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Certification is a voluntary process through which individuals are recognized for specialized knowledge and skill in a specified field. This process enhances public safety and welfare by providing assurance that the certification holder possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to provide services to the public at a professional level with competence. Voluntary certification is firmly established in such professional areas as accounting, financial planning, association management, and engineering. Once a professional achieves certification, the certification process does not stop, as ongoing certification renewal requirements give professionals a path to ongoing learning and training throughout their careers, ensuring they stay current with industry practices.
The July 2015 ITE Journal article, "Advancing the Profession-and Yourself-Through Certification," explained the various paths that transportation certifications and/or registrations provide as a means of advancing professionally, as well as their value and significance to the transportation field and public safety. With many professional development and continuing education options available to transportation engineers and planners, understanding and promoting certifications within an area of expertise advances the profession as a whole and guarantees the capabilities of professionals tasked with meeting public needs.
This article focuses on frequently asked questions about two certifications offered by the Transportation Professional Certification Board, Inc. (TPCB): Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) and Professional Transportation Planner (PTP). An affiliate of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the TPCB is an autonomous non-profit organization incorporated and located in Washington, DC, USA. It is self-supporting through its examination and certification fees and is a member in good standing of the National Organization for Competency Assurance. The TPCB was established in 1998 after nearly 10 years of committee study by members of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), supported in part by funds from the Federal Highway Administration. Twelve elected or appointed Directors govern the TPCB, along with the TPCB Executive Director. ITE still provides staff support to the Board; however the Board's policies for the award of certification status are entirely independent of ITE and all other organizations. Certification is open to any professional meeting the Certification Board's qualification requirements on a non-discriminatory and objective basis-ITE membership is not a requirement for PTOE or PTP certification.
What is the Definition of a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE)?
A PTOE is a...