CERTIFICATION RENEWAL

Q. Why is IMSA requiring certification renewal?  Is it just a way to increase IMSA income?
A. The IMSA Board of Directors made the decision to require a certification renewal program in order to maintain the integrity of the certification program.  A special committee spent over eighteen months researching the issue and concluded that it was in the best interest of persons holding IMSA certification to develop and implement a program to insure continued competency.

On April 30, 2004 a draft version of the Certification Renewal Program was sent to all of the IMSA Section Certification Chairmen, Section Secretaries, Section Treasurers and IMSA Directors and Alternates from Mr. Glen Bollinger, Certification Renewal Sub-Committee Chairman asking for comments.  In his memo, Mr. Bollinger also said “Please keep in mind that we have to start somewhere and we need to have a ‘procedure’ ready for approval in July at the Denver Conference.”  The International Board of Directors, the governing body of the Association, voted to approve the certification renewal program and set the fees for the program.

IMSA did not develop re-certification to increase income.  The fees generated by certification renewals go towards the development of new and expanded certification programs and cover the cost of administering the program.

Q. If I hold a certification that requires Work Zone as a prerequisite do I have to renew my Work Zone Certification?
A. No.  If the Work Zone Certification is a requirement of a higher certification it is not necessary to renew your Work Zone certification.  The Committee did not feel that was necessary if someone could prove competency of a higher level.

Please note that the state of Florida has mandatory Work Zone renewal requirements.  The State of Florida requires that in order to renew your Florida Work Zone certification you must either complete the Florida Work Zone Renewal Program or take the Florida Work Zone Program again.  Please note that the State of Florida does not allow you to challenge the Work Zone Certification examination.  You must complete the program.

Q. Do I have to take the certification review program again in order to renew my certification?
A. Renewals will be required every three years.  The first renewal will simply involve a fee and a letter stating that you have remained active in your field of work.  Beginning with the second renewal and thereafter you will be required to choose one of the following methods for renewal:

·    Complete an IMSA Renewal Course
·    Acquire educational units
·    Achieve the next higher certification level either through a challenge exam or completion of a course
·    Re-take and pass the current course or challenge examination

Q. The certification renewal letter I received states "certifications will be issued 'valid' for a three year period…"  Does this mean my membership is now valid for three years?
A. Your membership in IMSA will continue to be on an annual basis.  You will receive a dues invoice each year.

Certification renewal will be on a three year cycle.

Q. I have 6 traffic signal and 4 traffic sign employees with IMSA certification.  In the cover letter it mentions a volume discount.  Does the discount apply to multiple employees, or simply to an individual employee with multiple certifications?
A. The volume discount for certification renewal is per individual.  A person holding multiple certifications may renew them at a discount with a maximum fee for four or more certifications.

IMSA continues to offer discounted membership fees for multiple employees in the Public Agency classification.

Q. I did not receive a letter from IMSA regarding my certification but my co-worker did.  Why?
A. The IMSA certification renewal program is being phased in over the next three years.  You will be required to renew your certifications based on the date you received your latest certification.  The following schedule has been adopted:

·    If your latest certification was issued prior to 1990 you must renew your certification(s) before June 30, 2005

·    If your latest certification was issued between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1999 you will receive a letter from IMSA by January 1, 2006 and your certification(s) must be renewed before June 30, 2006.

·    If your latest certification was issued between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004 you will receive a letter from IMSA by January 1, 2007 and your certification(s) must be renewed before June 30, 2007.

All of your certifications will remain valid until your renewal due date.

Q.  If there has been something with legal endorsement formulated, when are the members and entities holding certificates going to be presented this information?
A.  This information was included in the Executive Director’s article in the January/February 2005 issue of the IMSA Journal that was mailed to the membership the first week of December, 2004.

Q.  Who technically is the owner of the certificate? Is it the person whose name appears on the certificate or is it the entity who paid for an employee to attain certification?
 A.  The IMSA certificates are issued in the name of the individual who passed the certification exam regardless of whether the individual or the individual’s employer paid the exam fee.  The owner of the certification is the person whose name is on the certificate.

Q.  What if I choose not to participate in the certification renewal program?
A.   IMSA is confident that those who value their IMSA certification will see the value of keeping it current.

Q.  If IMSA chooses to remove you from their database, is this legal since you were issued this document, supported by published public documents which state the certification is for life?
A.  IMSA does not remove people from their database.  IMSA was advised by legal counsel that the risk of offering certification for life far outweighs the risk of instituting a certification renewal program.

Q.  Have agencies/employers been officially notified by IMSA of IMSA’s intent to revoke certificates if renewal fees are not paid by a stipulated date?
A.  IMSA has never stated that certificates would be revoked.

Q. Is the cost of a renewal examination included in the certification renewal fee?
A.  No.  The fee for a renewal examination is an additional charge.  The renewal fee is an administrative fee for processing and maintaining you certification renewal.

Is certification renewal required in order to continue to serve as an IMSA moderator?
A.  Yes.  Remember that moderating IMSA certification programs counts towards your continuing education requirement.