The Building Inspection Engineers Certification Institute’s (Button Text) certification program has achieved accreditation by the Council of Scientific and Engineering Specialty Boards (Button Text). CESB was formed in 1990, with its mission being to set standards for certification programs in engineering and related fields and to accredit programs complying with those standards. In addition to CESB, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) also accredit credentialing programs similar to the BIECI certification program.
Certification of scientific, medical, and engineering specialties started in 1911 with licensed physician ophthalmologists seeking a way to distinguish their special training. Medical certification programs grew in number over the next 40 years, becoming an accepted trend in medicine by the early 1950s. Environmental engineers developed a specialty certification in 1955, with many other programs following in engineering and allied health professions. There are more than 1,000 occupational certification programs in operation today.
The BIECI certification program has been found in general compliance with the standards set forth by CESB. Certification under this program bestows the title of Board-Certified Building Inspection Engineer on those meeting the qualifications. This credential is worth your consideration if you have not already obtained it, as it is now available through an accredited program.
*This article had been posted in the Summer 2011 edition of The Examiner.