2020 RETA Breeze May-Jun

RETA TESTING CORNER NO. 19 VERSION 1

RETA’s Testing and ANSI Guru

Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and ANSI Accreditation Manager, has guided development of all RETA credentialing exams since 2002. RETA Testing Corner provides information and answers questions from RETA members, candidates and others to help them earn and benefit from RETA credentials.

CARO and CIRO ANSI accreditation was extended to March 2021 in June by the ANSI National Accrediting Board (ANAB) as a result of ANSI’s annual assessment process. RETA continues to provide the only internationally recognized certifications for industrial refrigeration system operators and technicians. RETA was just the 20th credentialing body (CB) in the world to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 17024 Standards when CARO

ANSI 17024 Standards. Preparations included the following key steps. • Development and validation of new CARO and CIRO exams • Expiration or recertification of all RETA credentials every three years • Creation of a firewall between the RETA Education and Certification Committees • Transfer of all RETA credentialing

accreditation. Current CARO and CIRO exams now reflect results from RETA industry surveys in 2017 and 2019, respectively. RETA added its most recent credential, Certified Refrigeration Service Technician (CRST), in 2018. RETA will apply for ANSI accreditation of CRST after data is available to document that CRST meets ANSI Standards. ANSI accreditation also requires annual reports and periodic visits to RETA by ANSI assessors. A new application requires redocumenting that each program meets ANSI 17024 Standards every five years. RETA’s next five-year application will be due in 2023. RETA also must document that it meets ANSI Standards in annual reports and in January led to further refinements in its Management Review System, which includes an annual internal audit and regular meetings to track improvements in RETA exams and credentialing practices. RETA received notice in April 2020 that CARO and CIRO accreditations would be extended to March 2021. responses to ANSI assessors. RETA’s 2019 Annual Report in

from paper exams to computer delivery to improve test security

RETA continues to provide the only internationally recognized certifications for industrial refrigeration system operators and technicians.

and CIRO were accredited in March 2008. Currently 207 programs from 72 CBs are accredited by ANSI. Another 20 CBs have voluntarily surrendered ANSI accreditation, including Microsoft and NATE, due to the challenges of maintaining ANSI 17024 Standards. ASHRAE also has four ANSI-accredited credentials, but none in industrial refrigeration. RETA started its ANSI journey in 2002, a few months after creation of

and administrative controls • Refinement of RETA policies and procedures to meet all ANSI 17024 Standards RETA invested five years in refining CARO and CIRO to meet ANSI Standards before applying for ANSI accreditation in 2007. Periodic surveys of industrial refrigeration practices must document knowledge and job performance requirements to maintain

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