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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CERTIFICATION IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES®

The MOU specifies that AFSA will make a financial contribution of $100,000 in direct and in-kind contributions to support continuing development of the NICET certification programs. An AFSA representative will sit on the NICET Leadership Advisory Group and the various Program Development Committees. NICET will recognize AFSA's training programs and materials through the Training Provider Directory and both parties will utilize a new logo that co-brands AFSA as a NICET Industry Partner. Additionally, both parties agree to work together to explore alternatives for computer-based testing.

NICET is the leader in certifying the knowledge, skill and experience necessary for success in more than 35 engineering technology specialty areas. Fire Protection is one of the biggest markets for NICET, and the four programs currently being offered continue as some of the most popular and fastest growing areas within NICET, according to Mike Clark, General Manager.

"The Industry Partner Initiative, a major long-term initiative authorized by the NICET Board of Governors in 2005, is all about connections and relationships that have always been the key to building and delivering the highest quality and most current certification programs for engineering technicians," Clark said. "There's a place for all of our industry partners to 'Keep NICET Certifications Current' and we are very happy to see AFSA set the pace by becoming our first industry partner" Clark commented.

AFSA is the major provider for installer and layout technician training in the fire sprinkler industry. Commenting on the importance of this new alliance between the two organizations, AFSA President Steve Muncy noted that the tremendous change in fire protection engineering field has affected the way AFSA designs and delivers training programs. "NICET is the leader in certifying competencies of engineering technicians in the fire sprinkler industry. It is critical that we work together to keep the Fire Protection Engineering Technology certification programs up-to-date and reflect the most widely used and recent standards."

About the National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies (NICET)
Since the Institute was founded in 1961, more than 113,000 technicians and technologists have met NICET's rigorous certification criteria, and the number grows rapidly as more employers and local and state governments rely on NICET certification to measure the qualifications of their workforce. NICET's nationally recognized certification programs lay out a path for career advancement from entry to senior level responsibilities. NICET is a non-profit division of the National Society of Professional Engineers.

About the American Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. (AFSA)
The American Fire Sprinkler Association, (AFSA) is a non-profit, international association representing fire sprinkler contractors, dedicated to the educational advancement of its members and promotion of the use of automatic fire sprinkler systems. AFSA represents approximately 750 companies and individuals in the United States and throughout the world. AFSA believes that the installation of fire sprinklers could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars lost to fire each year.

Contact: Mike Clark, NICET - 888 476 4238 Ext. 105 - MClark@NICET.org.