POV: New CTS Renewal Process
Apr 1, 2008 12:00 PM,
By John Pfleiderer
If you are one of the more than 9,500 audiovisual professionals holding the CTS credential, you should be aware of changes to the CTS renewal process. Continuing education is an important component in demonstrating a personal and public commitment to maintaining competency within a professional certification program. The InfoComm International Independent Certification Committee renewal program for CTS certification is designed to reflect that commitment, as well as meet the ISO/IEC/17024 accreditation requirements as administered in the United States by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). All levels of CTS designations are awarded for a period of three years. Certificants who wish to maintain their CTS, CTS-I, and CTS-D designations must meet the renewal requirements of the InfoComm Certification Committee in order to maintain their certifications.
The renewal process is designed to provide certified AV specialists with the opportunity to demonstrate their ongoing efforts to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform their jobs in the field. The program has been designed to facilitate continued competence through participation in a variety of learning experiences, each of which may be linked to the current competency requirements of the certification examinations. Continuing to uphold and abide by the CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct is also a requirement for maintaining and renewing certification.
A listing of Certification Committee-approved courses and opportunities is posted and regularly updated online. Those offering programs they wish to offer for renewal-unit approval should refer to the Renewal Unit Provider Handbook found online at www.infocomm.org/renewal. The awarding of renewal units by the InfoComm Independent Certification Committee does not mean that the certification committee endorses, accredits, approves, or sanctions any particular course. Renewal units awarded are based upon documented guidelines and supporting materials provided during the application process.
For individuals earning any level of CTS credential on or after Dec. 1, 2007, the new renewal guidelines are in effect. For CTS holders earning the credential prior to Dec. 1, 2007, at any level, these guidelines take effect as of your next scheduled renewal date for the next renewal cycle or as of the date of obtaining an additional credential — thus changing the date of the renewal cycle. Renewal units earned prior to July 1, 2008, will remain as earned. The specific requirements related to matching the renewal units to Exam Content Outline domain areas were to be phased in starting Dec. 1, 2007, to be fully implemented as of July 1, 2008.
Certificants applying for renewal at any CTS level must have been actively employed in the AV industry for a minimum period of one year during the three-year certification period. They also must have completed 30 approved renewal units (RUs) within the three-year certification period. Please note that each specialty level of certification over the basic CTS level must be renewed separately; however, the general CTS does not have to be renewed separately if the individual maintains a higher specialty level of certification (CTS-I or CTS-D). Certificants must also sign and agree to continue to abide by and uphold the CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct. He or she also agrees to continue to use any CTS designation in an authorized and appropriate manner.
Each certified individual is responsible for maintaining his or her own record of the number of hours of continuing education that have been accrued during the three-year renewal cycle, including dates and supporting documentation. InfoComm provides an online transcript of InfoComm-registered courses only. Renewal units earned by certificants at ctstranscript.infocomm.org may be printed as documentation for those courses completed. For other courses, individuals will need to maintain and submit a copy of the course completion certificates along with the renewal application. The individual is responsible for maintaining the required documentation to be submitted at the time of renewal.
For more information about renewal requirements, including how advanced CTS holders are impacted, please consult the Certification Renewal Handbook at www.infocomm.org/renewal. These renewal guidelines will result in the further professionalization of the AV industry and are based upon input from volunteer subject matter experts and approved through various volunteer committees adhering to ISO/IEC 17024 guidelines as administered in the United States through ANSI.
John Pfleiderer,CTS-D, CTS-I, is chair of the Renewal Committee, which reports to InfoComm’s Independent Certification Committee. He is a technology manager with Cornell University CIT Classroom Technologies.
