As part of the continuing drive for high standards within the industry, CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) has announced that professional certification will be mandatory for all UK-based CEDIA ESP (Electronic Systems Professional) members from January 2008.
All UK-based CEDIA ESP members will need to have at least one certified member of staff in full time employment by this date to validate their membership of the Association. This certified status qualification can be achieved by success in either the CEDIA Installer Level I and 2 or Designer Level 1 examination.
CEDIA-certified professionals must then take a minimum number of continuing education units (CEU’s) each year to maintain their status. Units are allocated for attendance and completion of courses on the CEDIA Education programme and CEDIA-approved manufacturer training courses. Mandatory certification will be rolled out to include all CEDIA Region 1 members in the near future.
“The CEDIA Professional Certification programme delivers a range of benefits to individuals, consumers and manufacturers,” says Steve Martin, CEDIA’s chair of education. “It establishes clear, objective standards for the required skills and knowledge of electronics system designers and installers, ensuring certified contractors are recognised as the best qualified to design and install home electronic systems. With CEDIA’s commitment to raising industry standards, it makes perfect sense, therefore, to require certification as a condition of CEDIA membership.”
Currently, over 130 CEDIA UK members have attained certified status. The next available date for installers to sit CEDIA Installer Level I and 2 or Designer Level 1 examinations will be at CEDIA Expo, 25-28 June 2007, ExCeL London.
www.cedia.co.uk
