USNC/IEC Education & Training

Overview

The USNC provides education and training resources for electrotechnical standardization and conformity assessment. If your technology is electrotechnology, you’ve come to the right place!

The USNC and its members participate in approximately 90% of the technical work of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The USNC’s education and training resources are designed to help ensure that U.S. participants are well informed, prepared, and effective in electrotechnical standardization.

USNC Learning Journeys

USNC educational resources are grouped into learning journeys – sets of resources geared toward a specific role/skill set/level of experience. These definitions should help you identify which learning journeys may be the most suitable for you:

Young & Emerging Professionals: Individuals who are starting their careers and developing their skills and experience.
Current & New TAG Members: Individuals who are a member of a US TAG.
Veteran IEC Participants: Individuals who have years of experience as a US TAG member and as a US Expert in IEC work
Conformity Assessment: Individuals who participate in the testing and certification
Managers: Individuals who oversees and are responsible for coordinating the work of standards professionals

You can also review a full list of educational and training resources offered by USNC.

Young & Emerging Professionals

This general introductory course is recommended for those that have less than 8 years of experience dealing with standards and conformity assessment.

Current & New TAG Members

This course is recommended for new USNC TAG members to help them learn the basics of participation in USNC and IEC activities.

Veteran IEC Participants

This intermediate-level course is designed to help build the skills of individuals that already have some experience with participating within the IEC.

Conformity Assessment

Designed for individuals with a focus on Conformity Assessment (CA), this course covers the four IEC Conformity Assessment systems

Managers

This course helps inform managers of standards and CA teams on the value of participation and why it should be important to your organization.

USNC Constituent Training Modules

These training modules provide resources that help standards and conformity assessment professionals within the electrotechnical industry effectively navigate the myriad processes and procedures of international standards development programs, primarily as related to work in the USNC and the IEC. These programs do not include technical training or courses on specific standards.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The training modules are geared toward: corporate standards professionals, members, officers, and administrators of international standards committees, subject matter experts/technical experts and accredited delegates to international meetings, USNC-approved U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members, Technical Advisors, officers, and administrators.

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME FOR EACH MODULE: 20-25 MINUTES

Module 1: International Standardization: Introduction and Overview

This module provides a general overview of international standardization including:

Definition of basic terms and concepts
An overview of the benefits of participation in international standardization
An introduction to:
- Key international standards organizations
- Key regional standards organizations
- The role of the U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (USNC/IEC)

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Module 2A: IEC and USNC Organizational & Governance Structures

This module provides an overview of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

IEC Membership
Policy and Management Groups
Technical Committee Structure
Overview of Shared Committees
Overview of Systems Approach

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Module 2B: USNC Organizational & Governance Structures

This module provides an overview of the U.S. National Committee (USNC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

USNC Membership
Organization Structure
Governance and Policy-Setting Bodies
USNC Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)

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Module 3A: IEC Personnel: Roles & Responsibilities

This module provides an overview of personnel working within the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

IEC Responsibilities
Appointments
Qualifications

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Module 3B: USNC Personnel: Roles & Responsibilities

This module provides an overview of U.S. National Committee (USNC) personnel.

USNC Responsibilities
Appointments
Qualifications

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Module 4: Standards Development & Stages of Technical Work

This module provides an overview of the IEC standards development process, including:

Project development principles
ISO/IEC Directives
Project stages of IEC standards development work, documents and time frames
Technical Specifications, Publicly Available Specifications, and Technical Reports
Maintenance procedures
Amendments
Global relevance policy and procedures
“In Some Countries” clauses
Normative references
Double-logo standards
Fast-track processing
Fragments

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Copyright notice: These training modules are freely available for use by constituents of the USNC/IEC. All other uses are restricted. All materials are copyrighted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Webinars & Presentations

The USNC periodically hosts webinars to help its members understand the importance of standardization, and to help spread the message within their own organizations. The presentations given during those webinars and related documents are available below.

A closeup of man wearing glasses and smiling as he speaks.

USNC Effective IEC Participation Course

This webinar is designed to give tips and advice to USNC delegates who wish to work on and improve their skills as representatives of the U.S. electrotechnical sector at IEC Technical Committee, Subcommittee, and Working Group meetings.

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Download WEBINAR SLIDES

USNC TAG LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

Designed for TAG and Technical Committee leaders, the USNC TAG Leadership Workshop slide deck reviews the following:

USNC TAG Model Operating Procedures
ISO/IEC Directives
IEC’s Copyright Policy and Procedures
IEC Global Relevance Toolbox
IEC Online Standards Development Member Commenting Platform
ANSI Membership Resources for TAGs
The Frankfurt Agreement

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USNC & IEC Conformity Assessment 101

Conformity assessment refers to any activity that determines whether a product, system, service and sometimes people fulfill the requirements and characteristics described in a standard or specification. This webinar is designed to provide an overview of conformity assessment in the IEC and USNC.

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Why IEC Standards Work Is Important to My Company

Participating in the development of international standards can help your company gain influence in global markets and influence domestic and international policy. But don’t just take our word for it. Representatives from Corning Incorporated, Rockwell Automation, Eaton Corporation, and General Electric share why their companies value participation in the USNC.

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Benefits of Standards Work for Emerging Professionals

When young and emerging professionals get involved in standards development work, everyone wins. The individual gains valuable career skills and knowledge; the company gains depth and engagement; and the standardization community as whole benefits from fresh perspectives.

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