DEAR FRIENDS

I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME INPUT ON THIS MATTER FOR TWO REASONS.
EXPERT OPINION AND FUTURE TESTING

I KEEP HEARING THAT THE NEW TESTING METHOD IS A LOT EASIER THAN THE WORK ELEMENT. IF SO WE ALL SHOULD BE VERY CONCERN SINCE THIS NEW METHOD DOES NOT REALLY CHALLENGES INDIVIDUALS TO SHOW COMPETENCY LIKE THE OLD WAY DID. I FEEL THAT THIS BREACHES THE INTEGRITY OF NICET AND RAISES A QUESTION CONCERNING NICET'S NATIONAL CREDIBILITY.

HERE IN NJ THE OLD STATUE REQUIRED LEVEL II INSPECTIONS AND TESTING PLUS A TOTAL OF 19 SPECIFIC WORK ELEMENTS FROM LAYOUT LEVELS I,II,III IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A CONTRACTORS LICENCE.

THE NEW STATUE REQUIRES LEVEL II INSPECTIONS AND TESTING PLUS LEVEL I LAYOUT. (LOT EASIER  TO GET A STATE CERTIFICATION)

I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME HOW DIFFICULT THIS TEST REALLY IS VS WORK ELEMENT
 

Just took my NICET Level I in Water Based Systems Layout. I passed, unofficially. I am STILL waiting on official results from NICET. I never did have experience in the work elements process so i can't speak from personal experience on the difference. However I can tell you that three other co workers of mine have NICET Levels III & IV all thru the work element way of testing. I was told that all NICET required of you to pass an element was 60% passing grade..Sounds to me like the level of competency being required of the people taking the work element tests could have been in question all along. That being said I have NO idea what a passing grade is on the CBT. NICET has not specified to me at all what the passing grade is. While I'm on the topic, I'm gonna fume a little on behalf of NICET's poor communication, lack of customer service, confusing website and general lack of interest in those that spend so much time and money trying to obtain one of their certifications. When I called them to see why I still had not received my official test results and why on my account it said Water Systems Layout I pending..I got the run around for ten minutes before getting 2 different answers from 2 different people  as to why i still had not received test results. I was than put thru to a voice mail where they told me to leave a message and they will get back to me in 48 hrs......!!!!! 48 HOURS! Is this a joke?! NJ1, I understand your concern. I just wanted to let you know that their credibility and integrity SHOULD be in question. What NICET is supposed to mean, and represent is the exact opposite of how they treat those wanting to obtain this certification.  

tony

After a little more digging and SEVERAL more calls to NICET I was able to get a few more answers. The tests you take for CBT, are scored out of 800. a 500 out of 800 is passing (62.5%). When i asked how a 109 question test is graded out of 800, the guy could not explain it to me very well. All he could tell me was that there are several different variations of tests for each level of certification so they grade it out of 800....Anyway, after reading all of the fine print on the terms and conditions I was REQUIRED to sign, I noticed that it said in the fine print i would be notified of my score on the test. Well after requesting my score, they informed me no one gets to know there score they just get to know pass or fail.  

tony

work element passing score is 60% while computer based is 62.5%
Can someone do some math in here?
As I estimated the only thing that changed was the pass or fail scenario rather than accumulating work elements.
The catch to this is money. They charge more for testing while computers are doing all the work.  

It cost me $420.00 to sign up for the level I & II for water based system layout. The only positive from a money standpoint for us was that there is a Pearsons testing center about 2 miles from our office. Before we had to send our guys 2 to 3 hours away to test which meant paying for a hotel and food and a days wages. I kind of feel robbed they won't tell you your score. It's not a big deal, but its always nice to know.  

tony

Guys, I want to get the NICET I certificate. Could anyone tell me, is there any general certification like FE that I could get from NICET?  

shohel,

NICET certifies engineering technicians, not engineers. For NICET testing you will need to choose a discipline like fire protection, inspection and testing, etc.

Doesn't NICET give you your score if you fail an element? If you pass I think it only states "PASS" on your results page.

From NICET.org, as of today, January 21st 2012:

http://www.nicet.org/candidates/what.cfm

"Standard Model/CBT...

...You will receive your score at the conclusion of your test session."

It appears they say one thing and do another. They have been unresponsive to all my email inquiries which are weeks old.  

fpst, I quoted the exact same verbage in the terms and conditions that i signed, to NICET over the phone, and they had no explanation for it. The customer service sucks to put it lightly. I felt like I was talking to Capital Ones outsourced customer service department. I was transferred 4 times one day and each time the English got worse..and needless to say, they gave me no answers.    

tony

I recently passed the NICET Level II Water Based CBT exam, and have taken both Level III exams, but unfortunately have not been successful on either Level III. I had the opportunity to test 5 years ago using the work element format, and I have to say I think the work element format is a lot easier. Using the WE format, you were able to chip away at your certification, but this way, you have to take two long tests (a relatively small amount of time), and if you don't pass, you have to re-take the test all over again, with different questions of course.

My problem is I have been out of the industry for around 1.5 years, so Im a bit rusty. The Level III exams were mostly about taking existing systems and making them compliant with more complex occupancies, i.e. what do you have to do to an old OH II system to now make it work with ESFR, etc. Fire pumps are covered heavily, standpipes, even pressure tanks. Basically a lot of weird situations are covered. Anyone proficient here willing to help this guy get back up to speed with this stuff? When I get my RME license in Texas, I'll make sure my company compensates you at least something for your trouble :)

@ Seldon7, What should i expect from the NICET level II? How much of it is on Calcs/storage?

tony