The Engineering Team

DOWNLOAD PDF                      

NSPE believes that the successful accomplishment of a project involves the creative, conceptualizing, organizational and analytical abilities of the engineer, application and operational talents of the technologist, and the practical skills of the technician. Moreover, NSPE recognizes the essential role played by the technologist and technician and the importance of their contribution to the engineering team. NSPE, therefore, supports the establishment of recognized levels of competence for technologists and technicians, and the development of programs leading to public acknowledgment of the contribution that all team members make to the accomplishment of successful engineering projects. To this end, NSPE:

1. Will cooperate with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the technical societies to assure formal educational programs, technical development programs and career development programs are provided for engineering technologists and technicians.
2. Will oppose legislation that would establish statutory requirements for engineering technologists and technicians.
3. Will include career guidance efforts for prospective engineering technologists and technicians.
4. 4. Will continue to sponsor and assist a financially self-supporting National Institute for Certification
   in Engineering Technologies (NICET) for the purpose of certifying engineering technologists and
   engineering technicians, by which engineering technologists and engineering technicians shall be
   certified as having achieved established specific levels of competency. (Bylaw 84, AP No. 21.)
5. Will support the American Society of Certified Engineering Technicians (ASCET) as an independent and financially self-supporting organization for certified engineering technicians.
   
   1. The president and president-elect of NSPE (or their authorized representatives) and the president and chairman of the board of ASCET will hold scheduled meetings, if possible, at the ASCET Annual Meeting and NSPE Winter Meeting to formally discuss pertinent issues that arise affecting both groups.
   2. When appropriate, joint task forces will be appointed to address specific issues and will report their findings and recommendations to both boards of directors for final action.
6. Will support a similar organization for engineering technologists, which may be designated as a Chartered Affinity Group.
7. Will continue to support and promote the philosophy that engineering licensure is a credential available only to graduates of ABET/EAC (or equivalent) accredited engineering programs.
8. Will oppose the use of any accreditation or certification programs for engineering technologists or technicians that would attempt to serve as a substitute for the practice of engineering or engineering licensure as defined by the jurisdictional laws for engineering licensure.
9. Believes that educators associated with engineering technologist and engineering technician programs are responsible for advising students of the relationship of those programs with the traditional engineering curriculum and that licensure as a professional engineer should be reserved for graduates of the engineering curriculum.
10. Will support employers and other groups in bringing consistency and clarity to employment titles involving engineer, technologist, and technician positions. The nature of these positions and responsibilities associated with them should be clearly identified.
11. Will direct its efforts toward securing realistic recognition for the engineering team members and will support and participate in career development and training programs directed toward the improvement of the competence of all team members.
12. Will solicit participation by qualified engineers, technologists, and technicians to work cooperatively toward enhanced recognition of the engineering team by the public and the resolution of issues affecting relationships among members of the engineering team.