McLEAN, Virginia – 3-A SSI announces that the application period for the May 2024 CCE Exam is now open for candidates interested in becoming a 3-A SSI Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE), which will be held in conjunction with the 2024 3-A SSI Annual Meeting. Those who meet the application requirements will be eligible to sit for the exam scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024 at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare in Chicago, IL. Registration for the Annual Meeting is not required for CCE candidates to sit for the exam.
Only CCEs are permitted to conduct Third Party Verification (TPV) Inspections for reporting conformity of food processing equipment to 3-A Sanitary Standards and Accepted Practices. TPV inspections are required for equipment manufacturers, equipment resellers, or process system installations to obtain, renew or amend a 3-A Symbol Authorization, Process Certification or Replacement Parts & System Components Qualification Certification.
The basic qualification criteria for an individual to become a CCE include:
• Bachelor of Science degree in science or engineering plus three (3) years of experience in relevant food or pharmaceutical processing. One (1) year of the three (3) years of general experience must be directly related to 3-A Sanitary Standards-covered equipment design or sanitary processes; or
• High School graduation plus five (5) years of experience in relevant food or pharmaceutical processing. Three (3) years of the five (5) years of general experience must be directly related to 3-A Sanitary Standards-covered equipment design or sanitary processes.
Beyond basic education and experience requirements, all CCE candidates must have the ability to review and evaluate complex processes and be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the equipment and processes to which 3-A Sanitary Standards or Accepted Practices are applied. The CCE must have the ability to interpret 3-A Sanitary Standards or Accepted Practices as well as engineering drawings and designs. CCE candidates must provide references attesting to the candidate's work experience and integrity.
The CCE application form is found in the Appendix (Appendix 2 pages 10-14) of the Criteria for Certified Conformance Evaluators for Performance of Third Party Verification Inspections for 3-A Symbol Authorization 3-A Process Certification & 3-A Replacement Parts & System Components Qualification Certificate (“CCE Manual”). Please also ensure you have reviewed all details about the requirements for application and maintenance of the CCE credential in Section A of the CCE Manual, which can be downloaded at the following link: https://www.3-a.org/evaluators-cce
Complete CCE application packages must be received by 3-A SSI no later than the close of business Friday, March 29, 2024. Candidates meeting the application requirements will be eligible to sit for the exam scheduled for the morning Monday, May 6, 2024 at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare meeting room (with further details to be provided).
A non-refundable application fee of $475 is payable by check to 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. This fee covers the Application, CCE Exam Fee and the applicant’s first-year credential fee.
Candidates passing the written exam will be eligible to become a CCE. For more details, please contact Eric Schweitzer at (703) 790-0295, ext. 1 or by email at [email protected].