fied specialist gives back to the industry,” he says. “Naturally, there are givers and there are takers. It is about giving back to young people and helping the industry as a whole.”
Sean Worthington, Worthington Waterproofing Systems, Exton, Pennsylvania, is a newer member of the association and is now serving on the board on the education committee.
“I have learned a tremendous amount in my short time as a BHA member, and it has revolu-tionized my business,” Worthing-ton says. “The value of this organization lies in the education it offers – both formal and infor-mal.”
Jerome Fokas, Select Basement Waterproofing, Morganville, New
Jersey, is serving on the board as well as the certi-fication committee chairman. “Our test is hard,” Fokas says. “You actually have to study and know something to pass it.” Having a difficult test makes it mean something when someone becomes certified. “The vision of the program is to lift our members above the average guy,” he says. “We wanted to offer our customers a little better con-tractor, an educated contractor.”
How to Get Certified
The BHA certifies individuals and in order to be eligible to take the certification tests one has to be employed at a company who is a member of BHA and has to personally have at least four years of experience in the waterproofing industry. The tests are based on specific study materials pro-vided by BHA and are taken in person at either the Annual Meeting in Las Vegas or during one of the Regional Meetings. However, BHA is now offer-ing proctored tests at BHA headquarters in Ohio. Members will be able to take multiple tests in one day if they come to BHA headquarters to take the test.
Maintaining Certification
Part of the BHA Certification process is maintaining certification and staying involved in continued education. To keep BHA certification, individuals need to be active members of the association by attending at least two meetings every two years.The association has the Annual Meeting in Las Vegas in conjunction with the World of Concrete and at least two Regional Meetings in different locations around the country. That means members need to attend at least two of the six meetings to keep their certification. In addition certified specialists need to earn 15 continued education credits by attending seminars, volunteering with the association, writing articles, or promoting meetings.For individuals who hold more than one certification, meeting attendance generates certification credits that apply to all certifications.BHA is developing webinars and online continued certification courses that can also count toward re-certification credits. The best way to maintain certification is to attend the BHA events and serve on committees.The next opportunity to take a certification exam will be during the fall regional meeting on October 12-13, 2016 in Hauppauge, New York.To get more information and the study materials for the exams please contact BHA headquarters at info@basementhealth.org or (800) 245-6292.