navigating the new nicet certification model computer-based testing (cbt)
TRANSCRIPT
NAVIGATING THE NEW NICET CERTIFICATION MODEL
Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
What’s on the Agenda
Work Element vs. New Certification Model (CBT)
Status of Fire Protection Programs
Program Requirements
Future Direction
Questions
50 Years of Proven Performance
Semi-autonomous division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
100% financial independence and self-supporting.
Annual budget over $5,000,000.
Offer 27 certification programs.
Over 135,000 technicians certified to date.
Over 42,000 active certificants.
Over 14,000 exams administered in 2011.
National test center network.
Conversion of major programs to CBT by 2012.
Fire Protection Numbers (As of
October 2012)
Fire Alarm Systems
Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems
Special Hazards Suppression Systems/ Systems Layout
Water-Based Systems Layout
Level I 3,296 1,267 1,283/105 1,004
Level II 7,966 2,334 292/155 854
Level III 2,799 897 235/112 2,068
Level IV 2,138 N/A 88/86 1,254
Total 16,199 4,498 1,898/458 5,180
Existing vs. New Testing Model
Paper & Pencil Exam Up to a 7 hour Test(s) 140 Test Centers Nationally Quarterly Test Dates Basic Multiple-Choice
Questions Pass/Fail Elements “Bank” Passed Elements
Computer Based Tests Composite Exams 1-3 Tests per level
2-4 hour Tests* 5,000 Test Centers/165
Countries Daily Testing Available Advanced Multiple-Choice,
Hot-Spot, Drag & Drop, Performance Simulations
Pass/Fail Tests
Work Element Model (Existing)
Standard Model (New)
Existing vs. New Certification
Written Examinations Graduated Work
Experience Verification of Work
Elements Personal
Recommendation Major Project Write-up
at Level IV
Computer-Based Tests
Graduated Work Experience
Verification of Work Tasks
Personal Recommendation
Project Write-ups at Multiple Levels
Existing New
Status of Program
Fire Alarm Systems (FAS) Implementation of Level I CBT – February 1,
2010
Implementation of Level II CBT – April 1, 2010
Implementation of Level III CBT – June 1, 2010
Implementation of Level IV CBT – September 3, 2010
FAS – Level I Test
Content Outline Installation (77-82%) Maintenance (18-23%)
85 Questions
110 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 70 (2008) and NFPA 72 (2007)
Test Fee: $125
FAS – Level II Test
Content Outline Submittal Preparation and Layout (15-20%) Installation (44-49%) Maintenance (21-26%) Management and Supervision (10-15%)
119 Questions
150 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 70 (2008), NFPA 72 (2007), and IBC (2006)
Test Fee: $156
FAS – Level III Test
Content Outline Submittal Preparation and Layout (23-28%) Installation (28-33%) Testing and Maintenance (15-20%) Maintenance (15-20%) Education and Communication (5-10%) Management and Supervision (17-22%)
102 Questions
150 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 70 (2008), NFPA 72 (2007), NFPA 101 (2006) and IBC (2006)
Test Fee: $187
FAS – Level IV Test
Content Outline Submittal Preparation and Layout (23-28%) Installation (22-27%) Maintenance (13-18%) Education and Communication (12-17%) Management and Supervision (17-22%)
100 Questions
170 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 72 (2007), NFPA 101 (2006) and IBC (2006)
Test Fee: $218
Status of Program
Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems (I&T) Implementation of Level I CBT – February 1,
2011
Implementation of Level II CBT – February 1, 2011
Implementation of Level III CBT – April 1, 2011
I & T Level I Test
Content Outline (Test 1: Inspection & Testing Fundamentals) Inspection (85-89%) Testing (11-15%)
66 Questions
Content Outline (Test 2: Work Practices) Documentation (18-22%) Safety (38-42%) Work Management (38-42%)
59 Questions
80 Minutes to Complete Each Test
Allowable Reference: NFPA 25 (2011)
Test Fee: $104 Per Test
I&T – Level II Tests
Content Outline (Test 1: Inspection) Inspection (100%)
55 Questions
Content Outline (Test 2: Testing) Testing (100%)
61 Questions
Content Outline (Test 3: Work Practices): Documentation (12-16%) Safety (14-18%) Work Management (68-72%)
64 Questions
80 Minutes to Complete Each Test
Allowable Reference: NFPA 25 (2011)
Test Fee: $120 Per Test
I & T Level IIIA Test
Content Outline (Test 1: Inspection and Responsibilities) Inspection (79-83%) Documentation (11-15%) Work Management (4-8%)
70 Questions
80 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: NFPA 25 (2011)
Test Fee: $135
I & T – Level IIIB Test
Content Outline (Test 1) Testing (85-89%) Safety (2-6%) Work Management (7-11%)
101 Questions
110 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: NFPA 25 (2011)
Test Fee: $135
Status of Program
Water-Based (formerly Automatic Sprinkler) Systems Layout (WBSL) Implementation of Level I CBT – September 1, 2010
Implementation of Level II CBT – September 16, 2010
