Consider Becoming An ASPE CPD

As a professional mechanical HVAC engineer for Summer Consultants, I am tasked with designing both air-side and water-side based HVAC systems for many different types of projects. Along the way, I have also had to tackle plumbing design, which is an off shoot of mechanical system piping design that has its own set of codes and guidance’s to follow.

Because of my plumbing experience, I was asked to become a Certified Plumbing Designer (CPD) through the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).  ASPE is an international organization dedicated to the advancement of the science of plumbing engineering.  As stated on the ASPE website, “The Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD) program is an international certification program for engineers and designers of plumbing systems. Completion of the CPD program and examination confers upon the successful candidate the designation Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD). The certification program provides the profession, the plumbing industry, and the general public with a single, comprehensive qualification of professional competence for engineers and designers of plumbing systems.”

This certification not only helps build up my resume, but also helps to meet government requirements for getting future contracts. I found that a study of the ASPE’s CPD review manual, as well as my past experience in plumbing design, was all that was needed to pass the CPD exam.

Yearly membership fees to join the organization are reasonable, and the benefits it provides are great. I have found that joining APSE and becoming a CPD has given me many benefits. Like the certification, membership has added value to my professional resume, as well as value to the company who recognizes this and reimburses my recertification fees.

Although, it was not required to join ASPE to become a CPD, though it was highly recommended because of the benefits membership provides including reduced testing fees, reduced recertification fees, reduced reference materials fees as well as  invites to online seminars, along with many other resources. Monthly online continuing education courses are also offered for free as part of your ASPE membership, which can be used to meet your minimum continuing education unit (CEU) requirements for the biennial CPD recertification requirements.  I have found that the online “Read, Learn, Earn” continuing education courses that ASPE offers are a good way to practice and stay abreast of many engineering topics that I use on a daily basis. Continuing education courses may also be potentially used to meet CEU requirements for professional engineers, depending on your state’s professional licensure requirements.

Because of the benefits and the value that it has provided me, I continue to maintain my CPD certification as well as an active membership in ASPE. If you are interested in plumbing design, I recommend looking into it for yourself.