In the professional certification process, the National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers (NARTE) confirms your ESD control experience, then verifies your knowledge of ESD technology by administering a comprehensive examination.
The program started in January 1995, and already more than 250 engineers and technicians have successfully completed the certification process. The past two years have brought more publicity to the program, and both the regional and national availability of the exam is expected to increase awareness and participation dramatically.
The ESDC certification validates your level of experience, knowledge, and competency. Self-development and continuing education are demonstrated by the document and usually factored into performance reviews.
Your employer benefits from this certification, too. Having a roster of certified personnel demonstrates the company’s commitment to overall ESD control. In cases where ISO 9000 incorporates ESD control, the audits will reflect this type of professional qualification. If you are in a manufacturing organization, your certification can help improve communications between your company and the customer.
The Qualifications
Each engineering applicant for certification must have at least nine years of ESD-related work experience and each technician applicant six years. Education may be substituted for some of this experience. You must have three reference endorsements, including one from your supervisor.
Also, you must submit a list of 10 questions for use in future exams and pay a $24 fee with the application and $25 for the test. An additional administrative fee is required in some cases but waived if the exam is taken following the EOS/ESD Symposium or one of the association’s new Regional Education (RED) programs.
Preparing for the Exam
There are several ways you can prepare for the exam. At the local level, chapters of the ESD Association sponsor RED tutorials to offer in-depth preparation. Similar tutorials are presented at the annual symposium. Each RED preparation program is followed by the exam.
The technical sessions during the annual EOS/ESD Symposium offer an additional opportunity to enhance your knowledge and help you prepare for the exam. In its role as an educational group, the ESD Association also conducts a number of regional general training classes each year.
The association encourages you to prepare at your own pace. Several reference materials are recommended for private study, including:
- ESD Handbook, ESD Association, 1994.
- Standards, Glossaries, and Advisories, ESD Association.
- McAteer, O., Electrostatic Discharge Control, McGraw-Hill, 1990.
- Dangelmayer, T., ESD Program Management: A Realistic Approach to Continuous, Measurable Improvement in Static Control, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999.
- Amerasekera, A. and Duvvury, C., ESD in Silicon Integrated Circuits, John Wiley & Sons, 1995.
- Boxleitner, W., Electrostatic Discharge and Electronic Equipment: A Practical Guide for Designing to Prevent ESD Problems, IEEE Press, 1988.
The Exam
All engineering and technician applicants must pass an eight-hour, open-book examination to be certified. The exam covers a broad range of ESD control fundamentals, including program design and management, ESD theory, standards and specifications, and specific ESD control procedures.
You may bring books, publications, notes, and other printed material to the exam. At some sites, you can have a portable computer, but check first to see if it is permitted at your test location.
How to Begin the Process
The ESD Association offers a certification packet with detailed eligibility requirements, application forms, study references, and instructions on how to apply to NARTE for certification. The association also maintains a complete schedule of preparatory tutorials and certification tests. ESD Association, 315-339-6937, www.esda.org.
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September 2000