3-A SSI Announces Exam for Certified Conformance Evaluators

McLEAN, Virginia - Applications are now available from 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) for candidates interested in becoming a 3-A SSI Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE), which will be held on in conjunction with the 3-A SSI Annual Meeting. Those who meet application requirements will be eligible to sit for the exam on Monday, May 8, 2023 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Registration for the Annual Meeting is not required for CCE candidates to sit for the exam. 

Only CCEs are allowed 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 or equipment resellers, or process system installations to obtain, renew, 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 within the Certified Conformance Evaluators Criteria for CCEs/ Exam ApplicationAppendix 2 pages 10-14. Please ensure you have reviewed all details about the requirements for application and maintenance of the CCE credential in Section A

Complete CCE application packages must be received by 3-A SSI no later close of business Friday, March 31, 2023.  Candidates meeting the application requirements will be eligible to sit for the exam scheduled for the morning (time to be announced) Monday, May 8, 2023 at Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport - Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.

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, contact Eric Schweitzer at (703) 790-0295, ext. 1 or by email at erics@3-a.org.