This will be the first of a series of hubs that will discuss NICET testing and certification.  This initial hub will explain some of the particulars of signing up for the NICET test.  Future hubs will discuss preparation of reference material, mental and physical preparation for the exam, the day of the exam, certification, and post-certification.

Preparing to take the NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) can seem like quite a daunting task, especially for someone who is taking it for the first time.  As someone who has met the requirements for a Level IV Certification in Fire Protection Engineering, specializing in Fire Alarm Systems, I believe I can offer sound advice on preparing for the exam.

The first thing you need to do is to determine what level of certification your immediate goal is. For example, some people prefer to achieve Level I certification before moving on to Level II.  Others prefer to not focus so much on Level I, but to make a concerted effort to achieve Level II.  It is completely up to the person testing as to which direction to proceed.  Pay attention to any requirements NICET has for certification at each level.  For example, in Fire Alarm Systems, NICET requires a minimum of two years experience for Level II certification, minimum of five years for Level III certification, and a minimum of ten years experience and a major project write-up for Level IV certification.  Each level of certification requires a personal recommendation from a colleague or supervisor.  This article is written from the perspective of a first-time tester whose goal is Level II certification in Fire Alarm Systems.

You can download the NICET program detail manual for your specific field of testing from their website.  Pay careful attention to the elements and other requirements to achieve each level of certification.  Each level has a number of required core elements, special elements, and general elements.  Not only will Level II certification require passing Level II elements, but there will also be a number of Level I elements that must be passed as well.  The core elements are those elements which must be passed to obtain certification at any level. 

NICET allows you to test for a maximum of 34 elements per testing session.  In order to achieve Level II certification in Fire Alarm systems, there are 30 elements you must pass.  Therefore, it is possible to achieve Level II certification on the first try.  However, only a small percentage of people have been able to achieve this, and two testing sessions are typically normal for Level II certification. 

When selecting the elements you will test on, keep in mind that NICET will test you on the elements you select, in the order you select them in.  This is very helpful in preparing, because it allows you to know the order of which you need to prepare your reference material.  My suggestion for selecting the first few elements you plan to test on is to choose elements that you believe will be fairly easy for you to pass.  This will allow you to settle into “testing” mode, will help calm your nerves a bit by testing you on items you are strong at, and can also help build your confidence level as you proceed through the test. 

These elements can differ from person to person, depending on experience and strengths.  For example, someone with a strong background in writing may select Basic Communication Skills as one of their first elements to test on.  Someone with a strong background in mathematics may select Basic Mathematics as one of his or her first elements to test on. 

Once you have selected your 34 elements to test on, you will need to have your immediate supervisor verify that he or she has observed you repeatedly and correctly performing the task or utilizing the knowledge required by each work element you are testing on.

You must complete a form in the sign-up packet that details your employment history.  Be as specific as possible when filling this out, especially regarding items that directly relate to your experience in the field, required job tasks, dates and durations of employment, etc.  Once a certification level has been met by testing, the employment history is one of the key items reviewed that will determine certification eligibility.

The remaining items are to select an exam date, exam location, and to pay the examination fee.  Exam dates and locations can be found on the NICET website.  Examination fees can change, but currently are $205.00 per session.

I hope you have found this information helpful.  This initial hub is intended to assist those who may have never tested in getting signed up and ready to test.  Future hubs will go into more detail as far as reference material preparation, actual testing, etc.  Thank you for your time in reading this.