I’m reblogging this for the SI community because it is of prime importance that all of us take this exam. It is a tough exam but it needs to be that way so professions unrelated to Structural Integration cannot pass it. Myself and everyone I know passed it on the first try.

By: Shonnie Carson CAR, CSI, CBSI

As of today, 156 Professional Structural Integrators have taken the Certification Exam for
Structural Integrators. One hundred and thirty-six have passed the exam and have become the first Exam-Certified Structural Integrators in the world. As you can see, nearly everyone who’s taken the exam has passed. Confusions and questions are continuing to surface and we would like to take this opportunity to clear them up.

Why is the certification exam important?
A psychometrically-valid exam is developed using statistically valid methods and is
accredited by the National Organization for Competency Assurance, (NOCA). Such an exam is the primary legal tool that helps define the boundaries of a profession. Without a certification exam there is no legal way to protect our profession from untrained or badly trained practitioners claiming competence as Structural Integrators. This type of exam is recognized as valid by licensing agencies, legislatures, insurance agencies and other professionals. The certification exam is developed according to the standards required by the National Organization for Competency Assurance, (NOCA) and the American National Standards Institute, (ANSI) the national and international accrediting agencies for these exams. Certification makes the exam legally useful in every country, province and state. As the exam becomes more widely known throughout the bodywork professions, it will notify bodywork schools, faculties and practitioners that SI is a distinct profession requiring specific training and skills. Creating the exam was the crucial first requirement. Taking the exam is the second step. This validates the exam. The more SI practitioners that take it, the more important the exam becomes, and the more we become able to define ourselves and maintain our integrity as a separate profession.

What is the exam like?
The exam is a multiple choice test consisting of 120 questions. The passing score is 84.
The questions on the exam were deliberately designed to have more than one correct response, which is how certification exams are required to be written. This aspect is commented on frequently by frustrated candidates. The candidate is asked for the “most appropriate” or “best” choice, which tests for a deeper, analytical understanding of the knowledge base. These types of questions present you with choices that require some thinking and judgment in addition to basic knowledge.

Continue reading The Real Truth about the Certification Exam for Structural Integrators