I have only just recently, become aware of the CPESC certification. My hometown just passed a local bylaw (Stormwater Management & Land Disturbance Regulations) requiring all proposed developments with over 20,000 s.f. of "cumulative" alteration of land to file for a Special Permit before development can take place.
A condition of the special permit is that the applicant must submit a Site Plan, prepared by a Prof. Eng. AND a CPESC. WOW! I thought that once I obtained an education, took the EIT, worked for several years, busted my but to pass the PE that I had finally obtained the stature of a Professional and that my credibility and ability to provide a suitable ESC plan wouldnt be questioned!
Of course, I will now have to travel to RI or PA or NY in the next few months to spend two days training, or in my case "re-training" and getting privately "re-certified", by a company that I, and apparently few others, know very little about. So thats 2 days of lost wages, travel, meals, hotel expense, and of course the cost of the course and exam, and annual renewal, to have someone tell me what I already know. BUT I get a piece of paper to prove it, and the honor and priviledge of charging no more for my services than I already do. Oh yeah and I'll have to throw away 500 business cards and get them reprinted with PE, CPESC added, so that EVERYONE will know that I too, was sucker punched into getting another useless "Private" certification.
But wait, here we go down the slippery slope of Local government officials (most often lay persons, aggreived by a recent development of the woods in their back yard), using their new found position and "powers" to stroke thier egos, and promulgate regulations that are not always based on sound reasoning and logical principles.
Essentially, until I get my certification from CPESC, INC. as a CPESC, I will need to hire a CPESC consultant to review and sign my own plans, in my own town. Oh, and just to add salt to the wound, since 1990 their have been only 33 - yeah thats right 33 CPESC's obtained in my whole state. That's 10,000+ practicing PE's and only 33 CPESC's, of which about half are PE's. Im afraid that if this catches on with the other town's in my area, I may be out of business, in an already dismal economy.
Just to add another kick in the groin when your already down for the count, the consulting engineer's firm for the planning board, has three of the CPESC's in his office. The closest CPESC to my office (other than the Consultants) is 20+ miles away.
Another thing that worries me is that this is a "Private" company, (Which apparently has only been around since 2000 and according to their profile on www.manta.com, only has 2 employees and manufactures Industrial instruments for Measurement, etc). How did this company gain credibility to issue these certifications (has anyone asked or does anyone really know the history of the company?)
Does anyone know if this certification has been sanctioned or recognized by ANY state or federal agency, dept, etc. What do the Professional Registration Boards have to say about "local municipalities" REQUIRING professional certification from a "Private" company. What is next a "Private" certification for design of retaining walls, drainage, surveying, you name it. Where will it stop. If it doesnt, would anyone like to take Bill's certification for sewer and pump design, I hear its going to be a local by-law in my home town soon, and the two hour training course is only $500 and its just another $200 a year renewal fee ($150 if you subscribe to my newsletter published by Bills Sewer & Pump, Inc.). I'm hoping it will catch on and in a few years everyone will want to be certified by me, if it does I might branch out into other fields of certification as well, say Doctors and Lawyers. Their State licenses will be useless in my town, without Bill's Inc, certification for Internal Medicine and Tort's.
My opinion, as if its not obvious, take the course for CEU credit, or for training just so you can keep abreast of the latest in science and tech., but to make it a requirement to perform a job for which licensure already assures "competentency", and reputation assures "quality" this certification is HOGWASH.
Professionals should take pride in their abilty to obtain licensure, and NOT allow self-serving private companies , to "cheapen" our status by offering "certifications", (after all if you dont pass the test, they cant collect the $200.00 for going past GO).
