American Fire Sprinkler Association Scores First in NICET Industry Partner Initiative Program

The leaders of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), agreeing to mutual cooperation in the redesign and validation of the NICET Fire Protection Engineering Technology certification programs.

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 cobrands AFSA as a NICET Industry Partner. Additionally, both parties agree to work together to explore alternatives for computer-based testing.

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.

Commenting on the importance of this new alliance between the two organizations, AFSA President Steve Muncy noted that the tremendous change in the 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," says Muncy. "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."

For more information, go to www.nicet.org.