Level-One Installer Certification Program To Be Beta Tested At CEDIA Expo í99 Certification Program To Raise Expectations And Capabilities Of The Custom Electronics Industry
One hundred designers and installers of residential custom electronics systems will be the first to participate in the beta testing of CEDIAís Level-One Installer Certification program. They will take the comprehensive two-hour test at CEDIA EXPO í99, September 22-26 in Indianapolis, Indiana. ""Educating our members has always been one of CEDIAís main priorities,"" said Billilynne Keller, CEDIAís Executive Director. ""This certification program will raise the expectations and capabilities of the industry, and create a larger network of qualified, well-informed technicians."" In 1998, the CEDIA Board of Directors accepted a certification task force recommendation to implement a certification program that would reinforce CEDIAís founding intent of promoting industry growth through the development of its practitioners. The task force has defined the format of CEDIAís overall certification program into two sequences with two testing levels in each. All four segments are tentatively scheduled to be in place within the next several years. Testing segments will include Level-One Installer (beta testing at EXPO í99), Level-Two Installer, Level-One Designer, and Level-Two Designer. ""With this new certification program, our goal is to establish a methodology to quantify the skills of residential designers and installer,"" said Fredrick Ampel, President of Technology Visions and Certification Task Force Chair. ""CEDIA members will be better able to differentiate themselves and establish the premium value of their unique knowledge and skills."" The goals of the certification program include: - Establishing new benchmarks for knowledge, performance and professionalism to meet the increasing complex needs of CEDIAís members and clients. - Promoting the expansion of the entire custom electronics industry by attracting an increasing number of new hires, to meet the ever-expanding needs of CEDIAís member companies. - Enhancing the development of the work force to assure continued growth of the custom electronics industry. Following the completion of the Level-One Installer beta testing at CEDIA EXPO í99, the results will be analyzed and any necessary corrections and/or adjustments will be made. Industry-wide installer testing is scheduled to begin in January 2000. Everyone wishing to become certified will be required to take the tests in sequence, regardless of their level of experience. CEDIA was founded in 1989 and represents more than 1,500 member companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems ñ typically media rooms, single- or multi-room entertainment systems, home automation and communication systems, and integrated whole house subsystems providing control of lighting, security and HVAC systems. Members are established, insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. For more information about CEDIA visit the associationís Web site, www.cedia.org, or call 800 669 5329. For more information, contact Brittany Nims, CEDIA at 317 571 5602 or email: bnims@in.net.