Several years ago, the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) identified a need among its members for an online education venue. Having participated on those committees and work groups, it’s exciting to see what’s happened in just the past few months.
The education portal, AEMPU.org, was launched a couple of years ago and learning modules have been built in the months since. A milestone recently reached capped the initial posting of AEMP’s 17 core asset-management competencies. Mastering these 17 form the basis for the association’s Certified Equipment Manager (CEM) designation.
Now, AEMP has partnered with Pearson Vue to offer global certification testing so anyone in the world can walk into a facility, find a proctor to oversee the exam, and attain CEM status. This is offered in 165 countries and all 50 states.
Kevin L. Schlangen, CEM, fleet manager at Dakota County Fleet Management in Rosemount, Minn., was one of the first to take advantage of the additional testing sites: only 20 miles from his home.
“You always had to travel to one of the conferences to take the exam, and that was only twice a year,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for this new offering, it would have been difficult to achieve this certification.”
To fully understand the importance of this step, AEMP does not allow online participation in the CEM exam. It’s an accredited test. The integrity of the test must be maintained, and releasing it online would put that at risk. In order to take the test, candidates had to travel to an AEMP meeting when and where the exam was offered.
That has changed, and didn’t take some to take advantage of that.
Bechtel is working on an internal program to complete CEM certification for asset managers in 15 countries. Other equipment-operating organizations are working on similar programs.
AEMP just announced registration dates for the 2013 global CEM exams at various locations.
