Nicet Level 3 Tips
Nicet Level 3 Tips
(OP)
Just wanted to provide some tips for taking the Nicet Level 3 Test.
1) Download the calculator that you will use on the exam from the testing website or purchase the calculator and practice with it. Nicet encourages this on the website, but if you are not familiar with the calculator it can throw you for a loop when dealing with exponents, etc. The calculator they have on the Pearson Vue website is a TI 30XS which was very different from my TI 36.
2) Read each question carefully. Pick out the main points, and throw out the needless information.
3) Study up on Storage Commodity and get familiar with NFPA 13, the charts,sections, and annex. Half the battle is being able to find the section that applies in a timely manner.
4) Study up on making adjustments to densities based on rack storage height and calculating interpolation between densities.
5) Study up on making adjustments to design areas based on ceiling height, dry system, sloped ceilings, etc.
6) Have a firm grasp on sizing fire pumps based for sprinkler systems and standpipe systems.
7) Calculate break tanks and water storage tanks.
8) Use process of elimination. Some of the answers are obviously not correct. Eliminate the wrong ones and you have a higher percentage of getting the answer correct even if you don't know the real answer.
9) If you get to a question you can't figure out, mark your best guess and flag for review. If you have time left go back and spend the time to answer the question. DO NOT LEAVE A QUESTION BLANK BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER! You may have to sacrifice a question or two to complete the test, especially if it is your first time taking it but don't forget to answer all of the questions 25% chance of getting it right (or more if you can eliminate some).
10) Know basic calculation that you should know already. There was no calculating of a loop on my exam - not sure if this was on others or not.
11) Have a study routine and good study material. I used NFSA: Layout, Detail, and Hydraulic Calculations of Sprinkler Systems, (1) Fire Tech course for the hydraulic test, Pat Brock's Fire Protection Hydraulic and Water Supply Analysis, (1) Nicet Practice test, and ALOT of NFPA reading.
Hope this helps. Someone said in a previous post that it takes perseverance - and this is a true statement. The biggest issue I have is that you don't really know what you are struggling with if you fail the test. Just have to reevaluate and keep trying. Sometimes it just takes more work experience to get it down.
1) Download the calculator that you will use on the exam from the testing website or purchase the calculator and practice with it. Nicet encourages this on the website, but if you are not familiar with the calculator it can throw you for a loop when dealing with exponents, etc. The calculator they have on the Pearson Vue website is a TI 30XS which was very different from my TI 36.
2) Read each question carefully. Pick out the main points, and throw out the needless information.
3) Study up on Storage Commodity and get familiar with NFPA 13, the charts,sections, and annex. Half the battle is being able to find the section that applies in a timely manner.
4) Study up on making adjustments to densities based on rack storage height and calculating interpolation between densities.
5) Study up on making adjustments to design areas based on ceiling height, dry system, sloped ceilings, etc.
6) Have a firm grasp on sizing fire pumps based for sprinkler systems and standpipe systems.
7) Calculate break tanks and water storage tanks.
8) Use process of elimination. Some of the answers are obviously not correct. Eliminate the wrong ones and you have a higher percentage of getting the answer correct even if you don't know the real answer.
9) If you get to a question you can't figure out, mark your best guess and flag for review. If you have time left go back and spend the time to answer the question. DO NOT LEAVE A QUESTION BLANK BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER! You may have to sacrifice a question or two to complete the test, especially if it is your first time taking it but don't forget to answer all of the questions 25% chance of getting it right (or more if you can eliminate some).
10) Know basic calculation that you should know already. There was no calculating of a loop on my exam - not sure if this was on others or not.
11) Have a study routine and good study material. I used NFSA: Layout, Detail, and Hydraulic Calculations of Sprinkler Systems, (1) Fire Tech course for the hydraulic test, Pat Brock's Fire Protection Hydraulic and Water Supply Analysis, (1) Nicet Practice test, and ALOT of NFPA reading.
Hope this helps. Someone said in a previous post that it takes perseverance - and this is a true statement. The biggest issue I have is that you don't really know what you are struggling with if you fail the test. Just have to reevaluate and keep trying. Sometimes it just takes more work experience to get it down.
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RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
I took NICET back in the 1990's and I do remember having a small grid... I think it was four branch lines but for a lot of us old timers it was easy because we were doing everything by hand in the 70's and much of the 80's.
When did you take your level III and what was your score?
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
I took the test last week. They give you the pass/fail at the testing center but not the score - still waiting on the official score report from Nicet. I am actually not sure if they give you a score if you pass, they may just tell you that you passed.... I think that is how it was on my Level I,II, and IIIA Tests.
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
But I take it you did pass?
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
Much hearty congratulations, I know it isn't easy to get and it is something you can only get by earning it.
Some statistics you might find interesting is last year I purchased a copy of the NICET registry for layout technicians.
There were 203 Level III's and IV's living in Georgia and I was able to find the age of 195 of those registered.
Of the combined Level III's and IV's I found that 75.4% of the number were age 45 and older. 50% were 52 and older while 30% were 60 and older. Only 17.4% of all Level III and IV certificate holders are younger than 40.
For Level IV's, there were 75 Level IV's in Georgia, it's a whole lot worse with the median age being 61 years old with 74.9% being >55 years of age.
The statistics I found are for Georgia only but I have a hunch the numbers carry pretty close across the country.
For a young man, which I would define at <40, there's a good future ahead because the shortage we already have is just going to get worse.
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips
RE: Nicet Level 3 Tips