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Entry Routes

The SITMA Certification Scheme

SITMA provides certification to individuals conducting sound insulation testing for Building Regulations purposes.

SITMA’s scope of certification can be found here.

SITMA is a personnel certification scheme and as such, it certifies individuals and not companies

General Ability Requirements

SITMA makes no stipulations regarding prospective applicants requiring specific abilities prior to the commencement of the assessment and application process, however it is advisable that potential applications are:

  • Able to lift equipment (circa 20kg) through rough terrain
  • Familiar with SITMA's Competency Requirements which are listed in PUS009 which is avaliable on request.

Entry Routes

For the purposes of this document, a simplified process is showed below for the entry into the SITMA Certification Scheme for Sound Insulation Testers.

Step 1

Theory Examination

Step 2

Application to SITMA

Step 3

Initial Review

Step 4

On-site Audit

This process is used to ensure that the scheme requirements have been met and that all applicants are treated fairly and objectively. SITMA requires that all applicants have to successfully complete this process regardless of experience or qualifications.

SITMA Theory Examination

Prior to making their formal application to join SITMA, potential applicants are required to successfully complete the SITMA Theory Examination.

SITMA advises that prior to sitting the SITMA Theory Exam that some form of training is undergone, but is clear that no formal training is technically required and that it is at the discretion of the exam candidate as to whether or not they believe they meet the requirements as defined as in PUS009 (This document is available upon request).

The SITMA Theory Exam can be conducted in person at SITMA’s Head Office facility or can be conducted online via Microsoft Teams

Book Your Theory Exam Today

Click the button below to send an inquiry to book your SITMA Theory Exam. Once your inquiry has been submitted you shall receive dates that available to take your exam. 

Click Here

Failed SITMA Theory Examinations

SITMA permits all candidates a maximum of 5 attempts at the theory examination, after which they must wait a period of 6-months before they can restart the assessment process.

All second attempts at the theory examination must be completed within 30 days of the date the result of the initial examination was issued and will be conducted using the ‘multiple-choice’ format. There is no change for the second attempt.

A third attempt at the ‘multiple-choice’ examination can only go ahead following a 90-day cooling off period following the issuance of the results from the previous examination. The cooling off period can be reduced to 30 days if the candidate chooses to sit the ‘written’ examination instead of the ‘multiple-choice’. Third attempts are charged at £100+VAT.

Any fourth attempt at the ‘multiple-choice’ examination will follow the above process and will only go ahead after a 90-day cooling off period following the issuance of the results from the previous examination. The cooling off period can be reduced to 30 days if the candidate chooses to sit a second attempt at the ‘written’ examination instead of the ‘multiple-choice’. Fourth attempts are charged at £100+VAT.

All fifth attempts at the theory examination will be completed in the ‘multiple-choice’ format and will follow the previously defined process with candidates who’s third and fourth attempts were completed in the ‘multiple choice’ format requiring a 90-day cooling off period between attempts. 

Candidates who’s third and fourth attempts were completed in the ‘written’ format requiring a 30-day cooling of period. All fifth attempts are charged at £100+VAT.

  • The use of the alternative examination formats and defined cooling off periods reduces the risk that candidates are simply learning the examination instead of the required content
  • Regardless of format, examination questions remain the same, the difference between the formats is that in the written examination, the questions are not provided in a multiple-choice format, instead questions must be answered by writing on the examination paper.
  • Written examinations have a marketing guide which gives guidance on marking
  • All examinations are dual-marked, once by the examination invigilator and secondly by a SITMA approved Level 2 Auditor.

Application

Only once the SITMA Theory Examination has been successfully completed and the exam candidate has received their completion certificate can they make their application to join SITMA.

Applicants are not authorised to apply without the completion certificate unless the Scheme Manager authorises them to do so. 

SITMA’s scope of certificate covers individuals and not companies, so requires all of its applicants to join as individuals. However as individuals they may choose to be associated to a company for the purposes of administration, invoicing and communication, but the certification remains with the individual.

Apply for your Certification

Click here to apply via the SITMA Application Form. Your application will be checked by SITMA and then you'll be invited to book in your initial audit. 

