The commission and information gathering initiative are part of CEDIA’s continuing efforts to better align certification and education with the needs of the workforce
CEDIA and its recently launched Certification Commission are calling on technicians to participate in a survey designed to shape the future of CEDIA Certification and education initiatives.The CEDIA Technician Survey, which is open through April 22, involves feedback from technicians or those who supervise technicians. The commission and information gathering initiative are part of CEDIA’s continuing efforts to better align certification and education with the needs of the workforce.
The Certification Commission, a permanent body established by the CEDIA Board of Directors, sets policies and provides independent oversight of the CEDIA Certification program with the goal of developing certifications that are accredited to the globally-recognized ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 standard.
“As we define areas of certification, we need to identify tasks, skills, and areas which need to be included,” CEDIA Certification Commission Chairman Dennis Erskine said. “For CEDIA Certification to carry real weight and meaning, we need member participation along the way, and the survey offers a nice opportunity to weigh in. This commission is the first of its kind for CEDIA and its creation as a permanent body demonstrates a major commitment to one of the organization’s best assets — CEDIA Certification.”
CEDIA and the commission are working their way through updates, improvements, and potential new certifications, beginning with entry-level and moving toward advanced and specialized certification types.
The survey results, which will help inform the work of CEDIA and the commission, examine the regular duties and tasks of technicians and provide key data that CEDIA will use to update and build certifications, develop relevant education tracks, and to accurately represent the industry to government bodies and prospective members of the industry.
For completing the survey, current CEDIA Certification holders can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which help CEDIA Certification holders maintain their credentials. CEDIA Certification credentials are designed to reflect defined areas of knowledge in the home technology industry.
“CEDIA is committed to taking a holistic and global approach to keeping CEDIA Certification at the cutting edge of the needs of the industry now and into the future,” said CEDIA Director of Certification David Whitney. “The organization, in conjunction with the Certification Commission, is dedicated to best practices for the program, including fielding this more in-depth survey every few years and monitoring exam content annually to reflect new standards or changing technology. Our commitment to world class certification extends beyond updating an exam or two — we’re initiating a whole quality management system to make sure that certifications are always fair, up-to-date, and rigorous.”
The accreditation process involves meticulous assessments to ensure the organization seeking accreditation follows international standards and demonstrates competency for their work. For certification holders and the general public, accreditation ensures that the credentialing body is developing exams that are fair, accurate, and reliable.
Members of the CEDIA Certification Commission are:
- Dennis Erskine, commission chairman, Erskine Group
- Pete Trauth, commission vice-chairman, Nirvana Home Entertainment
- Andy Baker, commission secretary, Baker Stone Systems
- James Chen, Kordz
- Henry Clifford, Livewire
- Frank DeFilippis, DISH Network
- Omar Hikal, The Brand Company
- Mike Ranpura, Smart Life AV
- Amanda Wildman, TruMedia
Technicians and supervisors can take the survey here and learn more about CEDIA Certification here.
