Industry experts discuss what will be on the practical exam for tying knots, an often-required discipline that many tower technicians don’t have experience in.
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) convened 35 industry leading subject matter experts this week to continue the assessment and certification development process for the Telecommunications Tower Technician I (TTTI) and Telecommunications Tower Technician II (TTTII) programs.
The intensive NWSA task force meetings occurred over a three-day period and were hosted by AT&T at the AT&T Center for Learning in Irving, Tex. and by TelTech Communications at the GrayWolves Telecom indoor training facility in Carrollton.
The NWSA is a non-profit assessment and certification organization that has been established to provide thorough, independent assessments of knowledge and skills and provide verifiable worker certification in order to enhance safety, reduce workplace risk, improve quality, encourage training, and recognize the skilled professionals who work on towers and other non-standard structures.
The key industry experts in attendance at this week’s meetings participated in an ambitious NWSA agenda that is integral to adhering to the roadmap that is required to achieve ANSI ISO 17024 accreditation for personnel certification bodies.
During the meetings, the participants devoted extensive time finalizing and approving the Job Task Analysis (JTA) that outlines the six knowledge areas that the TTTI and TTII examinations will encompass. The meeting attendees also participated in the beta testing process of the administration of a NWSA certification examination.
Members of the task force continued their dedicated efforts developing the NWSA’s field-based practical examinations.
Additionally, members of the task force continued their dedicated efforts developing the NWSA’s field-based practical examinations. The practical exam development meetings were conducted at the TelTech Communications/GrayWolves Telecom indoor training facility in Carrollton, Texas. The NWSA’s TTTI and TTTII certification programs are slated to be launched in the marketplace in the 4th Quarter of 2016.
“This week’s NWSA meetings were extremely productive and moves the organization another giant step forward in getting our TTTI and TTTII certification programs to the marketplace,” stated NWSA Board of Governors Chairman Art Pregler from AT&T. “The wireless industry can take pride in the intensive and thorough approach that the NWSA is taking in the assessment and certification development process,” said Pregler.
NWSA is the result of collaborative efforts between a broad coalition of the industry’s leading subject matter experts, companies and stakeholders representing wireless carriers, tower owners, OEM’s, turnkey management firms, government agencies, public safety entities, small contractors, tower technicians and industry associations. Industry leaders have pledged to provide timely and relevant updates to the industry as key benchmarks are achieved in the establishment of NWSA’s national assessment and certification programs.
In the fall of 2015, NWSA began offering the CCO Rigger and Signalperson Certification programs, the first two assessment and certification offerings available to the wireless industry’s workforce through NWSA. Industry workers, companies and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the NWSA website at nwsa@nws-a.org to learn more about the organization.
The meetings were hosted by AT&T in Irving, Tex. and by TelTech Communications in Carrollton, Tex.