Click Here

SITMA also requires applicants to:

  • Be insured with both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity. Limits are not defined by SITMA but by the customers thats SITMA members work for. SITMA members must ensure they are suitably covered for all eventualities.
  • Own or rent all equipment required for testing which must have had calibration carried out in accordance with PUS007 - Equipment and Calibration Requirements.
  • Apply and remain responsibile for quality control of all aspects of their own work

Equipment Required

Click below to head to our Equipment and Calibration Requirements page which tells you exactly what you'll need for you application

Click Here

Application Process

To apply for certification, individuals complete the online application form available at www.bcta.group/sitma/apply

The following information is required at the application stage:

  • Applicant Name
  • Associated Company Name (if applicable)
  • Insurance Evidence
  • Calibration Evidence
  • Applicant Photograph
  • These should be passport style but do not need to be taken in a passports photo machine.
  • It is acceptable to take the applicants photograph against a white or cream wall from no further away than 2 meters, ensuing that the whole head and face is visible in the photograph.
  • Which SITMA level(s) the applicant is applying for:
  • Part 1: is for those who will be conducting airborne wall and floor testing in accordance with BS EN ISO 140-4:1998 & BS EN ISO 717-1:1997
  • Part 2: is for those who will be conducting impact floor testing in accordance with BS EN ISO 140-7:1998 & BS EN ISO 171-2: 1997.
  • Payment for application fee - this must be paid to complete the application.

The applicant will enter into a contractual agreement by checking boxes on the application form to abide by the rules and requirements of the SITMA Scheme

Applications will be acknowledged within 5 working days of receipt and an invoice issued against the accompanying applicant fee. An account will be established for trading with SITMA, which will include the option to sign up for a direct debit process to automatically pay SITMA fees going forward.

Initial Review

SITMA will conduct an initial review to ensure the information provided is acceptable and meets the requirements of the certification scheme.

Should further information be required, SITMA will contact the candidate to request the additional infomation.

Once confirmed, SITMA will progress the application to the Initial on-site Audit.

Initial On-Site Audit

Once an applicant has completed the application stage and has provided the required evidence of Scheme pre-requisites, they will be required to complete an initial on-site audit conducted by a SITMA Auditor.

This initial on-site audit must be passed for the applicant to be granted certification.

It remain the applicant’s responsibility to source an appropriate testing location. As an aid, SITMA makes PUS011 and PUS012 available to the applicant on receipt of application. 

  • PUS011- Audit Requirements (Site) Members Information - This document defines the physical requirements for a test site.
  • PUS012-Audit Process & Outcomes - This document provides descriptions on how the audit process is conducted and what it entails.

Failed Initial On-Site Audits

Applicants are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts at the initial audit stage.

A second attempt at the initial audit must be completed within 30 days of the date the results of the first attempt were issued.

This attempt will be charged as per the current application fee.

A third attempt is permissible following a cooling period of 6 weeks from the date the results of the first attempt were issued. This attempt will be charged as per the current application fee. The cooling off period is to ensure the individual has adequate time to learn more about sound insulation testing. 

Probation Period

Following a successful application and subsequent passing of the initial audit, newly certified persons will undergo a period of probation for 6 months whereby the Scheme Manager at any time may put individuals’ membership on hold should the Scheme Manager have a valid and justifiable reason to do so.

Reasonable Accomodation

SITMA is committed to the continued development of all industry professionals. Reasonable accommodations are intended to remove as for as is possible, the impact of a disability on an applicant performance and to enable the individual access to assessment on a equal footing.

It does not give the applicant an unfair advantage over the applicants who follow the same assessment.

Any request for reasonable accommodation should be made from the outset and should include the diagnosis and recommended reasonable accommodation.

Re-entry/ Transfer

For Certified Person that leave the certification scheme, SITMA allows up to the end of their current certification period to re-join the certification scheme without penalty or cost.

After their certification period expires, teh candidate will have ceased to be a certified member and will be required to re-apply using the standard application form that is found on the SITMA website.

Ref: PUS004 – Methods & Routes of Entry – Issue 4.5

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