Industry Certifications

Pre-Engineering and Robotics Industry Certifications

The REC Foundation provides two industry certifications (Pre-Engineering and Robotics) for schools, students in engineering related programs, and robotics clubs. These certifications were designed by a team of accomplished professionals composed of engineers, college professors, and high school teachers.

The REC Foundation Certifications Program is a response to a global need for more students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.


Modules

Certifications are divided into a Fundamentals of Engineering section and eight engineering area modules.
  • Aerospace Pre-Engineering
  • Chemical Pre-Engineering
  • Civil Pre-Engineering
  • Computer Science/Programming
  • Electrical Pre-Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Manufacturing Technology
  • Mechanical Pre-Engineering

Curriculum Suggestions

The REC Foundation does not require curriculum to successfully complete the exams. Whereas the REC Foundation does not require curriculum, the following resources are available for teachers to consider.

VEX V5 STEM Labs (free) – VEX V5 STEM Labs include Over 65 hours of instruction (13 lessons) on topics including Math, Science, Engineering, and Programming. All the lessons include Objectives, Materials and Standards as well as necessary teacher lesson plans for the classroom.

Project Lead The Way (Registration and Training costs vary) – PLTW Engineering curriculum is broken into year-long classes with national standards, lesson plans and all digital resources included in the school registration. All the RECF Certification standards are found in the PLTW curriculum resources.

NASA (free) – Find resources to support your STEM curriculum, professional development opportunities to expand your knowledge base, contests to engage your students and more!

Textbooks

  • Engineering Fundamentals: Design, Principles, and Careers, 2nd Edition; By: Ryan A. Brown, Joshua W. Brown, and Michael Berkeihiser
  • Engineering Fundamentals: An Introduction to Engineering, 6th Edition; By: Cengage Learning

Endorsements

Northrop Grumman Foundation

Northrop Grumman is proud to endorse the REC Foundation Pre-Engineering and Robotics Industry Certifications. These rigorous engineering certifications help students identify their strengths, weaknesses, and aptitude for any area of engineering that may interest them. We are excited and impressed with the breadth of coverage these industry certifications cover, and the depth of knowledge required to achieve the certification.
Northrop Grumman employs many college interns and recent graduates. This new credential will help set these students apart from others, and demonstrate not only their knowledge and aptitude for engineering, but also their dedication to the field by having taken this extra step to demonstrate their ability.”
These certifications are becoming widely recognized for their benefits to students as well as employers. For the non-college bound student, the certifications demonstrate basic knowledge and occupational skills in the specific areas of engineering, setting them above their peers for entry-level positions. The employers gain confidence that these new employees are ready for the career ahead of them. Combined with an employer-based continuing education program the certification can be an excellent pathway for a college degree and engineering career.
The industry certifications for the college-bound student provides the opportunity to make more informed decisions regarding their higher education focus, and also is an outstanding achievement for a college application or competitive internships.
We applaud the REC Foundation for investing the time to develop its industry certification program.
Sincerely,
–Sandra Evers-Manly,
Northrop Grumman Foundation

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA)

“ITEEA believes that the VEX Robotics experiences exemplify and support learning for Integrative STEM Education (I-STEM). The robotics challenges and industry certifications provide real-world examples that assist technology and engineering educators (and all others in the STEM field) to understand and implement engaging and dynamic instructional practices K-12 and beyond to benefit ALL students!”

VEX Robotics and Innovation First International

“VEX Robotics and Innovation First International are proud to endorse the REC Foundation Pre-engineering and Robotics Industry Certifications. These rigorous engineering certifications help students identify their strengths, weaknesses and aptitude for any area of engineering that may interest them. We are excited and impressed with the breadth of coverage these industry certifications cover, and the depth of knowledge required to achieve the certification.”

Harris Corporation

“Harris views the REC Foundation Pre-Engineering and Robotics Certifications as a very positive step towards alleviating the national STEM shortfall and fully endorses the program… Having the ability to identify candidate’s strengths as related general knowledge of fundamentals of engineering and more specifically to electrical, mechanical, software, chemical, aerospace and other areas the student can seek to certify in, will be advantageous to placing a new employee.”

–Jim Clamons,
Vice President of Engineering,
Harris Corporation

CareerSource Brevard

“Workforce projections for 2014 by the U.S. Department of Labor show that 15 of the 20 fastest growing occupations require significant science or mathematics training to successfully compete for a job. By supporting REC, you are creating a conduit of education and support for our teachers, students, and parents necessary to overcome the project deficit in future STEM skilled workers.”

–Lisa Rice,
President,
CareerSource Brevard
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