The application, approval and fees

In late July, Daniel's experience log is finished, Roz has read it twice and the two of them agree that he qualifies. The next step is the application. 'This is the boring part,' Roz says, 'and the part people get wrong. Fill it in once, carefully, and keep a copy of everything you upload.' This lesson walks through how the RCDD application works, how long approval takes, what the fees cover, how long an approval lasts and how to time the application so that the eligibility window fits your study plan.

Fees and procedures in this lesson are those published in BICSI's current RCDD certification handbook. They are stated in United States dollars because that is how BICSI publishes them. BICSI updates its fees from time to time, so check the handbook and your online account before paying.

Where the application lives

The RCDD application is completed through the candidate's online profile on BICSI's website. If you do not already have an account, you create one, which is the same account used for BICSI membership, course registrations and, later, continuing education records. Keep the login details safe and use an email address you will still have in three or four years. Many credential holders lose track of renewal notices because they applied with an employer's address and then changed jobs.

The application itself asks for three main things: the completed RCDD exam application form, a current résumé and copies of any degrees, diplomas or certifications you are relying on. The résumé should be consistent with your experience log from lesson 3. If your log says you spent fourteen months designing cabling at Lakehead Signal, your résumé should say the same, with the same dates. Inconsistencies are the most common reason applications are delayed while BICSI asks for clarification.

Verification and approval

BICSI verifies the ICT experience candidates claim and may require additional proof, such as letters from employers or clients. Verification is why the detailed log in lesson 3 matters. If BICSI contacts a former supervisor, that person should recognize your description of the work.

The handbook asks candidates to allow 30 days for approval. In practice, the time can be shorter or longer depending on how complete the application is and how busy the credentialing team is. Applications that need extra documents take longer. Do not book travel or block vacation time for an exam date until your approval arrives.

Once approved, you receive confirmation and the information you need to schedule your exam with the testing provider, as lesson 9 describes. From that approval date, a clock starts.

The eligibility window

An approval is valid for one year from the approval date. Within that year you must schedule and sit the exam, and, if you are unsuccessful, any retakes as well, subject to the waiting periods in lesson 10. If the year ends without a pass, you need to submit a new application, with a new fee, to continue.

This window is the reason timing matters. A candidate who applies early, before they have started studying, may find that half the window has gone before they are ready. A candidate who applies too late may have finished studying and then wait a month for approval while their knowledge fades. The best approach is to start serious study first, apply when you are roughly halfway through your plan, and schedule the exam for a date that leaves time for at least one retake inside the window if you need it.

Writing the experience section

The experience section of the application is where most of the judgment lies. Describe each role in a few clear sentences that show what you designed, for whom and with what result. Use active verbs such as designed, specified, sized, surveyed, documented and reviewed, and name the kind of building or system involved. Where a role mixed design with other work, say roughly how much of your time went to design. Avoid jargon that only your former employer would recognize, such as internal project codes or product nicknames, because the person reading your application may work in another country and another part of the industry.

It also helps to connect your experience to the language of the exam outline. If you prepared bills of materials and answered contractor questions during bidding, that is support for the bid process. If you reviewed submittals and test results, that is support for installation. If you met users to count outlets and plan growth, that is defining scope. You are not trying to impress anyone; you are making it easy for BICSI to see that your experience matches what the credential represents.

Finally, ask someone to read your draft before you submit. Daniel asks Roz, who points out that he has described two years of work at his previous employer without once mentioning the word design, even though most of what he did there was layout and documentation. He rewrites the section in an evening, and it becomes the clearest part of the application.

One more practical point: if your employer is paying, find out who in the company will make the payment and when. Applications sometimes sit unfinished for weeks while an expense request moves through approvals, and the delay can push the eligibility window later than your plan intended.

What the fees cover

The RCDD application fee is non-refundable and is paid to BICSI. It includes the fee for the first exam attempt. The current handbook lists two prices, one for BICSI members and one for non-members.

The application fee does not include study materials, preparation courses, travel to a test center or retest fees. Those can easily cost more than the application. The TDMM alone is a substantial purchase, and an instructor-led preparation course costs more again. Lesson 11 discusses how to choose study resources wisely.

US candidates pay the listed amounts directly. Many employers pay for the application and study materials, sometimes in exchange for an agreement to stay with the company for a period after certification. If your employer offers this, read the agreement carefully and understand what happens if you leave.

Is BICSI membership worth it?

The difference between member and non-member prices is large enough that membership often pays for itself during the application and the first renewal. Membership also brings discounts on manuals and courses, access to member resources and the BICSI magazine, and lower prices for conferences where you can earn continuing education credits.

The membership price in that example is an illustration. BICSI offers several membership types, and prices change, so do the calculation with current figures. The principle holds: if you will buy the TDMM, take a course and renew the credential, membership usually costs less overall.

Avoiding application problems

Most delays come from a small number of avoidable mistakes. The first is inconsistency between the application, the résumé and supporting documents. The second is vague descriptions of experience that do not show design work clearly. The third is missing education evidence, especially for older diplomas that need to be requested from a registrar. The fourth is choosing the wrong eligibility option, for example applying under option 1 with an expired credential. The fifth is simple: applying with an email address that later stops working, so messages from BICSI never arrive.

A good habit is to keep a folder, on paper or on your computer, with everything you submit: the completed form, the résumé, each document, payment receipts and every message from BICSI. You will need some of it again when you renew, and if BICSI ever audits your application or your continuing education, you will have the evidence in one place.

Daniel scans his associate degree from Lake Superior College and his technician credential, saves a copy of his résumé as submitted and sets a calendar reminder for 30 days after submission. Roz adds one more piece of advice. 'When the approval comes,' she says, 'don't celebrate by booking the earliest date you can find. Book the date your plan says you'll be ready.'

What approval does and does not mean

Approval means BICSI has accepted that you meet the eligibility requirements and may sit the exam during your window. It does not mean you are an RCDD, and it does not guarantee a pass. You may not use the RCDD title or abbreviation until you have passed and BICSI has issued the credential. Using it earlier, even informally on a business card or in a proposal, breaches the code of ethics described in lesson 12 and can lead to sanctions.