ESA Unveils Fire Certification as a ‘Smoother’ Alternative to NICET
ESA says its Certified Fire Alarm Technician and Certified Fire Alarm Designer program can process qualified applicants’ certification requests in a matter of weeks instead of months.
(Image Credit: Constantin/stock.adobe.com)
DALLAS — The Electronic Security Association (ESA) announces its Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Fire certification it developed as an alternative equivalency to the NICET requirement for industry professionals that perform installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and programming of fire alarm systems.
The flexibility of ESA’s training options is an asset in an industry where those who need training spend most of their time in the field, according to the association.
To put together training courses, ESA says it works closely with subject matter experts who are well-versed in the codes and standards for commercial and residential fire alarm systems, including NFPA 72, life-safety codes and building codes.
ESA also consults fire marshals to make sure the program aligns with their expectations and collects their feedback to make enhancements to the curriculum and training materials as needed. It also get input from ESA’s Codes and Standards Committee.
“We pride ourselves on the training component and the service component where we really look to make the process of getting credentialing easy, quick and efficient,” notes Michelle Yungblut, ESA’s chief knowledge officer.
ESA has several options for training, enabling trainees to choose the experience that benefits them the most. Online courses support self-paced learning. Those who prefer a more interactive format can opt for live, instructor-led classes that are held virtually.
ESA notes that for states like Washington, where the fire alarm industry must abide by many regulations, waiting for NICET certifications to get approved can put a chokehold on getting techs onto the job site. Not only does this impact a business’s ability to serve their customers well, but it also damages their bottom line. ESA says its Certified Fire Alarm Technician and Certified Fire Alarm Designer program can process qualified applicants’ certification requests in a matter of weeks instead of months.
The flexible training options are said to allow techs to learn valuable information, use it in the field in real time and succeed at testing. Currently approved by twelve jurisdictions across the country, ESA’s fire alarm certification process is designed to support subject matter expertise.
For businesses that design and install fire alarms, making sure that technicians are trained and credentialed entails a significant allocation of resources. Typically, states that require certification approve NICET certifications for fire alarms. The process to obtain NICET certification can be a tedious and inefficient process, ESA points out.
“There are not a lot of training opportunities that allow techs to learn the information needed and let you achieve a NICET certification equivalent at the end of the course and there are none where you can actually achieve NICET certification at the end of the course without going through NICET ,” says Casey Williams, senior product enablement manager at ADT Commercial.
Click here to learn more about ESA’s Certified Fire Alarm Technician Fire certification and which states and jurisdictions allow ESA certification in lieu of NICET.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
