EMR Online

Linda Kosmin Langford
IEEE EMS Board of Governors

Requirements for voluntary occupational certification and government regulated licensure programs are posted on the Web. Some certifiable professions in the United States are: Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter; Computing Professional; Employee Benefits Specialist; Engineer,; Engineering Technician; Engineering Technologist; Financial Planner; Fraud Examiner; Hazardous Waste Site worker; Public Accountant; Quality Manager; Safety Professional; and Valuation Analyst. Sites may cover certification requirements, procedural steps, answers to frequently asked questions, samples of written test questions, and competency guidelines specific to international, federal, state, or local jurisdictions.

Distinctions are made between certification, licensing, and accreditation programs. Certification usually carries the right to use a recognizable appellation after one's name (e.g. CCP, CPA, PE). Authorization for continued use usually requires proof of relevant continuing education. While there is no comprehensive Web directory for professional certification programs, discipline-specific searches tend to produce helpful links. The following are examples of sites with useful information about specific career paths:

American Society for Quality
http://www.asq.org/
Peer recognition is the primary focus of this organization's endorsed certification programs. Member volunteers contribute exam questions and develop preparatory materials. Detailed information is provided for the following certifications: Quality Engineer; Six Sigma Black Belt; Quality Auditor; Reliability Engineer; Quality Technician; Mechanical Inspector; Quality Manager; Software Quality Engineer; and Quality Improvement Associate. The full text of brochures can be downloaded. Content covers significant facets of written exams including application procedures, explanations of development phases for each survey instrument used, grading criteria, reference tools used to develop bodies of knowledge on which test questions are based, and listings of local and international certification examination contacts.

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
http://www.cfenet.com/
The goal of this organization is to promote good business ethics while deterring white-collar crime. Efforts span the globe. Certification details are posted. Fraud-related articles are archived at this Web site.

Board of Certified Safety Professionals
http://www.bcsp.com/
This site provides criteria for certification eligibility, application forms, and examination guidelines. Postings convey the value of safety career certification and explain various aspects of safety science. Necessary qualifications are outlined for professional specialty designations such as Construction Safety, Ergonomics, and System Safety. Within each specialty, subject areas are expanded to include listings of major tasks, supporting knowledge, expected skills, and information about analysis techniques. One can search a daily updated international directory of certified safety professionals.

Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals
http://www.iccp.org/
The desire to advance computer and information systems professionalism spurred eight societies to found this nonprofit organization. This Web site provides details about qualifying exams and related documentation. Approved test equivalency programs are summarized, including those in specialty areas such as Internet Webmaster and Java Programmer, which may be administered by other companies (e.g., Learning Tree International; Net Guru Technologies, Inc.; and American Research Group).

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
http://www.nacva.com/
Information is provided to support an influential network of professionals trained to adhere to industry standards in assessing the worth of business enterprises. There is an online membership directory with names arranged geographically within categories of specialization. These include Adequacy of Life Insurance, Liquidation or Reorganization, Litigation Support - Economic Loss Analysis, and Split-ups and Spin-offs. Descriptions of training seminars cover valuation theory, techniques, and case studies. Requirements are outlined for attaining certification with the following designations: Certified Valuation Analyst; Accredited Valuation Analyst; Government Valuation Analyst; and Certified Forensic Financial Analyst.

National Society of Professional Engineers
http://www.nspe.org/
Standardized requirements are explained that lead to the designation Professional Engineer. These include information about the discipline-specific Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, the four year engineering apprenticeship process, the final Principles and Practices of Engineering exam, and the ongoing state-by-state requirements to complete Professional Development Hours after initial PE certification. Society focus continues to be on encouraging more engineers to seek Professional Engineer status. In the interest of public safety, many states require licensure for professionals specializing in facilities design, construction, and surveying. This Web site describes a proposed licensure model that strives to more closely align modern and emerging engineering with traditional fields of engineering practice.

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT REVIEW
A publication of the IEEE Engineering Management Society