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Application Instructions

Certification RequirementsExperience Documentation

All of NICET’s certification programs have a specific requirements chart that, in addition to listing the exams that must be passed, describes the minimum experience for each level. Experience requirements include: Performance, Work History, Recommendations, and Major Project Write-up. It is important to read all requirements before applying.

The following is a guide to the mechanics of filling out the form fields with definitions and examples to help applicants accurately capture their experience.

Once you have logged in to your NICET record, the first step is to add an “application card” to your home screen. Click “Apply” in the navigation to see the cards for every certification NICET offers. You may use the search to narrow down the selection or page through to find the certification/s you are seeking. Click the green “Save to Home” button then the blue “Apply Here” button back on the home screen to start an application.

Performance Measures (all levels)

A set of activities that a supervisor or someone in a supervisory capacity must verify that the candidate has performed satisfactorily.

Performance Verification Requests

Enter the name and email of your direct supervisor and click send. When you click send, an email survey is sent to the email address listed (It is best to let them know to expect it and make nicet-noreply@useclarus.com an allowed email in spam or junk mail filter) and a “Sent requests:” log is added above. The status in the sent request changes from “Pending responder” to “Submitted” with a date once your verifier completes the survey. It will also show a link to “View Details” to see the responses.  To qualify for certification all PMs must be verified with a yes answer. More than one verifier may be used if necessary.

Verifier

A current or previous supervisor as listed in the candidate’s documented work history. The verifier does not have to be certified by NICET but must be a responsible and technically competent individual who is, or was, in a position and authority to directly supervise, inspect and/or approve the applicant's work and verify that the candidate has demonstrated the required competencies, specific accomplishments, and project work related to the certification subfield and level.

A verifier cannot be a nontechnical supervisor, a peer, or a subordinate of the candidate.

Company owners, company presidents and others in positions of similar hierarchies must find someone outside their company to serve as their verifiers, e.g., authority having jurisdiction, general contractor, engineering consultant, licensed engineers, etc.

If a candidate has identified multiple current direct supervisors, the performance verification may be provided by a single verifier or a combination of verifiers as applicable. Each verifier must complete a Verifier Data form.

When needed and in situations of conflict or discrepancy, a verifier of record may be requested by NICET to clarify claims, inconsistencies, or endorse and sign-off on the candidates documented work history submittals attesting and confirming to their accuracy and completeness. 

Personal Recommendation (Levels III and IV)

An attestation of the technical quality, responsibility, and ethics demonstrated in the applicant's work experience by a professional who is familiar with the technical capabilities and background of the applicant.

Recommendation Requests

Enter the name and email of a professional who is familiar with your technical capabilities and background and can attest to the technical quality, responsibility, and ethics demonstrated in your work experience. When you click send, an email survey is sent to the email address listed (It is best to let them know to expect it and make nicet-noreply@useclarus.com an allowed email in spam or junk mail filter) and a “Sent requests:” log is added above. The status in the sent request changes from “Pending responder” to Submitted with a date once your recommender completes the survey.

Recommender

A professional who is familiar with the technical capabilities and background of the applicant and can attest to the technical quality, responsibility, and ethics demonstrated in the applicant’s work experience.

NICET accepts recommendations from licensed professional engineers and NICET Level IV technicians. NICET will also accept recommendations from other professionals such as registered land surveyors, senior engineering technicians, graduate engineers, architects, geologists, scientists, fire marshals, code officials, or officials of other authorities having jurisdiction appropriate for the certification.

The person who completes the recommendation form cannot be a current or a previous verifier for the candidate, i.e., provide the Performance Measure verifications for the candidate.

NICET will not accept recommendation forms that are completed by relatives, peers, or subordinates of the applicant.

Work History (all levels)

A complete and detailed record of employment history with dates, employers, locations, positions held, status, supervisors and work performed. All work activities, regardless of relevance to the certification, should be included. Work History is located in your profile in your online account. Once logged in, click your email address on the home screen, then profile, you will see a second prompt to update profile – click on that prompt, then update profile, and scroll down to the Work History section. Make sure to save all entries.

First-time applicants (and those specifically directed by NICET): For the span of your entire career, add and complete an entry (Click “+Add”) for each position held at each employer and for any period within a given position in which your responsibilities changed significantly.

Returning applicants (upgrades to higher levels and additional subfields) and to document Active Practitioner points toward recertification: Follow the instructions above solely for the period of time from the end date of your last work history submittal to the date you submit a new application. If you previously submitted paper, PDF, scanned, etc. documents and do not know the date of your last submission contact NICET.

Use the “+” symbol button to break out your experience into all applicable technical areas in which you have worked for each time period. If you have experience in areas we don’t list, use “Other” and explain in the description. Do not add technical areas for which you have not worked.

This section contains three pieces per entry-- the Subfield/Technical Area (S/TA) selection (select S/TA from dropdown list), the percentage allocation (enter percent of work devoted to S/TA in right side column), and the detailed description (enter description in the text box below the S/TA dropdown list). Create an entry for S/TA The detailed description should be the candidates  description of they performed.

Here is a list that contains examples of what to include for NICET’s various S/TAs:

  • specific duties performed per your position/title
  • detail the technical and supervisory nature of the work
  • typical equipment, systems, and components (types not brands) that you have sold, designed, installed, tested, inspected, and/or maintained
  • specific Calculations and Layouts
  • specific tests and inspections you have performed
  • typical project types which you have worked
  • specific construction inspection tasks, construction processes and/or construction stages inspected
  • materials, components, and special equipment with which you worked
  • specific tests (by titles) performed in the field and/or the laboratory
  • types of materials tested and/or inspected, typical and/or special testing or evaluation equipment used
  • contract administration and supervisory duties and responsibilities (if any)

While various positions may perform similar functions, each requires descriptions of specific duties and tasks performed in different roles and/or at different employers. 

Work History Description - Format and Examples

As a [Position/Title] I performed the following duties [sold, designed, installed, tested, inspected, and/or maintained] [sub-field systems]. This included [supervisory positions]. (For LEVEL III / IV) – [include managerial roles per certification requirements)

In the performance of my duties I worked on [typical projects types] [typical equipment, systems, and components] [technical nature /specific Calculations and Layouts], [specific tests and inspections you have performed].

Do Not-

  • Submit official position descriptions, resumes, testimonials, and marketing materials in lieu of completing the Work History section of your online record.
  • Make changes to submitted work experience accounts unless directed to do so by NICET.
Major Project (Level IV)

A document submitted by the candidate that describes a large and technically complex project demonstrating senior-level engineering technician capabilities and responsibilities. Each program has specific guidelines and instructions.

Complete the write-up, then click the “Browse” button to locate and upload the file.

Finalize

Once you have the verifications from your supervisor and updated your work history, read final instructions, agree to affidavit, and click "Finalize" to indicate to NICET staff that your submission is ready for review. Once you click “finalize” your submission must not be altered unless requested by NICET.

All information provided in candidate’s application is cross-referenced with documents on file to verify the following:

  • consistency of work experience accounts
  • appropriateness of verifier and recommender and, as needed, through third-party entities including the following:
    • licensing bodies and authorities having jurisdiction
    • previous and current employers
    • other sources of official documentation

Note: Experience submitted with applications to test are placed into a queue for evaluation when a candidate meets the exam requirements for a given subfield and level. Response to requests from NICET for additional or clarifying information may be placed back into a queue. Submissions are evaluated in the order they are placed in their respective queues (first-come, first-served).