Specialty Certification Update

C. Dale Jacobson, P.E., F.ASCE, ASCE Presidential Appointee to the EWRI Governing Board

The Task Committee on Specialty Certification was created in the Spring of 2002 by the ASCE Executive Committee with the charge to develop a model structure for an Academy within ASCE and to develop a business plan, budget, and schedule for implementation. The model structure for academies within ASCE and the business plan were presented to the Board of Direction in November 2002. The initial report and business plan were accepted and a successor committee was appointed to continue development of the elements of a specialty certification program. To accomplish specialty certification, this business plan proposes creation of a new entity within ASCE to be named Civil Engineering Certification Board, Inc. (CECB).

Currently, there is one established certifying organization that offers certification to civil engineers practicing in the discipline of environmental engineering. This is the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). AAEE was founded in 1955 "...for the principal purpose of serving the public by improving the practice, elevating the standards, and advancing public recognition of environmental engineering through a program of specialty certification of qualified engineers." ASCE was one of five founding associations of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. Other organizations have certification initiatives in progress, notably in the disciplines of structural and coastal engineering.

Role of the Institutes

The need for and desirability of specialty certification will originate within the Institutes of ASCE. The Institutes will also be responsible for stimulation of demand, publicity and in general, being the proponent for specialty certification within the discipline. The Institutes will also be responsible for development of the "body of knowledge" for use within the certification program. The Academies, consisting of specialty certified engineers, will reside within the Institutes.

Certification Models

Two certification models are under consideration. These models are conceptually named the 3E Model and the 4E Model. Both models will require a professional engineering license issued by a State registration board or equivalent as a condition for certification. Both models will also require that applicants be professionally engaged on a full-time basis in the specialty practice of civil engineering as a condition of certification.

3E Model

The 3E Model for certification will be comprised of three components – Education, Experience and Ethics. The educational requirement will be possession of a baccalaureate degree in civil engineering from an ABET accredited college of engineering or equivalent. It is intended that the educational component be consistent with ASCE Policy 465. The experience requirement will consist of 20 years of progressively responsible experience after receipt of the baccalaureate degree or 16 years after receipt of the professional engineering license. The ethics requirement will focus on high professional ethics in accordance with the ASCE Standards of Professional Conduct.

4E Model

The 4E Model for certification will be comprised of four components – Education, Experience, Ethics and Examination. The educational requirement will be possession of a baccalaureate degree in civil engineering from an ABET accredited college of engineering or equivalent. It is intended that the educational component be consistent with ASCE Policy 465. The experience requirement will consist of 8 years of progressively responsible experience after receipt of the baccalaureate degree or 4 years after receipt of the professional engineering license. The ethics requirement will focus on high professional ethics in accordance with the ASCE Standards of Professional Conduct. The examination component will consist of a written examination in the specialty practice area. The written examinations will be developed by the Institutes utilizing the appropriate body of knowledge.

EWRI Initiatives

The Governing Board of EWRI has been actively following the progress of the ASCE Task Committee on Specialty Certification. During its December 2002 meeting, the Governing Board voted to establish a Task Committee within EWRI to pursue specialty certification for water resources engineering. This TC will formally begin work if the Specialty Certification program is approved by the ASCE Board of Direction. Although EWRI will implement both the 3E and 4E models, the 3E program will take the lead since the 4E program will take considerable time to develop and validate the required examination(s). EWRI will be the first Institute to implement a specialty certification program.