Discussion:
NICET versus NFPA CFPS
C***@ch2m.com
2016-06-23 21:27:38 UTC
Permalink
I have some management types confused on these certifications and what they represent in the industry.

Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these two programs?

I'm not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party's opinion and evaluation.

My opinion doesn't count of course, I'm prejudiced. :)

Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension 77540
***@ch2m.com
John Allen, CET, CFPS
2016-06-23 21:44:46 UTC
Permalink
It depends on your career path.

NICET: Specializes industry and is required by almost every states to perform design and/or installation/service - Fire Alarm, Sprinkler Layout, I&T, and Special Hazard.

NFPA CFPA: Overall generalization and is not required by state (but adds weight with fire marshals) - covers just about all the above aspects, including egress and fire department requirements.

This is at a high-level, but it's my experience (since I have them all).

Best Regards,

John Allen, CET, CFPS
President
[cid:***@01D1CD76.ED9F9A70][cid:***@01D1CD76.ED9F9A70]

[cid:***@01D0245C.265C51C0]
AFS: Allen Fire & Security
Your Safety is Our Success
Direct: 770.715.7261 | Office: 770.723.7280 Ext 2 | Fax: 678.894.4180

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From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of ***@ch2m.com
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 5:28 PM
To: ***@lists.firesprinkler.org
Subject: NICET versus NFPA CFPS

I have some management types confused on these certifications and what they represent in the industry.

Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these two programs?

I'm not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party's opinion and evaluation.

My opinion doesn't count of course, I'm prejudiced. :)

Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension 77540
***@ch2m.com<mailto:***@ch2m.com>
Morey, Mike
2016-06-23 21:46:02 UTC
Permalink
Being a holder of both, NICET is by far and away the recognized program for sprinkler design, ITM and alarm design nationwide. CFPS is generally most widely recognized by the insurance industry and fire service. CFPS focuses on fire protection as a end to end concern but in more general terms. NICET is much more focused and technically detailed. CFPS is a nice extra though it hasn't gained me a ton it's a good feather in the cap for someone primarily practicing in the sprinkler industry.

Sent from OWA on Android
________________________________
From: Sprinklerforum <sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org> on behalf of ***@ch2m.com <***@ch2m.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 5:27:38 PM
To: ***@lists.firesprinkler.org
Subject: NICET versus NFPA CFPS

I have some management types confused on these certifications and what they represent in the industry.

Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these two programs?

I'm not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party's opinion and evaluation.

My opinion doesn't count of course, I'm prejudiced. :)

Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension 77540
***@ch2m.com
Travis Mack, SET
2016-06-23 21:50:51 UTC
Permalink
I held both at one time. I let the CFPS lapse. Professionally, it
really did nothing for me. I am, and will always be a sprinkler guy.
The CFPS exam covers great breadth, but the depth is very shallow.
NICET has a very narrow breadth, but the depth is extensive.

I guess if I ever decided to go into the insurance end of the business,
I would look at picking it back up. It seemed to have a bit of weight
with the insurance reviewers. But as a design guy that is solely
focused on sprinklers, there is no doubt that NICET is the way to go.

Travis Mack, SET
MFP Design, LLC
2508 E Lodgepole Drive
Gilbert, AZ 85298
480-505-9271
fax: 866-430-6107
email:***@mfpdesign.com

http://www.mfpdesign.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692
Send large files to us via: https://www.hightail.com/u/MFPDesign
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travismack
Post by Morey, Mike
Being a holder of both, NICET is by far and away the recognized
program for sprinkler design, ITM and alarm design nationwide. CFPS is
generally most widely recognized by the insurance industry and fire
service. CFPS focuses on fire protection as a end to end concern but
in more general terms. NICET is much more focused and technically
detailed. CFPS is a nice extra though it hasn't gained me a ton it's
a good feather in the cap for someone primarily practicing in the
sprinkler industry.
Sent from OWA on Android
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Sprinklerforum
*Sent:* Thursday, June 23, 2016 5:27:38 PM
*Subject:* NICET versus NFPA CFPS
I have some management types confused on these certifications and what
they represent in the industry.
Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these two programs?
I’m not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party’s
opinion and evaluation.
My opinion doesn’t count of course, I’m prejudiced. J
*Craig L. Prahl**
*Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
*CH2M*
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension 77540
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Sprinklerforum mailing list
http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
John Allen, CET, CFPS
2016-06-23 21:57:28 UTC
Permalink
It depends on your career path.

