Certification Conversations of the CNG

Competencies for Certification Professionals

Communicators — 2009-04-28T10:50:30-04:00

Jim Kendzel writes, in response to ASAE listserv for their members, who have certification interests:

Mickie recently posted an announcement to this network related to an ASAE project covering competencies of certification professionals. She indicated that the project was not similar in nature to the project NOCA has announced. I would like to clarify to everyone that the development of competencies for certification professionals by the ASAE Professional Development Council would, in fact, represent a similar if not identical effort already announced and initiated by NOCA. Of course, the ASAE Professional Development Council may elect to proceed with its project but but I would like everyone to understand it represents a duplication of efforts of what NOCA is already pursuing.

I would encourage all of you to consider participating in NOCA’s job analysis process. The results will be used to further develop NOCA’s education and training programs as well as provide the foundation for other credentialing related products and services for certification professionals. We anticipate and welcome other entities to use the tool created by NOCA to develop educational programs for their members.

Jim Kendzel
NOCA, Executive Director

Just for You in 2009 - Fascinating Conversations and Networks

Communicators — 2009-01-01T18:48:09-05:00

Traditionally and historically, December has been the blow-the-doors-off event for the Certification Network Group for two reasons. We feature marketing issues and topics instead of the finer points of psychometric analysis and exam forms building in a software systems. In other words, we get down and dirty on who is going to take the blinking tests even if we build them to perfection? The other reason we see the largest crowd of the year is it is the end of the year, in a great space (the new AARP Conference Center, within walking distance of three (3) Metro Stations in Washington, DC) and everyone is feeling like networking, connecting and wishing each other the best for the holidays and new year ahead.

We had a great meeting and more than 150 members signed up. The membership continues to grow and we are at 500, exactly, today. That's 500 active, networking, deep-into-certification professionals. (By the way, if you have not gone to the JOIN tab on the CNG web site lately, you need to do that now. The information you put on the JOIN form overwrites the latest information we have from you. If we don't hear from you or see you at a meeting for 9 months, we assume you are not networking and that just quietly dissolves you from the group.)

Right before the December meeting, we have the annual gathering of the steering committee and all of the representatives from all of the CNG Sponsor companies and organizations to brainstorm and decide on the programs, priorities and new projects for the year ahead.

Our leader of certification leaders, Trish Serratore, moved the group through a great discussion of how will we make the CNG experience even better in 2009 for all members, new members, the growing numbers who are networking virtually from places far from Washington, DC, and for the increasing numbers of service providers, looking for ways to work their way into the credentialing industry.

The great news is we worked through the program topics, program leaders and ideas for the March, June, September and December events for 2009. We brainstormed some special programs at other times of the year, such as the special symposium we conducted in 2007 at the AIA Conference Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including the luncheon, which went over so well. We hear the requests from our members in Chicago, Philadelphia, midwest and western cities to convene programs there. We plan to do something special and new in those cities. We hear the requests for going virtual with the programs, not just the networking, chatting and problem solving on our LinkedIn for Groups area and in this blog.

Add this to the top of your list for 2009, as well: Click here to go to the CNG Group on Linked In and make sure you are active in that group. You will know it the following ways. Look at your profile on LinkedIn and make sure you see the CNG Group logo on your profile page. If you clicked on that link and it says you are already in the group, then click on the MEMBERS tab and see if you are showing up along with the list of all the other members you can see when you click on that MEMBERS tab. On the other hand, if you clicked on that link and it offered you the option to ask to join the group, then you just found out that you are not in the middle of the conversation and fun. You need to correct that immediately by adding the CNG link to your profile.

We have 500 members and about half of them have completed their LinkedIn connection.

We have an active chat area in LinkedIn and if you are not in the middle of the conversations, you are missing out on some interesting questions and responses from other CNG members.

Final word on getting the most out of 2009: Network

It's not called neteating or netsitting or netlurking. It's called networking and that means getting off the bench and into the game.

Ahead: More details about the programs and special task forces (you can sign up for any of them right here, right now) to make sure you are totally equipped to navigate the choppy waters of 2009 and have all the help and support you need from your colleagues in CNG.

Business Impact of a Service Outage

Clarke Porter — 2008-05-23T18:31:29-04:00

I am preparing an analysis about the business impact of having your certification data management system down (check out the Credential Manager feature matrix following the link if you want to know what comprises a data management system Credential Management Feature Matrix). I was hoping some of my colleagues might lend a hand in thinking through the categories of impact. To wet your appetite, here is what I have thought of so far:

1. Revenue - can't process applications, can't organize marketing mailings - are there some other factors here?
2. Costs - phone calls longer and more frequent because on-line services aren't available
3. Candidate satisfaction
4. Reputation - my candidates might not think I have my act together and chose a competitor, others?

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Great Expectations

Communicators — 2007-03-15T23:16:58-04:00

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:

How many questions are on your exam?
How many hours do you allow for completion of your exam?
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.
How do you request that proctors handle examinations upon receipt and prior to exam administration?
Are examinees allowed to bring personal effects (e.g., purses, cell phones) into the examination room?
How are the examinees monitored during the exam? Does the proctor stay in the room with them for the duration of the exam?
Do you allow a break(s) for the examinees during the exam administration? If so, please answer the following questions:
How are exam materials handled during this break?
Do examinees come back to the same section of the exam?
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?
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?

Louise Wehrle — 2007-02-05T17:05:22-05:00

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

Louise Wehrle — 2007-01-04T14:16:21-05:00

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

Communicators — 2006-11-21T21:42:31-05:00

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

Janice Moore — 2006-10-30T15:33:00-05:00

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

Janice Moore — 2006-10-19T20:37:43-04:00

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"

Communicators — 2006-10-10T21:13:22-04:00

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.