Forty years ago, in December of 1977, NICET debuted the Work Element (WE) certification format for Transportation Engineering Technicians. The first WE certification programs were developed in a partnership with the US Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Since then, through many other valuable partnerships, NICET expanded the WE programs to include Fire Protection, Construction Materials Testing and more. Tens of thousands of individuals established successful careers based, in part, by attaining certification through the WE format. Alas, all good things must come to an end… Apart from a few make-up dates due to inclement weather NICET is no longer offering certification exams in the WE format.
Just over ten years ago NICET began transitioning the certification exams to the Standard Model/CBT format to take advantages of changes in technology and updates to assessment best practices. The new format is not intended to be easier or harder but better at assessing the minimum knowledge required at each level.
The process is simpler and more convenient. NICET exams are now offered five, six or seven days a week depending on location. There are hundreds of locations in the US and on select military bases around the globe. The computer format more accurately collects the test takers responses and scores are provided immediately.
Looking forward, NICET will continue to recognize certifications earned in the WE format. Certification holders must maintain their certifications through the usual recertification process. NICET will recognize higher level exam requirements met in the WE format for the foreseeable future. NICET will notify candidates of any change. Certification holders that passed WEs in their current recertification period but did not meet a higher level exam requirement may claim one CPD point per WE passed for recertification. To meet higher level exam requirements in the future, candidates must pass the appropriate exam/s in the Standard Model/CBT format. See the subfield specific requirements chart for details.