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Preparing for GD&T certification 3

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Huntress99

Huntress99

Mechanical
Nov 29, 2004
20
I have read several post on some sites that have on-line testing available. I am looking at taking the certification for Technologist Level. My two on-line testing programs I am looking at are either ETI Learning center or Tec-Ease. Before I hit the button to buy an on-line learning package I thought I would see what others may have thought of the training. Currently working as a Mechanical Desginer/ Drafter that has been working for more years than I care to think about. I have attended several two day classes and have my original 1994 standard ASME book for reference. I will admit, I am one of those geeks that likes learning GD&T, now I want to prove to myself that I truely understand the subject and become certified. Self taught NX6 through IGETIT so, I am confident that I can teach myself through the help of some on-line training. My GD&T notebook, I keep at work while reading through my 1994 is helpful but I am looking for more to help ensure I will pass my first time. I want to see that certificate on my wall this year. So, with that I ask my fellow Designers, what worked for you?
M.Smith
 
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Just to clarify -- the companies you mentioned have solid training, but they don't administer the official GD&T test. That is done only through ASME, and you would take it at a local testing site called Prometric. Those companies (and many others) offer GD&T training, which is great preparation for taking the real exam.
If you've taken several GD&T courses before, you probably have a good foundation already. But most GD&T classes teach what you need to know for the real world; they don't necessarily focus on the nitty-gritty that the certification test might throw at you. Remember that anything in that standard is fair game on the exam, so you need to also focus on non-GD&T stuff.
So more training won't hurt, but perhaps do some self-study. If you don't have it already, you need the list of topics that are covered on the test. This is called the "body of knowledge," and is available on pages 8-13 of this document:
ASME GDTP brochure

Note that the test is still based on the 1994 standard (as of now, at least, so when you are ready to sign up for the test, verify whether it will be to the 1994 standard or the 2009 standard).
After that, any further training you take will help answer any of those more obscure areas of the standard that your self-study might encounter.
Also, our company has a mock test that I could share with you, if desired.

Congratulations on setting this goal! We always love to welcome more geeks to the GD&T club :)

John-Paul Belanger
Certified Sr. GD&T Professional
Geometric Learning Systems
 
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John-Paul,
Thank you for your tips, I have the GDTP brochure on my cube wall where I see it every day to remind me. The ASME site says they will not be changing their certification to the 2009 standards until 2014, so I am good for now. I did find your test while searching yesterday and found it to be helpful. So for the next month or two my life will revolve around everything GD&T. This is one of those subjects that you have to stay current on all the time, as I have forgotten some of the finer points.
Question, do you do webnars for companies in Arizona? I seem to remember taking my last class through a 2 day webnar from a gentelman named, John-Paul. I am at home and don't have my book with me but I am sure, seeing your picture, that you taught our class. Your website is now on my list.
My studies continue .....
 
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The test I mentioned earlier is about 100 questions, although it's not guaranteed to be an exact parallel with the ASME test.
And yes, I've done several webinars (often as a contract instructor through a few other agencies).

Interesting note about the new test version coming out in 2014. I'd been wondering what's up with that.

John-Paul Belanger
Certified Sr. GD&T Professional
Geometric Learning Systems
 
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John-Paul,
I would be very much interested in reviewing your test, being that many questions. I am still going through my book, about half way through so it will be a few more weeks before I feel prepared to take the sample test. Any help I can find and the more questions I can come across will be a big help.

Thank you again,
M. Smith
 
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Huntress,
Congratulations on setting this goal for yourself, I too am looking to do the same.

Belanger,
Would it be possible for me to also take a peek at that mock test? I recently completed a GD&T course and I think I would benefit from it before I attempt the real deal!
 
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Hi,

I wasn't sure if I needed to start a new thread or reply to this one that I found regarding GD&T training and certification. I've found my self in the same boat here recently and have been told they I need to get certified. I'm hoping that someone can share with me what they think is the best on-line training program to prepare for the Technologist Level so that I can get that out of the way. I've had very little training several years ago on GD&T, however, now find myself having to use it everyday and I'm constantly trying to interpret the standard. As far as traveling long distance for seminars, I'm not able to do that right now, so I'm thinking on-line would be my best bet. From what I can tell, the ASME website only offers on-line to the 2009 standard.

Mr. Belanger - Would it be possible for me to see your company's mock test as well. Any assistance/ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Regards,

Steve
 
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J-P, I think you've got a good group of interest here. My only question for you is whether your questions follow the same style as the certification exam? I only ask that because, as you and I know, typical GD&T questions are nothing like what is on the exam ... they misdirect you and give you minor differences in the multiple-choice answers so that you need to weed out the "best" of the responses, not the "only" correct one.

