InterNational Electrical Testing Association

To Whom It May Concern:

NETA, a standards-making organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has developed a document which provides a nationally-recognized procedure for qualifying electrical testing technicians and the agencies that certify them: ANSI/NETA ETT-2000, Standard for Certification of Electrical Testing Technicians. This Standard defines competency on the basis of experience, education, and a certifying examination. The NETA specifications for Electrical Maintenance and for Electrical Acceptance Testing have also begun the process of becoming ANSI Standards.

NETA certifies the company as well as the individual and, thus, assures the end-user of the qualifications of the company as well as the over-all competence of the individual technician. The Association Bylaws are designed to ensure that its members meet stringent criteria and provide a full range of testing services. NETA also requires Continuing Technical Development for its Certified Technicians. The qualifications of each Full Member company and its technicians are reviewed on a regular basis.

By definition, a Full Member Company of NETA is a full-service, third-party, independent testing firm which must certify its technicians through uniform testing standards, maintain a calibration accuracy program, and work with a registered Professional Electrical Engineer to review all short-circuit studies, overcurrent coordination studies, and other engineering reports. The firm must perform work according to strict guidelines and standards specified by the Association.

NETA membership is open to any full-service electrical testing company that can qualify. Our stringent requirements protect the end user. Any company, however, can have qualified certified technicians, as NICET provides a parallel certification/competency career path.

We suggest that a contracting officer specify that technicians performing electrical testing be certified in accordance with ANSI/NETA ETT-2000 to assure that those providing the work have a proven level of competency. Because subjective judgments are necessary, specifying competency requirements for the evaluator of electrical power equipment is as important as specifying the test procedure itself. Certification requirements are placed in bid documents to protect the consumer.

Please check the “equivalent qualifications” of any company or individual bidding on contracts for electrical testing. Certification by a nationally recognized certification agency is a reasonable, safety-related requirement.

If you have questions concerning NETA membership and certification requirements or the names of companies which meet the criteria set forth in the NETA specifications, please do not hesitate to contact me.