Great Expectations

In the certification business there are more questions than answers.

One of the signature projects for 2007 will be the first ever, total census of Certification Needs and Knowledge.  Nobody has ever done this in a systematic, strategic, year long, 100% participation way.  That's why it's called a census, not a survey.  But more about that in another blog. 

The point today is we get new folks joining our group every day, who come in hoping all members will help them with their next report to their board. Is this expecting too much?  Or, do you think this is what the CNG ought to be doing--asking the the questions we all want answered and then finding a way to get everyone to provide that information, according to their situation?

Here's a story to illustrate the point.  Kimberley Ver Ploeg contacted us on a Tuesday to say she would like us to help her get a survey to members of the CNG and ask them to answer by the following Wednesday.   She really doesn't want all members of the group, just those of you who are certification program owners.  Not the consultants, test companies and others who know a lot about tests, just the certification agencies. 

Kimberly's request: "The purpose of this questionnaire is to allow me to benchmark how other certification agencies that administer paper and pencil exams handle remote exam administrations (that is, exams that are proctored by entities/individuals other than the certification agency itself).  I will use this information to ensure my certification rganization's protocol is up to industry standard for paper and pencil exams."

Here's what Kimberly wants you to tell her, in time for her deadline next week:

1. How many questions are on your exam? 
2. How many hours do you allow for completion of your exam? 
3. Do you mark your exams or answer sheets in any way for security purposes (e.g., with inventory control numbers that are the same for each examinee)?  If so, please explain. 
4. How do you request that proctors handle examinations upon receipt and prior to exam administration? 
5. Are examinees allowed to bring personal effects (e.g., purses, cell phones) into the examination room? 
6. How are the examinees monitored during the exam?  Does the proctor stay in the room with them for the duration of the exam? 
7. Do you allow a break(s) for the examinees during the exam administration?  If so, please answer the following questions:
8. How are exam materials handled during this break? 
9. Do examinees come back to the same section of the exam? 
10. Is your procedure different when the proctor is administering the exam to multiple examinees at the same time (as opposed to one examinee)?  If so, how is it different? 
11. Please describe any other significant aspects of your proctored exam administration procedure not mentioned above. 

The appeal for you to answers these 11 questions ends with "Please send your completed questionnaire to Kimberley Ver Ploeg at kverploeg@asmusa.org by Monday, March 12.  Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions."

What is your message to Kimberley?  Write to her directly or comment below to add your two cents to this blog.

Certification – Faster than a Speeding Bullet? Sharper than a Degree?

Has anyone thought of certification in terms of the shorter route to demonstrated knowledge than a degree?  It takes years to get a degree (depending on the program, the interest, the time, the funding, the energy, the schedule, etc., etc.) but you can get a certification in a matter of months.  Is the certification industry functioning as a de facto academy?  Are we supplanting or supplementing academic degrees?  Or are we complementing degree programs?

I can almost hear heads nodding and eyes rolling.

So how are we doing?  As usual, some are likely doing better than others.  For example, how many of us are actively working with community colleges or technical schools to get their content addressed in the curriculum?  How many are working to make sure that the students in these classes are aware that they are not only graduates, but candidates for the corroborating certification that indicates not only did they complete the required courses to end up with a degree, but they paid attention while they were doing it and have a wider grasp of industry concerns, values, challenges, practices, etc., etc.   

How many of us have developed programs for our industry supporters to use?  Industry, it has been my experience, is decrying the lack or perceived lack or promised lack of talent and the possibility that there will not be enough people to staff their organizations.  Growth will stifle while their remaining employees work to capacity.  Are there pockets of people (in technical high schools, for example) who don’t really know that there are positions where an appropriate certification may count for more on a resume than a degree in an irrelevant subject? 

How about working with industry: are there places where mentorship programs are (a) asking for candidates, or (b) just waiting to be created?  Maybe I’ll address mentoring next time. 

Questions anyone?  Answers?

