CERTIFICATION
(including PLAR)
Sam DiGiandomenico
Registrar
Director IETO
Barbara Chappell
Deputy Registrar
Objective
†Give appreciation of certification
process
†Better understanding of what IETO
does
†Assist you in aiding applicants
†PLAR – what, why, how
We Set the Standard
OACETT
2
Certification
DEFINITION:
† Declare by a certificate that a person is
qualified or competent (Oxford Canadian
dictionary)
† A guarantee (thesaurus)
We Set the Standard
OACETT
3
Requirements for Certification
† Academics/Learning
„ 3 year = technologist
„ 2 year = technician
„ “or equivalent”
† Work Experience (practical application,
member oversight)
† Professionalism (protection of public;
ethical behaviour; knowledge of common
law) – Professional Practice Exam
† Applied Research (Technology Report)
We Set the Standard
OACETT
4
Process for Certification
† Profession (OACETT) sets a standard
or level of competence:
„ National Technology Benchmarks
† Technician
† Technologist
“Currently in transition”
We Set the Standard
OACETT
5
Academics/Learning
† National Technology Benchmarks
„ A set of competency statements for each
discipline of engineering and applied
science technology.
„ A set of “General” competency
statements generic to all disciplines:
† Technician
† Technologist
We Set the Standard
OACETT
6
Academics/Learning
„ NTB are currently used in college
accreditation
† 3 year = technologist
† 2 year = technician
We Set the Standard
OACETT
7
Academics/Learning
† General Program Criteria
„ math, sciences, computers,
communication, project management,
etc. (applies to all disciplines)
† Discipline Specific Program Criteria
„ need at least 5 competencies plus
Applied Research for technologist
We Set the Standard
OACETT
8
Work Experience
† Minimum two years work experience
† Minimum of 6 months at level
(technician or technologist) applying
for certification
† Coop counts up to a maximum of 6
months credit
† Minimum one year in Canada (codes,
laws, language)
We Set the Standard
OACETT
9
Professionalism
† Professional Practice Examination
(PPE)
† Professional References
† Code of Ethics of the Association
† Rules of Professional Conduct
We Set the Standard
OACETT
10
Applied Research/Communication
† Ability to convey your ideas,
knowledge to others (make others
understand)
† Technology Report (for C.E.T.)
We Set the Standard
OACETT
11
C.Tech., C.E.T. or A.Sc.T.
† C.Tech. used for all technician disciplines
† C.E.T. used for Engineering Technology
traditional disciplines, e.g. Mechanical,
Electronics, Civil
† A.Sc.T. used for Applied Science
disciplines, e.g. Building (Architecture),
Chemistry, Environmental, Bioscience,
Aviation Management, etc.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
12
Disciplines of Registration
COLUMN I
CORE DISCIPLINE
COLUMN II
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
COLUMN III
APPLIED SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Civil/
Building/Geomatics Technology
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Civil Construction Engineering Technology
Civil Environmental Engineering Technology
Civil Municipal Engineering Technology
Civil Structural Engineering Technology
Civil Transportation Engineering Technology
Civil Water Resources Engineering Technology
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Building Design Technology
Building Construction Technology
Building Protection Management Technology
Building System Technology
Geomatics Technology
Geomatics Technology Hydrographics
Geomatics Technology Photogrammetric
Chemical/
Instrumentation/
Materials/Bioscience
Technology
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Chemical Engineering Technology
Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology: Plastics
Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology: Pulp and Paper
Instrumentation Engineering Technology
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Bioscience Technology: Agriculture
Bioscience Technology: Environmental
Bioscience Technology: Food
Bioscience Laboratory Technology
Bioscience Nephrology Technology
Chemical Laboratory Technology
Electrical/
Electronic/
Computer Technology
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Electrical Building Systems Engineering Technology
Industrial Controls Engineering Technology
Power Generation and Distribution Engineering Technology
Automation and Robotics Engineering Technology
Avionics Engineering Technology
Biomedical Electronics Engineering Technology
Computer Networks Engineering Technology
Electronics Design Engineering Technology
Telecommunications Engineering Technology
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Marine Engineering Technology
Mechanical Building Systems Engineering Technology
Mechanical Design Engineering Technology
Power Engineering Technology
Industrial Engineering Technology
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Broadcast Communications Technology
Software Technology
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Aviation Management Technology
Industrial Management Technology
Resources/Mining/
Geological
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Mining Engineering Technology
Geology/Geophysics Engineering Technology
Extractive Metallurgy Engineering Technology
Petroleum Engineering Technology
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Forest Resources Technology
Forest Recreational Technology
Resource Management Technology
Forestry Technology
Environmental
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Environmental Engineering Technology:
Analysis & Interpretation
Environmental Engineering Technology:
Prevention & Control
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Environmental Technology: Standards & Compliance
Environmental Technology: Process Management
Mechanical/
Industrial Technology
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We Set the Standard
OACETT
13
How Determine Title
† Apply standard in use to education
program:
„ Competency by competency comparison
„ Grads from accredited programs meet all
academic requirements including TR
„ Grads from non-accredited programs,
may or may not meet all academics
† Applicant asked to complete deficient
competencies
We Set the Standard
OACETT
14
AWARDING TITLE
† Graduates of:
„ accredited programs
† awarded C.E.T. if engineering technology
† awarded A.Sc.T. if applied science (Building,
Chemistry, etc.) need additional competencies to
C.E.T.
