NICET’s mission is to promote excellence in engineering technologies globally through certification and related services. This mission is carried out by a staff of about 30 and by hundreds of SMEs (subject-matter experts) from a variety of industries who volunteer their time and expertise to build and maintain NICET certification programs.
Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1961, NICET is nationally recognized and operates 27 certification programs for engineering technicians in civil, electrical, and mechanical specialties. Over the past 55 years, NICET has issued more than 140,000 certifications, of which 40,000 are currently active.
Certification is a voluntary process used to assess individuals’ qualifications necessary to determine if they meet the industry standard. NICET certification requirements include passing at least one exam, as well as possessing specific work experience and verified performance. Requirements include a personal recommendation for each of the Levels III and IV, plus a major project write-up at the latter level.
The term certification is used throughout society to represent a variety of credentialing-related activities. Sometimes, certification and licensure are used synonymously. However, it is important to note the difference. NICET certification is sometimes used in whole or in part for jurisdictional licensing requirements across the United States and internationally; however, in and of itself, it is not a license. NICET certification is also used in contract specifications by government, architects, engineers, property owners, and others who recognize the value of a qualified workforce.
In fulfilling NICET’s mission, we recognize that certification is a part of building a qualified workforce. The entire process includes education, recruiting, training, self-study, mentoring, experience, and certification. Employers, contract specifiers, and authorities having jurisdiction can rely on workers who have demonstrated technical mastery to provide higher-quality goods and services. Ultimately, the public enjoys a higher degree of safety and protection.