NICET IN A NUTSHELL

NICET provides nationally-applicable voluntary certification programs covering several broad engineering technology fields and a number of specialized subfields. As of December 1997, over 96,000 engineering technicians and technologists have been certified.

NICET's mission is to be an independent, internationally-recognized evaluator of knowledge and experience; to define and support career paths; and to ensure continued professional development of engineering technicians and technologists.

NICET's vision is to be the leader in recognizing, through certification, engineering technicians and technologists.

NICET certification is awarded to individuals who have appropriate engineering technician work experience or appropriate engineering technologist work experience. Since the foundation for the NICET certification programs is American work practices and technology applications, a preponderance of this work experience must be gained in the United States. Work experience as a craftsperson, scientist, engineer, etc. is not accepted as a one-for-one substitute for engineering technician or engineering technologist work experience.

NICET-certified engineering technicians and engineering technologists can be involved in the planning, design, fabrication/construction/ installation, acceptance, operation, and/or maintenance of products, facilities, and processes.They can be expected to carry out support functions such as data collection, estimating, plan preparation, proposal preparation, quality control/quality assurance, technical sales, and technical writing.

NICET certification is available to engineering technicians and technologists residing in the United States and its territories and to U.S. citizens living abroad.

NICET-certified engineering technicians are the "hands-on" members of the engineering team and work under the direction of engineers, scientists, and technologists. These engineering technicians have knowledge of the components, operating characteristics, and limitations of engineering systems and processes peculiar to their area of specialization. NICET-certified engineering technicians will have acquired knowledge in applied mathematics, physical science, and engineering science equivalent to that provided by course work and hands-on laboratory work typical of an associate degree program in engineering technology. However, a degree is not a requirement for certification.

NICET certification is awarded to engineering technicians at four levels, ranging from entry level to senior level, which are distinguished by the amount of relevant work experience. Currently, the Institute offers 40 engineering technician certification programs.

NICET-certified engineering technologists are members of the engineering team and work closely with engineers, scientists, and technicians. These engineering technologists have a thorough knowledge of the equipment, applications, and established state-of-the-art design and implementation methods in a particular engineering area.

NICET-certified engineering technologists must have a baccalaureate degree in engineering technology from an academic program accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

NICET certification is awarded to engineering technologists at two levels -- the first level is available upon graduation and the second level requires relevant work experience after graduation.

NICET certification does not entitle the certificant to practice engineering. The practice of engineering is defined and regulated by state engineering licensing boards; unlawful practice of engineering is a violation of state laws.

NICET provides evidence of certification by an award letter, certificate, and wallet card. The award letter is NICET's official notification of certification. It is printed on two-color (blue and white) letterhead. The certificate is printed on gold-tone parchment-like paper. All three documents show the certificant's name, the certification number, the certification area awarded, and the level attained.

NICET certifications are granted for a maximum of three years from the date of issuance.

NICET assigns a six-digit certification number when the first certification is awarded. Only one number is issued regardless of the number of certifications awarded. The only exception is for those individuals who are certified as both a technician and a technologist. They are assigned two separate certification numbers.

NICET maintains a registry of current certificants and their certifications.

NICET actively seeks guidance from societies, associations, and other entities that represent certification stakeholders such as potential certificants, employers, and rule makers. Technical advisory panels composed of industry practitioners and managers knowledgeable in an identified technical field are used to develop and maintain program specifications and content. Contributions from individuals or organizations with an interest in a particular program are encouraged.

NICET policy direction is established by an eight-person Board of Governors which consists of seven persons who are knowledgeable in the fields of engineering and engineering technology and one person who represents the general public.

NICET is not a membership organization; rather, it is a not-for-profit division of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) that is totally dependent on fees for services collected from applicants and certificants to offset the cost of doing business. NICET exists under Bylaw 17 of NSPE (a 501(c)(6) organization) and its financial report is contained within the financial reports published by NSPE.

NICET subscribes to the standards given in the "Principles of Fairness: An Examining Guide for Credentialing Boards" published in February 1993 by CLEAR (Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation) and NOCA (National Organization for Competency Assurance).

NICET is committed to processing applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

NICET certification is a means for individuals to indicate to employers, co-workers, the general public, and others that they have met the standards of an impartial, nationally-recognized organization for the performance of specific technical tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experience.

NICET certification is increasingly becoming a condition of obtaining and maintaining employment because of employer internal policies and government regulations.