New Year's Blog

I did make a New Year’s resolution: this year I resolved to change my resolutions.  For the past few years I’ve been resolving to grow taller.  That’s not working for me; so this year I resolved to lose weight in an attempt to appear taller.  I do expect the same result.  This move may absolve me of idiocy following the logic of Einstein who said to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result is the height of idiocy.  Or words to that effect. 

Given that it’s a new year, and given that people by and large are not averse to seeking greener pastures, there are a few job openings around (this is especially for you folks who resolved to stop procrastinating and find a new and better job this year) and we here at NICET have two of them. 

Please read on and if you’re interested, send a resume along to the Human Resources Dept. here on King Street. 

NICET Position Openings

______________________________

Program Development Manager

The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, the leader in developing and administering certification programs for technicians and technologists, has an immediate opening for an experienced individual to manage development activities across several engineering technician certification programs.  This involves working with external organizations and volunteers, coordinating staff activities and the creation of development schedules; proposing and monitoring budgets; recruiting volunteers and identifying resources; maintaining relations with organizations and volunteers, and working with marketing staff to promote recognition of the certifications.  The successful candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in education, social science, management, communications, or other related specialty; three years prior experience in certification development, including working with associations, committees, and/or volunteers; experience managing concurrent processes and projects to meet established deadlines; and an understanding of the roles of licensure, certification, and training, and the nature and concerns of various companies, associations, and personnel roles within the engineering technology community.  Located in Old Town Alexandria near METRO, NICET offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits package, including business casual dress with dress-down summers, and immediate 401k.  To apply send resume and cover letter with salary requirements to Human Resources/NICET/PDM, National Society of Professional Engineers, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA  22314, email to careers@nspe.org, or fax to 703-684-2821.  No calls, please.

Certification Development Analyst

The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, the leader in developing and administering certification programs for technicians and technologists, has an immediate opening for an experienced individual to work with volunteer committees to analyze the work performed by engineering technicians in various specialties, in order to produce documents with task/knowledge/skill information that will serve as outlines for testing and certification programs.  The analyst will work with other staff and volunteers to validate the documents and produce certification criteria.  The successful candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in social science, management, education or other related specialty; prior experience in certification or managerial/behavioral analysis, including, preferably, working with associations, committees, and/or volunteers; an ability to lead people through an analytical group process; and an understanding of the types of work processes and responsibilities that typically occur in technical businesses.  Located in Old Town Alexandria near METRO, NICET offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits package, including business casual dress with dress-down summers, and immediate 401k.  To apply send resume and cover letter with salary requirements to Human Resources/NICET/PA, National Society of Professional Engineers, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA  22314, email to careers@nspe.org, or fax to 703-684-2821.  No calls, please.

Dear Friends & More Jobs

Tom Gorski has a lot of great news these days.  He became executive director of RESNA – Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America, which has its headquarters office directly above the Rosslyn Metro Station.  It doesn't get more convenient than that if you need to commute or avoid traffic.

It was great to hear from Tom today.  He just rediscovered the Certification Network Group.  It's grown and changed since Tom first got to know the group, back when he was the Director of Marketing for ASAE.  Matter of fact, we just got back from the NOCA national conference where there was a lot of buzz and praise for the way the CNG has connected so many certification leaders and beginners with each other this year. 

Tom is actively seeking a Director of Certification.  If you want to apply or send this to someone in your certification network, here's the information you need.

RESNA is seeking a talented individual to lead the association to the next level of credentialing development. The program was established 10 years ago. The issues before us in the next year are:
1) an update of the exam blueprint (job analysis, new items, etc.),
2) promoting the value of the three certifications offered within the assistive technology community and related organizations, and
3) expanding the number of exam administrations in 2007 by a third. Our goal is to become NCCA accredited by 2009, and to offer two of the exams online when the update is completed.
The ideal candidate is one who is passionate about credentialing, experienced in working closely with volunteers, and can travel up to 15% (that should diminish considerably when the exams are offered online). The position reports directly to the Executive Director and supervises one person. Salary negotiable. Inquiries and responses to Tom Gorski.

