An article in the recent edition of the PE Magazine ("The Engineer's Duty in the Age of Industrial AI," Steve Yates, P.E.) makes a case every systems engineer should read. For decades, PLCs kept safety logic local, on the machine, where the consequences of a bad decision happen. Modern industrial AI reversed that: governance moved to the cloud, inference stayed on the edge. A 99.9% uptime SLA still allows over 8 hours of downtime a year, and autonomous systems keep making decisions through every one of those hours.
The article backs this up with two incidents: an autonomous haul truck that reversed into an excavator after reconnecting to its control system, and a robotaxi whose account to federal regulators didn't match what happened.
Read the full article: The Engineer's Duty in the Age of Industrial AI
Then ask: does your integration testing account for what happens when the connection drops? That's the discipline SSI certification builds.
NICET certification requirements include documented work experience because its certifications are meant to verify practical, on-the-job competency, not just theoretical or classroom knowledge. Just as a skyscraper's height means nothing without the bedrock it's anchored to, NICET's exams measure the knowledge that only stands because it's built on a foundation of practical experience. Learn more about work experience requirements.
Did you know that volunteers who help update NICET programs earn CPD points toward the recertification requirements? NICET staff add the points to your log after the task or activity is complete. And, if needed, NICET staff can send recognition in the form of a letter or certificate. Learn more.
Updates began in May 2026. Exam content will be updated to reflect the 2025 edition of NFPA 72, and NICET has applied for ANAB accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard. NICET is also seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support the test development process. Updated exams are anticipated to launch in mid-to-late 2027.
Updated exams for Electrical Power Testing (EPT) Levels I, II, and III will be available October 5, 2026. The EPT Level IV exam will be unavailable until 2027.
NICET is currently updating the exams for all levels of SHS. The updated exams will be available for testing on November 2, 2026.
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To protect the public's interests and promote your stature on the engineering team, NICET encourages and requires professional advancement through recertification. Once you are certified, begin tracking continuing professional development (CPD) activities according to a pre-established point scale. At the end of the three-year certification period, you must demonstrate your professional growth by documenting 90 CPD points for each certification. Renewals are done electronically in the NICET portal. Please log into your NICET account to get started. See an overview of logging CPDs in your online account — Watch Video Learn more about the recertification process, including CPD points categories and requirements for each certification. |