„ non accredited programs
† awarded C.E.T. if engineering technology after
T.R.
† awarded A.Sc.T. if engineering technology prior to
T.R.
† awarded A.Sc.T. if applied science; need
additional competencies to C.E.T., plus T.R.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
15
Awarding of Certificate
† IETO must satisfy itself that the
applicant has met all requirements
† Easy process for graduates from
accredited programs and most
Canadian programs
† Not so easy for other learners
† 70/30 rule
We Set the Standard
OACETT
16
Non Traditional Applicants
† International applicants not on IQDB
† Applicants who have no
college/university courses
† Applicants with some
college/university courses
† Certified technicians “laddering” to
technologist
† Other
We Set the Standard
OACETT
17
Non Traditional Applicants
† Difficult to meet academic requirements:
„ work all day
„ courses not offered at night
„ if courses available, takes years to
complete
„ distance prevents attendance at courses
† May have learned competencies in non
traditional way, e.g. work, workshops, selfstudy
We Set the Standard
OACETT
18
Non Traditional Learning
† Learning outside a formal educational
institution
† Challenge to assess learning outside
traditional avenue
† PLAR offers additional method
† Prior Learning Assessment
Recognition
We Set the Standard
OACETT
19
What Is PLAR?
† PLAR is a process which identifies, assesses and
recognizes what a person knows and can do.
† PLAR is based on the principle that significant learning
takes place outside of formal academic settings.
† PLAR is not an experience review and credit is only given
for learning that can be demonstrated and verified.
† An applicant must understand that it is not necessarily a
fast track method; it is a service to help a candidate get
credit for learning which has previously occurred so the
learning does not need to be repeated.
† PLAR is focused on what the learner knows and he or she
has the primary responsibility for preparing evidence that
learning has taken place with tangible proof of
competence being provided.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
20
Timely & Relevant
† IETO supports PLAR and has been providing opportunities for
many years to candidates with non traditional learning, or those
who cannot provide the necessary credentials to demonstrate
their learning, to potentially earn credit towards certification.
IETO currently has an associate curve, technician curve and
Special Consideration for Mature Applicants process.
† The IETO Rules currently state that “An examination may … be
waived if through a Prior Learning Experience Review (PLAR) it
can be demonstrated that an applicant has achieved the
competencies that would have been achieved in a formal
learning experience.” (2.5.3)
† In light of the increased focus being put on PLAR by
governments in general and the Office of the Fairness
Commission in particular, it is timely to revisit our PLAR
methods and policy.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
21
PLAR at OACETT
† Recognition of prior learning should be based on
demonstrated learning. The learning must be measurable.
† Recognition of prior learning should be consistent with the
achievement levels required by the appropriate standards
currently in use by IETO.
† Recognition of prior learning must be transparent. The
candidate must know the competencies used to assess
his/her skills and knowledge.
† Assessment of prior learning and the determination of
competency/credit must be made by discipline specialists,
i.e. the Admissions Committee.
† Recognition through prior learning should be considered
equal to recognition awarded in the traditional way.