Certification Policies & Procedures 101

In my recent post I outlined a few information resources for organizations seeking accreditation for their certification programs. In keeping with that theme, here are some ideas if you are developing or updating your program’s policy and procedure manual.

What are the “must have” policies?
While the list of what can be included in a policy and procedure manual can be lengthy, Certification: A NOCA Handbook outlines the following essential policy areas: “Governance and Structure; Linkages to Job Requirements; Assessment Design/Structure; Candidate Information; Candidate Processing; Test Development; Test Administration; Test Security; Scoring and Score Reporting; Appeals; Continuing Maintenance; Marketing; and Program Evaluation.”

The list of required policies in the NCCA Standards includes: purpose, governance, eligibility criteria, application process, recertification, assessment instrument administration, establishing performance domains, recertification, appeals, confidentiality, discipline, nondiscrimination, ADA/accommodations, records retention, certificant directory, quality assurance, and security.

Some of the policies included in ANSI’s standards (ISO/IEC 17024) relate to the scope of the certification, disciplinary action, governance, appeals, assessment development and maintenance, management system, continual improvement, record management and retention, confidentiality, security, accommodations, recertification, and use of certificates/logos/marks.

What are other programs doing?
A quick Internet search will locate a number of certification programs that post their policies and procedures on the Web. As I mentioned in my earlier post on accreditation resources you can use the lists of NCCA accredited certification programs and ANSI accredited personnel certification bodies to start your search. Looking at policies from other organizations may help you identify areas where your policies and procedures need additional development.

Where can I find help?
A few great resources for learning more about policy and procedure manuals include BoardSource, ASAE, and the policy/template library in the member’s section of the NOCA Web site.

Janice Moore, SeaCrest

The Devil is in the Details

If you have ever applied for NCCA accreditation you know that the process can be overwhelming. At a minimum you need a love for detail to fill out the application form and organize all the materials. Surprisingly, some of the most common mistakes come from applicants not fully reading the directions.

Some frequently overlooked details:

• The hard copy and electronic copy of your application should match. Signature pages are just as important in the electronic version.
• Make sure the required public member form and governing form are completed (that means they are checked and signed).
• Double-check the list of “required exhibit documentation” at the beginning of the application to ensure they are all included or appropriately referenced in another document.
• If you reference something in the application that only exists on your Web site include a screen shot.
• Those boxes on the form that say “provide explanation below to support compliance” should not be left blank.

Take a look at the sample accreditation application available on the NCCA’s Web site and use it as a guide.

Take the time to read the directions, proof your application, and double-check the forms to eliminate some basic and easily preventable problems. One simple way to address this issue is to find a staff member or consultant who did not prepare the application and ask them to review it. A fresh eye on the materials can often quickly identify small details that were overlooked or areas that need additional clarification.

Janice Moore, SeaCrest

Relief for the "Swamped"

Is it unique to the multi-tasking nature of certification organizations, which run very lean and fast most of the time, or is this happening to everyone?   Not too long ago when we asked, "How are you?" the response was "Fine." It is a neat, one syllable word that says a lot. 

Now the one syllable word is "Swamped" and we suppose it says a lot about how you really are doing. It's an honest response among friends and colleagues in the certification network.  Most likely, you are not going to say that to your best customer, prospective candidate or board member.  It might signal the wrong thing.  We heard it a lot at the last Quarterly Meeting and we hear it often in daily phone calls with certification folks.

One of the major benefits of your Certification Network Group is to provide some relief from "swamped" by connecting you to precise, relevant information that you would not find easily on Google or anywhere else.   The whole point of our group, our website, this blog and our quarterly gatherings is to help you find each other and help each other.

Hats off to everyone in the group who actually read the postcard we sent to all members and went to the website to update your contact information. You would be amazed at the movement of certification leaders, owners, managers in our industry.  It's a fast growing, rapidly developing business environment--this thing called certification and accreditation. 

