Major project involvement 7

8 Every three years Recertification. Accumulate 90 Continuing Professional Development points (CPDs): 72 points: Maintaining activity of relevant work experience 18 points: Continuing education & training Professional activities Certification and testing activities or a recertification exam Active, Retired, Inactive, Expired Status 8

9 Violation of the Code of Ethics. Due Process System Disciplinary actions include: Reprimand Suspension of testing activity Suspension of certification Revocation of certification 9

10 Conversion To CBT Technology Moved from a single candidate (WINNICET) management system: WINNICET Item banking database (Exam Studio - Zoomorphix) National test delivery database/system (Pearson View) Challenges: Interaction between the three databases Electronic application & registration integration Phase out of P&P for programs under conversion during overlap period, i.e. ran P&P & CBT in parallel Build staff competencies for handling the design and troubleshooting issues for electronic test delivery 10

11 Conversion To CBT Technology Started about 4 years ago Completed the conversion of all the NICET Fire Protection Programs (about 60 to 65% of our test activity), i.e. about 72 individual tests Most of the converted programs have gone through at least one review & update since the initial conversion Starting the conversion & update of the Civil Programs 11

12 Development of The Transportation Construction Inspection Program In CBT Format 12

13 Legally Defensible stands up in court Use sound test development processes to develop & publish the exams. Use sound test administration & certification processes to qualify the candidates. 13

14 Credentialing Terms Fairness + Reliability + Validity = A Defensible Exam & A Defensible Certification Program 14

15 Test Design.. Characteristics of a Certification Test Identifies the right people per the established criteria Differentiates between minimally qualified, or baseline, candidates and the unqualified candidates Tests significant, important, relevant and necessary knowledge & skills Pass/Fail (no letter grades) 15

16 Certification Program Development Industry and Stakeholder Support and Input Advisory/Industry Leadership Committee SME Practice Analysis Development Committee Practice Analysis SME Review & Validation Practice Analysis Practitioner Review & Validation SME Exam Assessment/Design Committee SME Exam Development/Question Writing Task Groups SME Standard/Score Setting Committee 16

17 Transportation Construction Inspection Certification Tracks Highway Airfield Rail Urban streets/public Works 17

18 NICET Certifications for Transportation Construction Inspectors Higher Certifications for Greater Responsibilities Senior Technician / Level IV Has knowledge and experience in Working with design and construction management professionals, and managing teams of inspectors, to assure that large and/or complex projects meet the quality specified in the contract documents. Competencies include: - Inspection of Complex Components & Structures - Troubleshooting Specifications and Construction Issues - Scheduling & Coordination - Project Administration Engineering Technician / Level III Associate Technician / Level II Is ready to learn Is ready to learn Has knowledge and experience in Coordinating, compiling and checking results from, a team of inspectors; and performing construction inspection tasks involving evaluation skills developed through prior experience with similar materials, processes, and products, such as: - Soil and Slope Stabilization - Bridges, Deep Foundations, and False-work - Special Treatments - Verification of Pay Quantities - Report Project Progress and Compliance Has knowledge and experience in Performing construction inspection tasks that have standardized procedures and criteria, across a range of construction activities, including: - Earthwork - HMA and Concrete Pavements - Rigid Structures - Roadway Appurtenances - Documentation - Materials Testing & Certification - Protection of Utilities & Environment - Site Safety Trainee / Level I Is ready to learn Has knowledge and experience in Following instructions, safely navigating on site, and beginning to assist with inspection tasks. Competencies include: - Terminology - Plan Reading - Project Roles - Identification of Equipment - Personal Safety Etc.

Proposed Certification Tracks SET/L-IV Highway Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Airfield Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Railway Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Urban Streets Const. Insp. ET/L-III Highway Const. Insp. ET/L-III Airfield Const.

19 Proposed Certification Tracks SET/L-IV Highway Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Airfield Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Railway Const. Insp. SET/L-IV Urban Streets Const. Insp. ET/L-III Highway Const. Insp. ET/L-III Airfield Const. Insp. ET/L-III Railway Const. Insp. ET/L-III Urban Streets Const. Insp. AET/Level II Transportation Construction Inspection Inspection Trainee/Level I Transportation Construction Inspection Inspection Certification Requirements: Job Knowledge: Examinations are a requirement for each Level of certification Work Experience: Each candidate s work history is evaluated against requirements set by the Program Committee Character Reference: Each ET/SET candidate must obtain a Personal Recommendation. Code of Ethics: All certification-holders are expected to adhere to the NICET Code of Ethics. Enforcement policies are published on the web. Responsibility: Work histories for higher Levels must show a career progression in inspection responsibilities. SET certification requires senior inspection responsibility on a major transportation project.

20 Highway Construction Program Changes Current Program Proposed Change Reason/Benefit Four progressive Levels of certification Four progressive Levels of certification Program content update Single track for highway construction inspectors Large number of small tests ( work elements ) Candidates choose some tests to take and skip others Single transportation construction track at Levels I and II Separate tracks for Highway, Airfield, Railroad, Urban Streets at Levels III and IV Small number of larger tests Testing requirements are the same for all candidates Enables testing and certifications that reflect the qualifications related to construction inspection of specific modes of transportation Better, more stable scores (higher statistical reliability) Simpler applications and record-keeping More meaningful certifications: less variability in test content and difficulty Improved graphics / embedded references Paper-and-Pencil tests Computer-based tests More ways to select or combine answers to questions Immediate scoring Little lead time required for test applications Fast, flexible test scheduling NICET Paper-and-Pencil test sessions Pearson VUE Computer-Based Test centers Over 200 centers in US and Canada Centers open up to 6 days per week Quiet test rooms designed solely for testing Professional proctors and enhanced security

21 Future Direction. More Electronic Capabilities & Communications Customer Web Portals, Online Applications & Renewals All Computer-Based Testing Interactive/Performance Based Questions International Testing/Certification 21

22 ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Career center (Job Board) Practice Tests Online Certification Directory Training Provider Directory Certification Notification NICET Store 22

23 Questions??? 23

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STATUS OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR QUALIFICATION/CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS 2005 AASHTO SCOC

STATUS OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR QUALIFICATION/CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS 2005 AASHTO SCOC Leonard Bud Darby, PE NICET Civil Engineering Programs Administrator (888) 476-4238 Ext. 120 bdarby@nicet.org;