Inquiries related to NETA technician certification, certification cards and certificates, eligibility, exam content, exam registration, CTDs, and approved CTD courses.
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Call 888 300-6382
Email: memberservices@netaworld.org.
Subject: Eligibility
Q. What is a NETA Certified Technician?
A. NETA Certified Technicians are technicians who are employed by a NETA Accredited Company and who have achieved NETA Certification at Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 through successful completion of the NETA examinations and meet continuing education, training, and years of experience requirements. To learn more about the specific requirements for each level of certification, please click here.
Q. How do I find a NETA Certified Technician?
A. NETA Certified Technicians must be employed by a NETA Accredited Company in order to be considered to have a valid certification card. To locate a NETA Accredited Company in your area, please click here.
Q. I don't work for a NETA Accredited Company, but I want to be certified. How can I do that?
A. NETA welcomes these types of inquiries. To learn more about NETA Certification and the requirements, please contact the NETA office and ask to speak with the Membership Development Manager. You can reach them by emailing memberservices@netaworld.org, or by calling 888-300-6382.
Q. How can I verify that a technician is a NETA Certified Technician?
A. NETA Certified Technicians must be employed by a NETA Accredited Company in order to be considered to have a valid certification. All NETA Certified Technicians are issued certification cards, which are valid for one year and one month, from January 1st through January 31st of the following calendar year. To locate a NETA Accredited Company in your area, please click here.
Subject: Exam Development
Q. I think I could help make the certification program better. Is there a way for me to get involved?
A. Yes. NETA has many volunteer opportunities, and encourages its members to be involved. If you are interested in participating, speak to your NETA Accredited Representative about exam item (question) writing opportunities that exist. If they aren't sure, they can always contact the NETA office for more information.
Subject: Recertification
Q. I am a Level 2, 3, or 4 Certified Technician but was dropped to Level 1, what happened?
A. Technicians who do not meet the requirements for recertification by the three-year deadline will lose their certification.
Q. How can I make sure that I am recertified?
A. Technicians who are a certified Level 2, 3, or 4 technician are offered three methods to recertify every three years.
1. Earn the requisite number of Continuing Technical Development (CTD) credits.
2. Retake the current level of certification.
3. Advance to the next level of certification by meeting all requirements and passing that exam.
Q. How many CTD credits are needed to recertify?
A. Level 2 Technicians are required to earn 24 CTD credits every 3 years to maintain their certification.
Level 3 and 4 Technicians are required to earn 48 CTD credits every three years to maintain their certification.
Q. How do I know if a training course I attended is recognized for CTD credit?
A. Each NETA Accredited Representative has access to the lists (Commercial and In-House) of NETA-recognized courses that are eligible for CTD credits. You can contact your Accredited Representative to request access to that listing.
Q. What if the course I want to take is not yet recognized?
A. Courses not yet recognized may be submitted for review and consideration by the NETA CTD Committee. This process can take six to eight weeks to complete, and is not a guarantee that credits will be awarded. It is recommended to submit a course prior to taking it if you need CTD credits. Notification of the CTD Committee's decision will be provided to your NETA Accredited Representative or Technician Representative.
Q. If I lose my certification, is there a grace period in which to earn it back?
A. Yes. If you fail to recertify by the deadline through CTD credits or by taking the certification exam, NETA allows you up to 12 months in which to retake the certification exam for the level of certification lost. However, during this grace period, you will be listed as a Level 1 Technician on your company's roster and will not receive a card or certificate until you are fully recertified.
Q. What if an unexpected life event prevented me from obtaining all of the required CTD credits?
A. Please contact your NETA Accredited Representative or Technician Representative to discuss your unique situation. They may choose to contact the NETA Office on your behalf.
Q. How do I know how many CTDs I currently have and when my recertification period ends?
A. The NETA Office provides an up-to-date CTD listing to each NETA Accredited Company once a quarter. If you are not sure how many credits you have, how many you need, or when they are due, you can contact your NETA Accredited Representative or Technician Representative to request that information.
Q. I earned more than the number of required credits. Do the extra credits roll over to the next recertification period?
A. No. Recertification is a means of assuring that everyone who carries a specific credential is continuing to remain current with emerging technologies, industry trends, best practices, and standards on an ongoing basis. It is important to make sure that this process is ongoing throughout the life of that individual's certification. This helps assure that every NETA Certified Technician can perform their job safely, accurately, and reliably.