To those contemplating the certification exam, I have one question also; why the Technologist level? Why not Senior-Level (ok, that's 2 questions)? I ask this because there is a SIGNIFICANT difference in the knowledge and expertise that each represents. If you are looking at certification for a sense of personal accomplishment, Technologist may be enough, but if you're looking for expertise, or more evolved understanding, then I would strongly recommend the Senior Level.

As for whose training you take, be cautious about online or canned training (or in-person training for that matter). There are a lot of people out there who teach the subject with a Technologist's background; that really isn't adequate for answering in-depth questions. J-P is Senior-Level credentialed, is well regarded in the community, and I've heard good reviews for him. Tec-Ease (with whom I work), and ETI (with whom I am familiar) both are helmed by people who helped write the Y14.5 standards ('94 and '09), and whom helped prepare the examination questions for the '94 exam. I bring them up because they were mentioned above, and because they offer significantly different content and styles. Even my teaching style is significantly different from my colleagues at Tec-Ease. Teaching/Presentation style is very important because it establishes a learning environment which may or may not suit your learning style.

Personally, I spent 6 weeks, 8-18 hours a day, preparing for the Senior-Level exam, and did quite nicely. I used the linked-topic method of covering the standard based on the Y14.5.2 Body of Knowledge (establishes BOK for Technologist and Senior-Level exams). I have talked with people who "winged it" or just read the book ... they did the exam at least a couple times before using the Linked Topic method and achieving desired results.

I wish you well with your Certification. Be sure to let the forum know when you pass!


Jim Sykes, P.Eng, GDTP-S
Profile Services TecEase, Inc.
 
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Jim,

Thanks for getting back to me. I was only considering the Technologist level for starters. I'm sure once I get that far I can move on and prepare for the next level. The level of intense training for the Professional level sounds as intense as some of the Calc & Diff EQ courses I've had in college. So for me it is just a matter of sequence to re-familiarize myself with everything. I went to your company's website and couldn't find anything on-line that would offer the fundamentals of GD&T there for the 1994 version. If it is available there, can you point me to it? If not, I think I will start with the fundamentals course on the ETI website.

Thanks,

Steve
 
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The mock test that I mentioned is not guaranteed to be an exact representation of the official test, but it does follow the same general rules. I'm not a fan of those trick questions, though.

I suspect many people go for the Technologist level for two reasons: First, the Senior level requires documentation of a minimum of five years of solid experience in GD&T. Second, it sounds pretty darn good to say that you are a certified GD&T Professional, and most customers and even internal managers have no idea there there are two levels -- so why not just get the basic level and then go from there?

I don't necessarily agree with that, but those might be two reasons.

John-Paul Belanger
Certified Sr. GD&T Professional
Geometric Learning Systems
 
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J-P,

Any chance I could see that mock test you mention just to get a feel for what is expected?


Thanks,

Steve
 
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J-P,
I can see both of those reasons being true. The second one, as I'm sure it does to you, saddens me. It is something of a false sense of security. When I saw the difference in BOK and was able to tell the certification level of people during a technical conversation, I knew the path for me (that was before I started studying even, and I am the first to admit that I knew a lot of erroneous things about GD&T to that point).

Jim Sykes, P.Eng, GDTP-S
Profile Services TecEase, Inc.
 
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Jim,

I found the The GD&T Hierarchy Coach on the website. Can you explain the difference between the "The GD&T Hierarchy Coach - Personal Training Web Course" and the "The GD&T Hierarchy Coach - Personal Training Software", outside the price?


Thanks,

Steve
 
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The Web Course is a timed availability agreement, and you access the training through the internet. The Software is a copy that you keep permanently and is licensed to one computer only, so it will not run on another system once uploaded to the first computer. You can, of course, have other people use the Software package, but only on that same computer. Depends on your intent; one trainee or multiple trainees ... and time, of course.

Jim Sykes, P.Eng, GDTP-S
Profile Services TecEase, Inc.
 
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Steve,

I was kind of in the same situation as you last year. Although I use GD&T at work, I choose to do the senior certification mainly for my own benefit. Going through the body of knowledge helped understand to scope of study that is needed. Read, read, read and test yourself now and then. The guys here are very knowledgeable and going through the previous threads here helped me tremendously.

Don't worry, no calculus or diff'y eqn's in the standard that I know of. [smile]

Good luck!
 
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Sorry didn't read thru the whole thing, do you have the ASME study guide?

Posting guidelines faq731-376 (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​
 
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