NICET: Specializes industry and is required by almost every states to perform design and/or installation/service - Fire Alarm, Sprinkler Layout, I&T, and Special Hazard.

NFPA CFPA: Overall generalization and is not required by state (but adds weight with fire marshals) - covers just about all the above aspects, including egress and fire department requirements.

This is at a high-level, but it's my experience (since I have them all).

Best Regards,

John Allen, CET, CFPS
President

AFS: Allen Fire & Security
Your Safety is Our Success
Direct: 770.715.7261 | Office: 770.723.7280 Ext 2 | Fax: 678.894.4180

Please consider the environment before printing this email
This email contains proprietary and confidential material for the sole use of the intended recipient and is the sole property of AFS. Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by others without the permission of the sender is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient (or authorized to receive for the recipient), please contact the sender by reply email and delete all copies of the message.



From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of ***@ch2m.com<mailto:***@ch2m.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 5:28 PM
To: ***@lists.firesprinkler.org<mailto:***@lists.firesprinkler.org>
Subject: NICET versus NFPA CFPS

I have some management types confused on these certifications and what they represent in the industry.

Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these two programs?

I'm not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party's opinion and evaluation.

My opinion doesn't count of course, I'm prejudiced. :)

Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension 77540
***@ch2m.com<mailto:***@ch2m.com>
Jim Davidson
2016-06-27 15:47:56 UTC
Permalink
Craig,



In order to define the differences between the two certifications we
need to see where the certifications were developed and who was behind
the development of the certifications:

* NICET stands for National Institute for Certification in
Engineering Technologies and is a not for profit
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization> division of the
NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers to create a nationally
recognized certification for engineering technicians in a wide variety
of engineering fields of practice..

* The CFSE certification program was started in the early 1970's
by the Philadelphia's "Benjamin Franklin Chapter" of NFPA to offer a
professional certification. The purpose of the certification was to
document and recognize an individual's knowledge of fire protection
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_protection> , fire prevention
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_prevention> , and fire safety
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_safety> for various personal with
responsibilities in the fields previously noted, the individuals worked
in various fields such and property loss control consultants in the
insurance industry, hospital fire marshals and related fire safety
personal, commercial and industrial facility staff and management
responsible for fire safety and fire protection and prevention programs
and systems and various other individuals.



NICET is involved with detail design and testing of engineering
technicians and is a non-profit division of the National Society of
Professional Engineers, while CFPS is more of a general test of an
individual's knowledge of fire protection
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_protection> , fire prevention
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_prevention> , and fire safety
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_safety> not detailed system design
information.



Hope this helps!



Have a fire safe day!



Regards



Jim







Davidson Associates



Fire Protection Engineering
P. O. Box 4002

Code Consultants
Greenville, DE 19807


(302) 994-9500


Fax (302) 994-3414



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From: Sprinklerforum
[mailto:sprinklerforum-***@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of
***@ch2m.com
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 5:31 PM
To: ***@lists.firesprinkler.org
Subject: NICET versus NFPA CFPS



I have some management types confused on these certifications and what
they represent in the industry.



Does anyone have any info that spells out the differences between these
two programs?



I'm not looking for a debate of value here. I need an outside party's
opinion and evaluation.



My opinion doesn't count of course, I'm prejudiced. J


Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29607
Direct - 864.920.7540

Fax - 864.920.7129

CH2MHILL Extension 77540
***@ch2m.com

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