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Fire Alarm Systems and Water-Based Systems Layout Updates

Fire Alarm Systems (FAS)

New exams for FAS certification are coming! Subject Matter Experts (SME)s and practitioners will begin updating and writing new exam questions in 2023. The new exam content will be based on the 2022 edition of NFPA 72 and several other updated references. More specific information will be provided as soon as it is finalized in the newsletter, social media, and the website.

In November and December, NICET conducted a survey to validate the results of the Job Task Review completed in September. We received over 2000 responses!  Thank you to everyone that participated. The validation is complete. Next is item writing, item edits, item review, item approval, test assembly, a passing score study, standard setting, and publishing in sequence. We are following the ISO/IEC 17024 Standard Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons for this update and will seek accreditation following the release of the new exams.

  • FAS certification holders—many of you will receive an invitation to participate in the next steps via email.  Please help if you can. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Water-Based Systems Layout (WBSL)

WBSL certification holders—shortly, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback on exam content through the validation survey. NICET will send invitations to participate in early 2023. The survey will validate the Job Task Review (JTR) completed by WBSL Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in December. Please take the time to complete the survey in a timely matter. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Once the survey is conducted and reviewed, staff and SMEs will create exam blueprints. The blueprints are used to construct updated certification exams. The steps include item writing, item edits, item review, item approval, test assembly, a passing score study, standard setting, and publishing in sequence. We are following the ISO/IEC 17024 Standard Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons for this update and will seek accreditation following the release of the new exams. Most, if not all, of the process will be virtual. The entire project will take 12-18 months.