Requirements for Certification in Audio Systems
NICET has established the following criteria for certification in Audio Systems: sufficient appropriate work experience, successful performance on a written exam based on job tasks, and supervisor verification of job task competency. A personal recommendation is required at Levels III and IV. This page describes each of the certification criteria and features a requirements chart for each Level of certification. Click here to skip directly to the chart.
Work History
On your application or the Work History form, you must provide NICET with a detailed description of your responsibilities and job tasks for each position you've held. Carefully read the instructions with the work history form for limitations on acceptable work experience. Your work experience for higher levels must show progressively greater responsibility and technical competence. A two-year or four-year degree in a relevant ABET/TAC-accredited engineering technology program will be accepted as equivalent to 18 months of work experience. (Credit will NOT be awarded for an engineering degree.) To receive credit for a degree, complete the Education Credit Addendum.
Written Exam on Audio Systems Work Elements
In designing this program, a committee of technical experts examined the role of engineering technicians in Audio Systems and grouped their typical duties and job tasks into modules called work elements. The Institute uses work element classifications to set examination requirements and evaluate applicants' job-related knowledge. A listing of these work elements and their descriptions can be found in the Audio Systems Program Detail Manual. On your application, you will select those work elements you wish to include on your exam. You will meet an exam requirement by passing the listed number of elements in each category under your desired certification level (see below).
The Audio Systems work elements have been assigned to four progressively more demanding levels of certification. Level I Work Elements cover background knowledge and entry-level job skills typically acquired by students and trainees with at least a few weeks experience in the technical area. Level II Work Elements cover more advanced knowledge and job skills that technicians demonstrate proficiently in the first two years of employment. Level III work elements cover advanced skills based on previous mastery of various Level II work elements. Level IV work elements cover complex technical and/or supervisory situations requiring analytical abilities and previous mastery of the skills covered in Level III work elements. By your tenth year of employment in this technical area, you should be proficient in most Level IV work elements.
The Institute classifies work elements in three types: general, special, and core. General Work Elements are those whose tasks are performed regularly by all technicians in the specialty area. Special Work Elements, however, may be more specific to certain regional areas or specialty areas within the field/subfield. Core work elements are General Work Element tasks that must be mastered before a technician can build on his or her knowledge and advance towards NICET's upper levels of certification.
Supervisor Verification of Job Task Competency
On your application or on the Work Element Verification form, you must submit your supervisor's verification that you have repeatedly and competently performed the tasks described in the Audio Systems Work Element descriptions. By initialing a work element, your verifier attests that he or she has witnessed you perform that work element's tasks repeatedly and competently. All passed elements used to meet an exam requirement must be verified.
Personal Recommendation (required for certification at Levels III and IV)
Submit a Technician Personal Recommendation form completed on your behalf by a qualified industry member who is familiar with your technical capabilities and professional character. The form can be completed by NICET Level IV technicians, PE's, and graduates of a related 4-year degree program. A person who serves as your verifier can NOT also be your recommender. This form expires one year after it is signed. If your recommendation has expired, you must submit a new one before NICET can award you a Level III or Level IV certificate.
Certification Requirements for Audio Systems
Levels I-IV
(Click on the charts below to download and print out a one-page requirements chart in Adobe .pdf format.)
When selecting work elements for your examination, review the examination requirements chart and the work element listing in your program detail manual. Whenever possible, try to choose the work elements whose descriptions most closely resemble the work you regularly perform. You might want to choose a few extra work elements for each category to increase your chances of meeting the requirement. If you pass more work elements than necessary, you may be able to apply them to the next certification level's exam requirement; then, when you're ready to test for the next level, you'll have a head start. You may test up to 34 work elements per exam sitting.
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