November 29, 2010 – According to the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League, utility engineers will one day soon routinely check for PEARL Technician Certification before sending a transformer or a switch off to a supplier to be reconditioned.

The PEARL Technician Certification Committee responsible for developing the program says it just took the industry closer to that time during a recent two-day workshop hosted by Douglas Powell, committee chair. During the summer, the committee developed technician profiles for each of the four certification levels in the Technician Certification program, which include:

• Level 1 – Entry technician
• Level 2 – Journey technician
• Level 3 – Lead/advanced technician
• Level 4 – Supervisory technician

In addition to establishing titles and descriptions, those profiles define training and work history requirements, and essential duties.

“I believe that a well-designed technical certification program will not only add great value to each of PEARL’s members, but will send a powerful message to the industry and to all our customers that PEARL is serious about raising the performance bar for the electrical reconditioning industry,” said Powell.

At the most recent meeting, the committee moved to the next step: drafting the Practice Analysis for Level 1 Technicians. This is an essential part of developing a framework for the testing process, according to Powell. First, the committee had to determine the most critical common work assignments and skill sets for a Level 1 Technician. Next, they had to select more specific skill areas upon which the technicians will be tested.

“This is just part of the development process to ensure we have a fair and creditable exam,” said Powell. “We hope to roll out this Level 1 Practice Analysis to our membership at the 2013 conference where we will be looking for more subject matter experts to assist us in the critical review of the work the committee has completed thus far.”