† An appeal process for candidates not satisfied with the
PLAR assessment must be available.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
22
PLAR at OACETT
† Ultimately, IETO is assessing what a member must do,
know, and comprehend based on the required
competencies for each of our disciplines of registration.
† Knowledge, skills and abilities that meet our standards
ensure technical credibility, reliability and validity
deserving of our marks of certification.
† PLAR may be used to demonstrate either academic or
experience requirements on the road to certification.
† It may not be used for credit towards the certification
requirements of the Professional Practice Exam or
Technology Report.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
23
Using PLAR for Academic Credit
† In order to be eligible to use PLAR towards academic
certification requirements, the member must fit either of
the two following profiles:
„
„
„
„
Few academics for either C.Tech., A.Sc.T. or C.E.T.
Relevant work experience
Working or has clearly worked at the technician or
technologist level according to the Profiles of a Technician
or Technologist
Good to excellent references
We Set the Standard
OACETT
24
Assessment Methods to be
Utilized at OACETT
† Any one or a combination of the following methods may
be used/assigned by the Admissions Committee:
„ Technician curve
„ Technical Exams
„ College Courses
„ Portfolio (may include interview) – NEW to OACETT
We Set the Standard
OACETT
25
Portfolios
† A portfolio is an excellent method for PLAR offering equal access
across the province.
† It uses the current resources of our admissions committee.
† A portfolio is a collection of materials prepared to document and
validate a request for recognition of previously acquired learning.
† It assists applicants to identify their knowledge, skills and
competencies relative to predetermined benchmarks in a
standard consistent format.
† Portfolios are suitable when a member is seeking credit for one
or a number of competencies as they can be addressed in one
portfolio.
† Portfolios should be a timelier and cost efficient method for a
candidate rather than numerous technical exams.
† Portfolios can be undertaken by an individual as a solo
endeavour or as a portfolio development course at various
Ontario colleges.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
26
The Components of the Portfolio
† Cover page
† Table of Contents
† Letter of Self Introduction/Autobiographical Statement, and
Attestation that the portfolio is the member’s own and that all
learning represented is solely theirs unless otherwise noted (group
paper for example)
† Goals Paper (What learning/competencies need(s) to be
demonstrated)
† Resume/Chronological Record of Achievement
† Demonstration of Learning Outcomes/Competency Statements
† Verification of Learning – records of formal or informal learning,
teaching, industrial instruction, specialized or other activities,
certificates, references, notarized attestations from employers,
essays, research papers demonstrating knowledge, drawings,
reports, etc.
† Reflection/Summary
† Other as determined by member
We Set the Standard
OACETT
27
Example – Candidate 1: 20 years
technologist experience; technician
academics
† Assign missing competencies to
technologist.
† Certification summary indicates that
candidate has choice to write technical
exams, find courses covering the
competencies at college or prepare a
portfolio if he/she can demonstrate that
one or more competencies have been met
through prior learning.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
28
Example – Candidate 2: 10 years
technologist experience; associate level
academics
† Theoretically it should be possible for someone to
advance to technologist strictly through proving
competencies based on PLAR. Such a candidate
would most likely have extraordinary work history as
well as a history of self-study and continuing
education.
† Assign missing competencies to technologist based on
extraordinary background.
† Certification summary indicates that candidate has
choice to write technical exams, find courses covering
the competencies at college or prepare a portfolio if
he/she can demonstrate that one or more
competencies have been met through prior learning.
We Set the Standard
OACETT
29
Quality Assurance
† The PLAR assessment must ensure that the
evidence submitted by the learner is:
„ VERIFIABLE – valid, reliable, adequate - can the
candidate prove conclusive ownership of the
submitted evidence?
„ TRANSFERABLE – is there enough evidence to
prove that the skill or knowledge claimed can be
transferred from one context to another?
(employers)
„ CURRENT – does the evidence represent current
professional/vocational levels of competency?
„ RELATIVE - is the evidence related directly to
the currently accepted standards?
We Set the Standard
OACETT
30
Summary
In summary the certification process includes the following
key components:
„
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„
„
Academics/Learning – equivalent to 2 or 3 year college
program – NTB, PLAR
Work experience – 2 years (1 year Canadian)
Professionalism (protection of public; ethical
behaviour; knowledge of common law) - PPE
Communication (Technology Report)
We Set the Standard
OACETT
31
Questions?
We Set the Standard
OACETT
32