Who We Are
iNARTE stands for the International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics. iNARTE certifications are for qualified engineers and technicians in the fields of telecommunications, electromagnetic compatibility/interference (EMC/EMI), product safety (PS), electrostatic discharge control (ESD), and wireless systems installation.
iNARTE is part of Exemplar Global (formerly known as RABQSA). Exemplar Global was created in 2004 from the acquisition of the personnel certification activities of U.S.-based Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) by Australia-based Quality Society of Australasia (QSA). iNARTE merged with RABQSA International in June 2012. Aligning with the needs of the iNARTE community remains critical to the team at Exemplar Global.
Exemplar Global is an independent, not for profit organization with Australian charity status with shared headquarters in both the United States and Australia. Exemplar Global is a subsidiary of the American Society of Quality (ASQ), the leading organization for quality professionals. Visit www.exemplarglobal.org to find out more.
History of iNARTE
NARTE Inc. is the current registered name adopted by NARTE (“National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers”) Inc. in 2007. The NARTE, Inc. board of directors, recognizing our fast-growing membership from outside the United States, voted unanimously to introduce this identification iNARTE (International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics) Inc. in line with with our international presence.
NARTE Inc. was founded as a non-profit membership/certification organization in 1982. With the advent of deregulation and the Federal Communications Commission “encouragement” for private industry to establish certification standards to fill the licensing void, NARTE initiated and developed a comprehensive certification program for telecommunications engineers and technicians.
As an objective third-party certification body, NARTE developed an evaluation process based on measurable skills and experience, and established industry standards of basic competency and benchmarks for advanced practitioners.
In 1988 a command of the United States Navy, seeking a credible and respected certification entity, selected NARTE as the administrative agent for the certification of engineers and technicians in the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
In 1993, NARTE was recommended for and certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a Commercial Operators License Examination Manager (COLE Manager), authorized to administer all examination elements for the FCC licensure (formerly an FCC responsibility).
In 1994, the ESD Association selected NARTE to implement and administer a certification program for electrostatic discharge control engineers and technicians.
In 1996, NARTE began providing expertise to support the Federal Government’s Telecommunication Access Advisory Committee. Initiated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, this effort seeks to develop guidelines and criteria for “readily achievable access” for disabled persons.
During 1997, Japan requested NARTE’s assistance to establish specific in-country certification programs comparable to and able to meet NARTE certification standards.
In 1999, NARTE certification programs in telecommunications, EMC, and electrostatic discharge control (ESD) were formally accredited by the International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC), an independent, not-for-profit, internationally-recognized body.
More than 16,000 telecommunications and EMC engineers and technicians in 26 countries have met the rigid certification criteria encompassing education, training, experience, supervisory and peer references, and examination. The competency of NARTE certified personnel has prompted many of the telephone, rail, power, pipeline, defense, and other industry corporations to mandate or prefer NARTE certification as a prerequisite to employment.
In 2001, NARTE signed a memorandum of understanding with the IEEE EMC Society. The IEEE EMCS then assumed responsibility for the technical accuracy of the EMC question file from which NARTE derives its credential certification examinations. IEEE EMCS through existing technical committees reviewed the question file for accuracy and correct depiction of science. To maintain integrity of the examination file, no questions reviewed and approved by IEEE EMCS were to be released to the public without the express permission of both IEEE EMCS and NARTE.
In 2007, recognizing our growing international presence, NARTE evolved into iNARTE (International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics) Inc. Engagement with the IEEE EMCS remained unchanged at that time.
In 2016, a revised MOA was signed by which iNARTE management, in consultation with the IEEE EMCS board of directors will establish a project team, to engage well-recognized and esteemed subject matter experts, who will, on an ongoing basis, review the existing question file for accuracy, relevance, and correct depiction of the EMC discipline and/or generate new questions. iNARTE undertakes to consistently maintain this review and correction process to guarantee the validity of its exam question product. iNARTE management will engage with the EMCS BoD in a two-stage question review process: