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#198524 01/25/11 07:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
Do the employers here place any value on an applicant having BICSI certification?

Do any of the working folk find the certification to be of value?

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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 337
S
Member
As an engineer and specifier, my specifications require one. Do I think that someone not certified can do as good a job? Absolutely, but with that being said, our IT department who control this spec also expect a 25 year warranty on the job, thus the requirement which puts in place the warranty.

On the other hand, I have no idea what are the qualifcations or the cost to become BICSI certified other than there are 3 levels. I believe that the BICSI requirements may be of more value in the design phase.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
I've worked a few jobs where the data work had to be "certified." I still don't know what that means - but no one ever asked me for any documentation that I had received any training.

I've known folks who were 'trained' by the vendor whose alarms, etc., they sold, or who went to seminars put on by connector manufacturers.

A look at the BICSI site tells me the course takes a week, costs about $900, plus a $140 book. It appears to address ALL types of low-voltage wiring, from Cat-6 to Coax and fiber. Add in the hotel expense - the more advanced levels are taught only in Florida - and it's a serious investment. The certification is good for three years.

I think you can understand why I wanted to know if there was any 'return on the investment.'

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
G
Member
Personally I'm more interested in the end result than the certificates.
I specify certified installers only to head off that future day when I try to get something fixed under warranty only to be told that the warranty is void because the installer wasn't qualified/trained/certified to work on that manufacturer's stuff.
As long as it's installed right, works fine, tests okay and I get a full warranty; I really don't care if "Bob the Builder" puts it in.
smile


Ghost307
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
BICSI is trying to do the same thing to "data" that NFPA did to the electrical trade. They would really like their certification to be incorporated into the law.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 787
L
Member
Quote
I've worked a few jobs where the data work had to be "certified." I still don't know what that means - but no one ever asked me for any documentation that I had received any training.


I suspect that the "certified" work meant that the finished wiring was tested to ensure it met all of the required data rates, cross talk, etc. specifications. Not that the installer was "certified" to install it.


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