Since its introduction 20 years ago, NASSCO’s Pipeline Assessment Certification Program has certified nearly 40,000 industry professionals in the proper identification and coding of pipe conditions.
Each of these individuals has a unique certification number identifying him or her as someone who has demonstrated a high level of understanding and knowledge of the unique PACP language. Certification brings consistency and a uniform method to properly identifying and coding conditions, structural and O&M defects, and construction or miscellaneous features. To maintain their knowledge, PACP-certified individuals must re-certify every three years.
Unfortunately, there have been occasions when people who have not successfully completed PACP have used fraudulent certification numbers, often the number of another certified individual. This should be of significant concern to everyone involved in the assessment of sewer systems since improper coding can lead to misidentified conditions, inaccurate prioritization of maintenance and repair and, ultimately, unexpected failure.
How can you help?
• First, know that companies do not receive PACP certification. If an organization promotes its services as being “PACP-Certified” know that only individuals have received these credentials. If a certified individual leaves one company to work for another, he or she takes that certification with them.
• When hiring a PACP Pro, always confirm that the individual holds a valid certification from NASSCO by visiting www.nassco.org and using the “Search for Certified Individual” tool.
• Before the inspection begins, ask the certified individual on the job site to verify his or her identity by showing a valid photo ID that matches their certification credentials.
Sadly, some companies have sent out employees who are not PACP-certified, using a former employee’s PACP certification number. This is not only illegal, it creates the potential for misidentified conditions, which can lead to disaster.
To learn more about NASSCO certification programs, please visit www.nassco.org.