Extra credit goes to Marlene Dakita at the Professional Truck Driver Institute who wants you to answer this question: Do you certify courses rather than people?  We certify courses at truck driving schools and can you tell us if you know of any other organizations that do this?

Comment here, please, so Marlene can benefit from your knowledge and experience--and so can the rest of the members of our group. Or comment here and click on the links in this blog to contact Marlene.

Job for Certification Director

A good friend and steady supporter of the CNG, Bruce D'Agostino, Executive Director of the Construction Management Association of America, is running fast this week, getting ready for his super-size national convention this month.  He nailed this notice on our front door and asked that we help him find a Certification Director.    Bruce is seeking an individual to lead and expand ANSI accredited construction manager certification program that helps identify individuals with the experience and knowledge required to provide professional program and construction management services.

The certification director will provide overall strategic management to the Institute’s Board of Governors, direct staff, and help market the value of professional certification to the industry.  This position requires a hands-on collaborative and responsive leader with a Bachelor’s degree, personnel certification program experience, and strong written and oral communication skills.  International experience is a plus.

Interested?  Know someone who would like to work with this association? Have them send a cover letter, resume, and salary history to Bruce.

Be Wary of Casual Advice

As I briefly mentioned in my last post, contacting other accredited programs can be a good way to learn about the process. But, be wary of casual advice about accreditation from others in the certification field. A lot of misunderstandings and inaccuracies about accreditation are out there. Make sure your information comes from a qualified source. Even organizations that are currently accredited may have out-of-date information if they haven’t been through the renewal process recently.

Let me give you a few examples that apply to NCCA accreditation. In the last few months I have heard that:

• NCCA only accredits non-profit programs
• Only “national” programs can apply for NCCA accreditation
• Programs have to have “2 national administrations” of their test before applying

None of these statements are true.

Significant changes to the NCCA Standards were implemented in 2003 and many of the inaccuracies floating around out there are based on the “old” Standards.  To correct the statements above:

• Non-profits, for-profits, and governmental agencies are all eligible to apply for accreditation of their certification programs. There is at least one NCCA accredited certification program sponsored by a for-profit company.
• The NCCA Standards are not restricted to only programs that are national in scope. The current list of accredited programs includes a program that is headquartered in Canada and operates internationally and a program that operates only in Southern California.
• The “old” Standards requirement for 2 national test administrations has been replaced by a requirement that a program may apply “after one year of assessment instrument administration or administration to at least 500 candidates using the current assessment mechanism, whichever comes first.”

My guess is that the same would hold true for ANSI accreditation as well. Since the ISO/IEC 17024 standards were rolled out a second document titled Guidance on Psychometric Requirements for ANSI Accreditation has been released.

These are just a few examples of the many accreditation “myths” out there. There is no substitute for reading the standards yourself and asking a few questions to make sure your sources of information are qualified.

Janice Moore, SeaCrest Company

Trickle Down Effects

ASE’s success over the years has much to do with the major support it receives from all sectors of the automotive service and repair industry. That support comes from the car/truck manufacturers, new car dealers, and the independent/franchise repair segment. Over the years, it has been very balanced.

Well, as you have seen in the newspapers, some of our vehicle manufacturers aren’t doing as well as others. The trickle down of lessening support of our certification program can’t be far away, I fear.

To forestall such a reaction, we have put a full-court press on those particular supporters/influencers. We have held one-on-one visits; created value propositions geared toward their particular interest, and developed promotional items for their use. All I can do now is hold my breath.

It’s never a good idea to have all your eggs in one basket. Continuing to find new outlets for our existing programs is essential to our health. In a tightening economy it’s a must, as is expanding into new markets. It’s also really, really hard!

What about you? Is there just one company/organization/sector that you depend upon? Can you count on them forever?  I’m worried, are you?

Trish Serratore