History of the program

Although the founders of ASPE and the first six chapters had previously discussed the concept of certification, it was not until 1974 that the Society embarked on this program. The first National Director was appointed, and he assigned responsibilities for developing tests in the various CSI disciplines. In addition, the National Board accepted a preliminary format for testing.

In 1975, the Society explored seeking outside help in the area of test development. Several firms, including Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, were contacted to submit proposals and fee schedules. During the year, a series of meetings were held to review examination procedures, test questions, and testing agency presentations. After considering the economic impact of hiring a consultant, the Society decided to involve all chapters to implement the exam process. The National Board approved ETS's recommendation to establish a peer group that would not undergo the planned testing procedure. This core group would create a staff to administer the evaluation of other candidates for certification. The final accomplishment of that year was the first draft of the Certification application.

1976 was a banner year for ASPE. The Society formed the Code of Ethics to supplement certification, introduced standards and rewrote the national bylaws to encompass the program. In May, the National Board officially adopted the tenants of certification including the Certification application, the Code of Ethics, and certified members of the Executive Committee as the initial peer group. Applications were then distributed to the entire membership. Over 300 Professional Evaluation Applications were processed in August, and 233 individuals were accepted for certification in 11 of the 16 CSI divisions.

The Long-Range Planning Task Force comprised of past National Presidents, asked the Society to develop a "generic" test in February 1984. This exam would be available to all members regardless of their specialty and/or the existence of a discipline test. In the ensuing four years, the Certification Test Development Committee authored, critiqued, and administered the first General Estimating Knowledge Exam in May 1988. In addition, the Society drew up plans for Continuing Certification to keep estimators abreast of new advances in their profession and to ensure continued educational and Society involvement.

Dedicated members have served in various capacities over the years to keep certification in the forefront as one of the six fundamental purposes of our organization. The program's future course will continue to be charted by a desire for excellence, to indicate the Society's level of professionalism in the industry, and to focus on the improvement of each estimator's skills.