Q. What happens to my certification if I leave the NETA Accredited Company for which I work and do not immediately go to work for another one?
A. Technicians are offered a five-year separation period from any NETA Accredited Company. As long as that technician maintains proof (written documentation meeting CTD documentation requirements) of their continuing technical development over the course of those five years, they are eligible to have their previous level of certification reinstated if they return to the employ of a NETA Accredited Company within five years of separation.
Q. Can I earn CTDs for attending PowerTest?
A. Yes. NETA Certified Technicians can earn up to 48 CTD's. Final CTD awards will be determined upon review.
Q. Can I earn CTDs for attending Member Meetings?
A. Yes. NETA Certified Technicians can earn up to 1 CTD credit for each Member Meeting attended.
Q. Can I earn CTDs for attending Technical Round Table session following a Member Meeting?
A. Yes. NETA Certified Technicians can earn up to 1 CTD credit for each Technical Round Table session attended.
Q. How many hours will I earn for each course that is approved?
A. CTD credits are determined on an hour-for-hour basis. For every hour of relevant, technical material presented during a course/technical activity, an hour of CTD credit is earned. Hours spent on irrelevant or non-technical material are not awarded credit.
Subject: Availability
Q. What if there are not any available seats or test centers near my location?
A. Contact the NETA office for assistance in scheduling. NETA will work with the testing provider to offer a solution.
Subject: Cancellation
Q. How do I cancel my exam?
A. Technicians can log into the online testing provider's website and submit a cancellation with at least 24 hours' notice. They are also welcome to contact the NETA office for assistance. Cancellations are not permitted within 24 hours of an exam.
Subject: Preparation
Q. How can I prepare for the exam?
A. To access a list of resources available to those preparing for a NETA Certification Exam, please click here. Additionally, PowerTest, NETA's annual technical conference, is an excellent resource to prepare for your exams as well. If you have additional questions about these resources, please contact your NETA Member Services Representative.
Subject: Pre-Registration
Q. What does pre-registration mean?
A. Pre-registration means that a technician has been verified by his NETA Accredited Company and validated by the NETA office as being eligible to sit for a NETA Certification Exam. When a technician is pre-registered, they have been issued a notification that they are able to log into the exam provider system and select a location, date, and time for their exam.
Subject: Refund
Q. If I cancel my exam, will I get my money back?
A. NETA offers a partial refund for any exam canceled more than 24 hours in advance of the date and time of the exam.
Subject: Registration
Q. If you register, can you cancel, change registration or transfer to another tech?
A. Yes, technicians can cancel and reschedule. However, they can not transfer an exam registration from one technician to another.
Q. How do I register to take the exam?
A. If you are interested in becoming NETA Certified at any level, please contact your NETA Accredited Representative to discuss your career path and plans. If you are not sure who your Accredited Representative is, please contact the NETA office and your Member Services Representative will direct you to the correct person within your company.
Q. Can I register in advance?
A. Registration for each exam window is 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
Q. Can I register in January for a test the following October?
A. No. Registration windows are only for the exam period immediately following the registration window.
Q. Can I take more than one exam in a day?
A. NETA Certification exams are meant to be taken in successive order, and successful completion of the Level 2 exam is a pre-requisite of taking the Level 3 exam. Levels 2 and 3 are required before attempting Level 4. Because there are additional pre-requisites, NETA staff needs time to verify that all pre-requisites are met before a technician attempts the next level of exam.
Subject: Score
Q. I don't understand my score. How can I learn more about what it means?
A. NETA offers a Frequently-Asked-Questions reference, which is part of the score letters issued following an exam. If you need help locating that document, please contact your NETA Accredited Representative, or contact the Member Service Department to learn who your NETA Accredited Representative is.
Q. Why are scaled scores not issued for passing scores?
A. NETA Certification is designed to assess whether a candidate meets the minimum requirements for competency, not to what degree each person is competent. That is not what the score measures.
Subject: Verification of Eligibility (VOE)
Q. Is the NETA certification number a required field?
A. No, but it is useful in assuring that the correct technician is linked to a pre-registration and your roster.
Q. Can multiple VOE forms be submitted during an exam period?
A. Yes.
Subject: Late Reschedule
Q. What if it is within 24 hours of my exam date and time?
A. Please contact the NETA office to discuss your unique situation at 888-300-6382.