The NRCEV has released revised Individual Certification documents and they have been posted on the DOCUMENTS page on the NRCEV website at www.nrcev.org .

The Individual Certification program includes some major revisions. 

The primary revision is in the way that the certification requirements are identified.  In the original version, the requirements were simply identified by a title or subject.  They were based on the outline of the ARRL EmComm courses.  However, since we permit other training materials and courses to be used as well towards certification, this format did not provide adequate information for individuals to determine exactly what training would meet those requirements, unless they were using the ARRL courses.

This revision has been revised to include a Training Subject area, the titles of which are still similar to the original, but each Training Subject area now has a Learning Objective associated with it.  These Learning Objectives clearly detail what the individual is expected to have learned.  They have been written in the SMART format for objectives: Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Task oriented.  This will assist individuals to know, exactly, whether or not the training they have obtained meets the certification requirement.

We have also removed two of the original requirements:

Affidavit of Criminal History: While, criminal background checks are valid when performed by served agencies, we realized, even from the outset, that almost universally, one organization does usually accept the criminal background check performed by another organization. Even if we wanted to include a background check, which we did not, that for certification we know that it would to be accepted.  However, we originally felt that something was needed.  So we included the Affidavit requirement.  Since then, for multiple reasons including the controversy with the American Red Cross background checks, we came to understand that if an "official" check would not likely be accepted, neither would a notarized Affidavit.  So, it became an unnecessary and therefore burdensome requirement, and has been removed.

Registration with an appropriate Emergency Management or Civil Defense organization:  While we still strongly encourage this for all EmComm volunteers, we came to realize, through comments and conversations with volunteers that can sometimes be a very difficult requirement to meet.  Especially, in those locations where Emergency Management or Civil Defense officials do not use EmComm volunteers, for various reasons.  Therefore, this requirement has been removed.

We previously announce that we are in the final stages of developing a Position Qualification program for EmComm Volunteers. As these documents become ready we will be posting them for national comment as well.  Part of developing this EmComm Positions Qualification System (EPQS) is revising the Individual Certification program so that they work in tandem with each other.  Together they will form a two part Certification/Qualification process.  Certification will validate an individual's level of training and preparation for Qualification.  Position Qualification will validate an individual's ability to perform in one or more specified EmComm positions.

The major change in the Certification program and requirements is in how Skill Verification is provided.  For initial Certification the Skill Verification process will remain intact.  It will also remain intact for Re-Certification until the EPQS program is launched.  After that time Qualification will be required, in at least one EPQS position for Re-Certification.  Certification and Qualification do not need to occur, and in fact are not expected to occur simultaneously.  The normal process will be that individual obtains Certification, then during the three year certification period they will become Qualified in a position.  So when reviewing the Certification Requirements & Training Objective document, please keep this in mind.