Implementation of Level III CBT – December 9, 2010
Implementation of Level IV CBT – March 29, 2012
WBSL- Level I Test
Content Outline: Safety (2-5%) Contract Documents (7-10%) Survey Existing Conditions (13-15%) Codes and Standards (7-10%) System Layout (53-56%) Submittal and Approval Process (4-7%) Project Management (4-7%)
109 Questions
135 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference NFPA 13 (2007)
Test Fee: $125
WBSL- Level II Test
Content Outline: Safety (2-5%) Contract Documents (4-7%) Survey Existing Conditions (10-12%) Codes and Standards (5-8%) System Layout (68-71%) Submittal and Approval Process (1-4%) Project Management (3-6%)
129 Questions/Tests
225 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 13 (2007), NFPA 14 (2007), NFPA 20 (2007), and Automatic Sprinkler
Systems for Residential Occupancies Handbook (2007)
Test Fee: $156
WBSL- Level IIIA Test
General Plans Preparation Content Outline: Contract Documents (7-10%) Survey Existing Conditions (10-15%) Codes and Standards (7-10%) System Layout (60-70%) Project Management (7-10%)
60 Questions
165 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 13 (2007), NFPA 14 (2007), NFPA 20 (2007), and Automatic
Sprinkler Systems for Residential Occupancies Handbook (2007)
Test Fee: $187
WBSL- Level IIIB Test
Hydraulics & Water Supply Planning Content Outline: System Layout (100%)
60 Questions
225 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References NFPA 13 (2007), NFPA 14 (2007), NFPA 20 (2007), and
Automatic Sprinkler Systems for Residential Occupancies Handbook (2007)
Test Fee: $187
WBSL- Level IV Test
Content Outline Contract Documents (5-10%) Survey Existing Conditions (5-10%) Codes and Standards (5-10%) System Layout (75-80%)
63 Questions
420 Minutes to Complete Test (plus an hour lunch break)
Allowable References: NFPA 13 (2007), NFPA 14 (2007), NFPA 20 (2007), and Automatic
Sprinkler Systems for Residential Occupancies Handbook (2007)
Test Fee: $360
Status of Program
Video Security Systems Technician (VSST) Implementation of Level I CBT – May 13, 2005
Implementation of Level II CBT – September 2006
Implementation of Level III CBT – September 2006
Implementation of Level IV CBT – June 1, 2007
VSST – Level I
Content Outline: System Installation (55-60%) System Testing and Commissioning (10-15%) Troubleshooting (10-15%) Documentation (15-20%)
49 Questions
60 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $125
VSST – Level II
Content Outline: Project Planning (10-15%) System Installation (30-35%) System Testing and Commissioning (20-25%) Troubleshooting (20-25%) Planning and Conducting User Training (5-10%) Documentation (5-10%)
142 Questions
180 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $156
VSST – Level III
Content Outline: Project Planning (10-15%) System Installation (25-30%) System Testing and Commissioning (15-20%) Troubleshooting (15-20%) Documentation (15-20%) Project Management (10-15%)
140 Questions
165 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $187
VSST – Level IV
Content Outline: Project Planning (10-15%) System Installation (20-25%) System Testing and Commissioning (20-25%) Troubleshooting (25-30%) Documentation (5-10%) Project Management (5-10%)
98 Questions
105 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable Reference: No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $218
Status of Program
Video Security Systems Designer (VSSD) Implementation of Level I CBT – September
2006
Implementation of Level II CBT – September 2007
VSSD – Level I
Content Outline Identify Customer Needs and Project Objective (10-15%) Conduct Site Assessment (20-25%) Lay Out System (25-30%) Prepare Proposals, Contracts, and Documentation (10-15%) Plan and Conduct User Training (10-15%) Project Management (10-15%)
146 Question
180 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $156
VSSD – Level II
Content Outline Conduct Site Assessment (10-15%) Lay Out System (60-65%) Prepare Proposals, Contracts, and Documentation (5-10%) Project Management (15-20%)
77 Question
105 Minutes to Complete Test
Allowable References No references are allowed in the testing facility.
Test Fee: $187
Special Hazards Suppression Systems
Remains in the Work Element Format
Currently under development to transition to the Standard Model/CBT Model.
Future Direction More Electronic Capabilities and Communications
Online Applications and Renewals
All Computer-Based Testing
Interactive/Performance Based Questions
Increased Promotion of “Qualified” Engineering Team Members
International Testing/Certification
Questions? Questions? www.nicet.org
1-888-IS-NICET (1-888-476-4238) Customer Services #2 Examination Services #3 Certification Services #4 Program Development #5 Marketing & PR #6
1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
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